TPE

Advanced

Thermoplastic Elastomer

Broad category of ultra-soft flexible materials (typically Shore 60-80A). Extremely rubber-like with excellent tactile feel and elasticity. Very difficult to print — requires specialized direct-drive setup.

⚠ IMPORTANT: Dry Your Filament Before Every Print

All filaments — including TPE — absorb moisture from the air. Printing with wet filament causes stringing, bubbling, weak layer adhesion, and poor surface finish. This is the single most overlooked cause of bad prints.

Always dry your filament per the manufacturer's recommendations printed on the spool label before printing, especially if the spool has been open for more than a few days or stored in a humid environment. Read our complete filament drying guide →

About the Temperatures & Speeds Listed Below

The print temperatures and speeds shown on this page are general industry ranges — not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Every printer brand and model has different capabilities. A Bambu Lab X1C can print PLA at 500 mm/s; an Ender 3 with a Bowden extruder performs best at 40–80 mm/s.

Always follow your specific printer manufacturer's recommended settings and the temperature range printed on your filament spool label. Start at the lower end of the range and dial in from there.

Material Properties

Strength4/10

Flexibility9/10

Heat Resistance4/10

Printability2/10

TPE is part of the TPU family. See the complete TPU guide →

Best For

Medical device grips
ultra-soft gaskets
custom insoles
tactile buttons
slip-resistant surfaces

Avoid For

Beginners / first prints

Pro Tips

01Direct-drive extruder with zero gap between drive gears and nozzle entry is mandatory
02Set retraction to 0; accept some stringing and remove with hairdryer
03Must print at 15-25mm/s; plan for long print times

Print Speed by Printer Tier

Print speeds vary dramatically by printer. The speeds listed in product specs (like "500 mm/s") are maximum capabilities — not recommended everyday speeds. Use this table as a general guide and always follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

High-End (Bambu X1C, P2S, H2D)

Print Speed: 150–300 mm/s

High-acceleration direct-drive systems. Follow manufacturer slicer presets.

Mid-Range (Bambu A1/A1 Mini, Prusa MK4, Creality K1)

Print Speed: 60–150 mm/s

Good performance at moderate speeds. Follow slicer presets for best results.

Entry-Level (Ender 3 series, Bowden extruders)

Print Speed: 30–60 mm/s

Start slow and tune up. Follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

Quick Specs

Print Temp220–240°C

Bed Temp40–60°C

Cost / kg$40–$60

EnclosureNot Required

DryingRequired

DifficultyAdvanced

Drying Note: Even filaments marked "Not Required" benefit from drying if the spool has been open or stored in a humid area. When in doubt, dry it.

Buy TPE Filament

Recommended brands: Hatchbox, eSUN, Polymaker, Bambu

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