Flexible Filament

Flexible filament for parts that need to bend, grip or soak up impact. Choose TPU 95A for tough, rubbery gaskets, bumpers and phone cases, or Flexible PLA for a gentler bend that prints with the ease of regular PLA.

Flexible filament: TPU 95A or Flexible PLA?

Flexible filaments let you print parts that stretch, compress and spring back: seals that stop leaks, feet that stop rattles, bumpers that protect corners and grips that feel good in the hand. We stock two, and they suit different makers and printers.

TPU 95A is a thermoplastic polyurethane with a Shore hardness of 95A, firm enough to hold its shape under load yet soft enough to absorb shock, vibration and repeated bending without cracking. Flexible PLA is a modified, elastic PLA made from PBAT-based raw materials. It bends without breaking and does not need the specialised direct drive setup that more demanding flexibles often call for, but it must be printed very slowly.

TPU 95A vs Flexible PLA compared

Specification	TPU 95A	Flexible PLA
Base material	Thermoplastic polyurethane	Modified elastic PLA, PBAT based
Shore hardness	95A	Not listed, check the data sheet
Nozzle	200-240°C (230°C recommended)	180-220°C
Bed	20-60°C (40°C recommended)	25-60°C
Print speed	30-150mm/s	10-30mm/s
Drying	70°C for at least 5 hours	60°C for 6 hours or more
Heat deflection	95°C	90°C
Tensile strength	27-28 MPa	27-28 MPa
Extruder	Direct drive strongly preferred	Direct drive helps, but not essential
Typical uses	Gaskets, seals, hinges, phone cases, shock absorbing parts	Phone cases, RC tyres, gaskets, wearables

Both listings include a downloadable technical data sheet with the full figures.

What Shore 95A hardness means

Shore hardness measures how strongly a material resists an indenter pressed into its surface. Rubbers and flexible plastics are rated on the Shore A scale, where a higher number means firmer. At 95A, our TPU sits at the firm end of that scale. A thin section flexes and bends easily, while a thick, solid part feels tough and rubbery rather than squishy. Firmer TPU also feeds through an extruder more reliably than very soft grades, which makes 95A a sensible all-rounder. The Flexible PLA product data does not give a Shore value, so compare it by feel and application rather than by number.

How to print flexible filament reliably

Direct drive or Bowden

Pushing soft filament is like pushing a rope. A direct drive extruder, with the drive gear sitting just above the hotend, leaves it almost nowhere to buckle, which is why TPU 95A prints best on direct drive machines. On a Bowden printer, the filament travels through a long tube where TPU can compress, lag behind the extruder and then ooze or jam. Our guide to direct drive vs Bowden extruders explains the difference.

If you have a Bowden printer, try this:

Start with Flexible PLA, which is designed to print without a specialised direct drive setup.
Print TPU at the bottom of its speed range, around 30mm/s, and slow the first layer further.
Close any gaps in the filament path where soft filament can escape, and seat the tube firmly at both ends.
Minimise or disable retraction, which drags the filament back and forth through the tube.

Speed, retraction and temperature

Speed: TPU 95A is rated at 30-150mm/s and Flexible PLA at 10-30mm/s. The upper end of the TPU range is for well-tuned direct drive printers, so start slow and work up.
Retraction: keep it short and slow on direct drive. Long, fast retractions stretch soft filament and can wrap it around the drive gear.
Temperature: begin at the recommended 230°C for TPU 95A, or mid-range for Flexible PLA, and adjust in 5°C steps. Lower temperatures reduce stringing, while higher temperatures improve layer bonding.
First layer: TPU grips most build surfaces well at the recommended 40°C bed. It can bond very firmly to smooth PEI, so a thin layer of glue stick makes removal easier and protects the sheet.

Design for the flex you want

How soft a printed part feels depends as much on the slicer as on the filament. Fewer walls and lower infill make a part squishier, while more walls and higher infill make it firmer. Gyroid infill flexes evenly in all directions, which suits cushions, feet and grips. Our article on printing with flexible filaments has more setup tips.

What to print with flexible filament

Gaskets and seals: TPU 95A is the pick, and its product data notes resistance to oils and lubricants.
Bumpers, feet and door stops: soak up knocks and stop furniture, tools and equipment sliding or rattling.
Grips and handles: soft-touch covers for tools, handlebars and camera rigs.
Phone and device cases: both materials suit cases, with TPU giving tougher protection.
Drone and RC parts: TPU for arm guards, antenna mounts and landing gear bumpers, and Flexible PLA for RC tyres.
Hinges and wearables: living hinges, straps and parts that move with the body.

Drying and storing TPU

Damp TPU is one of the most common reasons flexible prints fail. It readily absorbs moisture from the air, then strings heavily, pops at the nozzle and leaves fuzzy, weak walls. Dry TPU 95A at 70°C for at least 5 hours, and Flexible PLA at 60°C for 6 hours or more, before any important print. Between sessions, keep rolls sealed with desiccant in a vacuum storage bag. On long prints in humid weather, feed TPU from a dry box.

Buying flexible filament from OzFDM

TPU 95A and Flexible PLA both count toward volume pricing on 1kg rolls, so you can add them to a PLA or PETG order: 5% off 3 or more rolls, 10% off 6 or more, 15% off 12 or more, and 20% off a full carton of 12 in one colour and material. Orders above $299 qualify for free Australia-wide shipping (PO Boxes excluded), and we dispatch from Perth and Melbourne.

Flexible filament FAQs

Can I print TPU on a Bowden printer?

Often, yes, with patience. Print at the slow end of TPU 95A's 30-150mm/s range, reduce or disable retraction and make sure the filament path is tightly constrained. Results vary between printers, so if your Bowden machine struggles, try Flexible PLA, which is designed to print without a specialised direct drive setup, or consider a direct drive upgrade.

Which is softer, TPU 95A or Flexible PLA?

There is no like-for-like number to compare, because the product data gives TPU 95A a Shore hardness of 95A but does not list one for Flexible PLA. In practice, choose TPU when you want rubbery toughness and wear durability, and Flexible PLA when you want gentler flex with easier printing. Wall count and infill change the feel of either material.

Why is my TPU stringing so badly?

Moisture is the usual cause, because TPU readily absorbs water from the air. Dry the roll at 70°C for at least 5 hours. Then lower the nozzle temperature in 5°C steps from 230°C, keep retraction short and raise travel speed so the nozzle spends less time oozing over gaps. A few light wisps are normal with TPU and pull away easily.

Is TPU heat resistant?

More than most everyday filaments. TPU 95A's product data lists a temperature resistance and heat deflection temperature of 95°C, compared with 53°C for PLA+, so TPU parts cope with warmer spots than PLA parts. Heat still affects how soft a flexible part feels, so test prints in their real environment before relying on them.

How do I make a flexible print softer or firmer?

Change the slicer settings rather than the filament. Fewer walls, lower infill and a flexible pattern such as gyroid give a softer, springier part, while more walls and higher infill make it firmer and more durable. Thin sections bend easily and thick, solid sections feel stiff, so design wall thickness around how much give you want.

Can I use flexible filament for phone cases?

Yes. Both products list phone cases as a typical use. TPU 95A gives tougher, more protective cases that absorb knocks, while Flexible PLA gives a gentler flex and is easier to print on machines without direct drive. Print cases slowly with several walls, and check the fit on a small test section before committing to a full print.