Collection: TPE

TPE 85A (Thermoplastic Elastomer, 85 Shore A hardness) is a highly flexible 3D printing material that delivers rubber-like elasticity and soft-touch properties for functional parts requiring significant flex. Unlike semi-flexible TPU 95A or rigid plastics, TPE 85A provides greater flexibility approaching silicone rubber whilst maintaining practical printability. The 85A shore hardness rating positions it as a softer, more flexible option ideal for applications requiring cushioning, conformability, and substantial compression.

TPE 85A combines excellent flexibility with reliable layer adhesion and impact absorption. The material compresses easily, provides superior grip, and bends substantially without breaking, making it essential for applications requiring soft-touch surfaces, sealing capabilities, or significant shock absorption. It maintains good abrasion resistance, resists oils and chemicals, and offers reasonable UV resistance for outdoor use. Our TPE 85A filament is manufactured to ±0.02mm tolerance at 1.75mm diameter for consistent extrusion despite the flexible composition.

The softer nature of TPE 85A makes it ideal for applications where TPU 95A would be too firm, delivering rubber-like compliance and tactile properties. Whilst more challenging to print than firmer materials, TPE 85A prints successfully on direct drive extruders and well-configured Bowden systems with appropriate settings. The material excels at creating soft grips, flexible seals, and parts requiring substantial deformation under use.

Choose TPE 85A when your application requires high flexibility and soft, rubber-like properties that firmer materials cannot provide. It's ideal for parts requiring substantial compression, conformability, or cushioning. Common applications include soft gaskets and seals requiring compression, ergonomic grips and handles with cushioned feel, dampening pads and shock absorbers, wearable items like soft watch bands or shoe insoles, conformable protective cases, flexible tubing and hoses, soft-touch buttons and controls, and vibration-dampening mounts.

Select TPE 85A over firmer flexible materials when you need parts that compress easily, conform to irregular surfaces, or provide cushioned tactile feedback. The softer nature allows for tighter sealing against uneven surfaces, better shock absorption for protective applications, and more comfortable ergonomic contact. TPE 85A works particularly well for parts that interface with skin or require gentle compression under use.

TPE 85A suits intermediate to advanced users comfortable with flexible filament printing. It requires slower print speeds, minimal retraction, and careful tuning compared to rigid materials. Direct drive extruders significantly improve printing reliability, though well-configured Bowden systems can achieve good results with patience. Users familiar with printing TPU 95A will find TPE 85A similar but requiring slightly more attention to prevent extrusion issues.

Consider alternatives if you need semi-flexible parts with more structural integrity (use TPU 95A), require rigid functional parts (use PLA, PETG, or ABS), want fast print speeds (TPE requires very slow speeds), or need high-temperature resistance above 60°C where TPE may deform under load.

TPE 85A occupies a unique position as a highly flexible material that approaches silicone-like properties whilst remaining printable on FDM printers. Where firmer materials lack sufficient compression and rigid materials fail entirely, TPE 85A provides rubber-like flexibility for functional applications.

TPE 85A delivers superior flexibility and compression compared to firmer materials, providing soft-touch and cushioning properties impossible with semi-flexible or rigid filaments. TPU 95A offers more structural integrity for applications requiring controlled flex rather than rubber-like compression. PETG and PLA provide rigidity for functional parts but cannot replicate TPE's flexibility and compression characteristics.

If TPE 85A isn't the right choice for your application, explore our TPU 95A filament for firmer semi-flexible properties, or PETG and PLA for rigid functional parts.

TPE 85A requires patience and specific settings due to its soft, flexible nature. The material can buckle in the extruder if pushed too quickly, and its high elasticity makes retraction challenging. However, with appropriate settings and proper hardware, TPE 85A prints reliably and produces exceptional soft-touch functional parts.

Temperature settings: Nozzle temperatures for TPE 85A range from 190-210°C, with most users finding success around 200°C. The lower temperature range compared to some flexible materials helps maintain better dimensional control during printing. Bed temperature should be set between 40-60°C, with 50°C being optimal for first-layer adhesion. TPE 85A adheres well to most print surfaces without requiring excessive bed heat.

Speed and extrusion: Print TPE 85A very slowly to prevent filament buckling and ensure consistent extrusion. Use 15-25mm/s for the first layer and 20-35mm/s for subsequent layers. The softer material requires slower speeds than TPU 95A. Minimise or disable retraction entirely: use 0.5-2mm for direct drive systems or 2-4mm for Bowden systems (many users achieve best results with retraction disabled). Increase flow rate by 5-10% if experiencing under-extrusion. Use minimal part cooling (0-20%) to ensure strong layer adhesion.

Printer setup: Direct drive extruders are strongly recommended for TPE 85A, providing excellent control over the soft filament. Bowden systems can print TPE 85A but require very slow speeds (15-25mm/s), minimal retraction, and a perfectly seated PTFE tube with absolutely no slack or gaps. Ensure the filament path is completely clear and straight. On Bowden printers, expect more challenging prints and consider whether the application truly requires TPE 85A over firmer TPU 95A.

Common challenges: Filament buckling in the extruder occurs when print speeds are too high. Reduce speed significantly and ensure the filament path has no resistance. Under-extrusion results from insufficient temperature or excessive speed. increase temperature in 5°C increments or reduce print speed further. Stringing is very common with soft flexible materials. reduce temperature slightly, minimise retraction, and accept some stringing as normal. Poor layer adhesion results from excessive cooling. disable the part cooling fan entirely or use only minimal cooling.

TPE 85A can be printed on FDM printers with appropriate hardware, though direct drive extruders are strongly recommended. The softer material is more challenging than semi-flexible alternatives and benefits significantly from direct extrusion control.

• Direct drive strongly recommended: Direct drive extruders position the drive gear directly above the hotend, providing exceptional control over soft flexible filament. Printers like the Prusa MK4S, Bambu Lab P1S/X1C, and Creality K1 series with direct drive handle TPE 85A well with appropriate slow speeds and minimal retraction.
• Bowden systems challenging: Bowden extruders can print TPE 85A but require very slow speeds (15-25mm/s), minimal or disabled retraction, and perfect PTFE tube seating with no slack. The long filament path makes buckling likely if speeds are too high. Many users find TPE 85A impractical on Bowden systems and prefer firmer TPU 95A instead. If attempting TPE on Bowden, ensure your setup is optimised and consider upgrading to direct drive for better results.
• Heated bed beneficial: A heated bed at 40-60°C improves first-layer adhesion and reduces warping. Virtually all modern FDM printers support this temperature range easily.
• Build surface: TPE 85A adheres well to PEI sheets, textured powder-coated steel, and BuildTak. Avoid plain glass without adhesive, as the soft material may not stick reliably. Painter's tape works adequately for smaller prints. Over-adhesion is rarely an issue with TPE.

TPE 85A works best on printers with direct drive extruders from manufacturers like Prusa, Bambu Lab, and Creality (K1 series). Ensure your printer can maintain bed temperatures of 40-60°C and nozzle temperatures up to 210°C, which all modern FDM printers support. The primary compatibility factor is extruder type rather than printer brand or model.