Material
FDM TPE
FDM TPE is a softer, more rubber-like flexible material than TPU. It offers excellent comfort and stretch for grip and cushioning applications, though with less abrasion, chemical, and heat resistance.
Manufacturing processes
About
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is technically the broader family that TPU belongs to, but as a distinct commercial filament, it typically refers to softer formulations – generally in the 60A–85A Shore hardness range, compared to TPU's firmer 85A and up.
It offers excellent elasticity and a comfortable, rubber-like feel, which makes it well suited to parts that prioritize softness and stretch over durability.
Compared to TPU, standard TPE generally offers less resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and extreme temperatures. This makes TPU the better choice for parts that need to hold up to repeated wear or harsher conditions.
FDM TPE suits soft grips, phone cases, comfort-focused wearable parts, and cushioning or gasket applications where softness matters more than long-term durability.
Technical Details
- Accuracy
- ±0.4% (lower limit of ±0.2 mm)
- Density
- 1.15 g/cm³
- Min. wall thickness
- 1 mm
Technical Properties
- Tensile strength
- 5 - 30 MPa
- Tensile modulus
- 10 - 150 MPa
- Tensile elongation
- 200 - 600%
- Flexural strength
- 10 - 20 MPa
- Flexural modulus
- 20 - 60 MPa
- HDT (0.45 MPa)
- 50 - 70°C
- Default layer height
- 0.2 mm
- Default infill
- 20%
- Embossing
- min. 0.5 mm
- Engraving
- min. 0.5 mm
- Interlocking parts
- Yes
- Warping risk
- Low
- Maximum printing dimensions
- 600 × 600 × 600 mm