TPU 95A
Flexible Filament
Shore 95A thermoplastic polyurethane — flexible, tear-resistant, and abrasion-resistant for seals, gaskets, and protective housings.
Quick Reference
- Material properties
- Flexible / Elastomeric
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
- None
- 28 MPa
- 60 °C
- 1.21 g/cm³
- Moderate — dry 60 °C / 8 h before printing
- 225–235 °C
- ≥ 0.4 mm
- Brass
- 30–50 °C
- Not required
- Sand, trim with knife; solvent bonding possible
Material Property Profile
Values scored 0–10 from measured mechanical data and print process behaviour. Select a material above to compare properties.
Key Properties
Engineering values with context that decides whether TPU 95A is the right choice for your application.
Machine Requirements
Hard thresholds for reliable TPU 95A output — check your printer meets these before loading the filament.
| Requirement | Minimum Spec | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temperature | 220 °C | 225–235 °C |
| Bed Temperature | 30 °C | 40–50 °C |
| Enclosure | Open | Not required |
| Extruder | Direct drive | Direct drive (Bowden not recommended) |
| Nozzle Material | Brass | Brass 0.4–0.6 mm |
| Cooling Fan | 25 % | 50–75 % |
Direct drive extruder required. TPU 95A is too soft and flexible for Bowden tubes — the filament buckles and jams in the gap between tube and nozzle. Disable or minimise retraction (≤ 1 mm, ≤ 25 mm/s) to prevent buckling inside the drive gear.
Applications — By Industry
Seals & Gaskets
- Custom O-rings & seals
- Compression gaskets
- Weatherstrip profiles
Consumer / Protective
- Phone cases & bumpers
- Grip covers
- Wearable straps
Industrial
- Vibration dampening mounts
- Flexible hose connectors
- Cable strain reliefs
R&D / Prototyping
- Flexible functional prototypes
- Compliant mechanism tests
- Soft gripper fingers
Tensile Strength — FDM Materials (MPa)
Heat Deflection vs Tensile Strength
Available Materials
When to Use TPU 95A — and When Not To
Use TPU 95A when
- Flexibility and elasticity are the primary design requirement
- Abrasion-resistant surfaces in sliding or wear contact
- Seals, gaskets, or O-rings with custom geometry
- Protective bumpers or cases that absorb impact
- Your machine has a direct drive extruder
Avoid TPU 95A when
- Bowden extruder setups — filament jams in the tube gap
- Continuous use above 55 °C (TPU softens; use silicone instead)
- High-load structural parts — low tensile modulus
- Very fine detail — flexible materials struggle with overhangs
DfAM Tips for TPU 95A
Design rules that get the best performance from TPU 95A.
Wall Thickness ≥ 1.2 mm for Stiffness
For structural zones within a TPU part (that should NOT flex), use 4+ perimeters. Thin walls flex everywhere.
Min Hole Diameter: 1.5 mm
TPU can compress and close small holes when assembled. Add 0.2–0.3 mm clearance to any bore that must remain open under compression.
Max Bridge Span: 8 mm
Flexible filament sags quickly on bridges. Keep unsupported spans under 8 mm or add supports. Long overhangs become drooping surfaces.
Disable or Minimise Retraction
Retraction causes TPU to buckle inside the drive gear. Set retraction to ≤ 1 mm at ≤ 25 mm/s. Print speed ≤ 30 mm/s for consistent results.
Printers Compatible with TPU 95A
TPU 95A needs a direct drive extruder and moderate temperatures. Dragon, Twin Dragon, Julia, and Volterra all use direct drive — and TPU can also run on the Snowflake desktop printer.
Ready to print in TPU 95A?
Order Fracktal TPU 95A filament — available in 500 g and 1 kg spools.