Custom TPU 3D Printing Services

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Custom TPU 3D Printing Services — Flexible & Rubber-Like Parts

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) produces flexible, rubber-like parts with exceptional durability and abrasion resistance. From Shore 85A (soft rubber) to 95A (semi-rigid), TPU fills the gap where rigid plastics fail and silicone molding is too expensive.

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Quick Specs
Print ProcessFDM
Density1.21 g/cm³
Tensile Strength30–55 MPa
Shore Hardness85A–95A
Elongation at Break450–580%
Abrasion ResistanceExcellent
Chemical ResistanceGood
FlexibilityExcellent
Min. Lead Time5–7 days
Min. Order1 unit

Why Choose TPU for Your Parts?

Most 3D printing materials are rigid. TPU changes that — it produces flexible, rubber-like parts that can bend, stretch, compress, and snap back to their original shape thousands of times without failure. It's like having custom rubber parts without the cost of silicone mold tooling.

At Chatelet Manufacturing, we've perfected high-volume TPU production. We regularly produce thousands of TPU parts per month — including products with embedded magnets and electronics. Our expertise in flexible material printing means consistent quality even at scale, which is notoriously difficult with TPU.

Advantages
  • True flexibility — bends, stretches, and recovers its shape
  • Outstanding abrasion and wear resistance
  • Excellent impact absorption — dampens vibration and shock
  • Good chemical resistance to oils, greases, and solvents
  • Can embed magnets, electronics, and hardware during printing
  • No tooling costs — custom rubber-like parts without silicone molds
  • Tear-resistant — extremely difficult to rip or puncture
Considerations
  • Slower to print than rigid materials
  • Lower dimensional accuracy than rigid materials on fine features
  • Difficult to print well — requires specialized expertise and setup
  • Cannot be easily post-processed (sanding, painting)
  • Limited color availability compared to rigid materials

Common Applications for 3D Printed TPU

Gaskets & Seals
Custom gaskets, O-ring replacements, and sealing components. TPU compresses to fill gaps and maintains seal under pressure. Perfect for hard-to-source replacement seals.
Grips & Handles
Ergonomic tool grips, equipment handles, and over-mold replacements. TPU provides comfortable, non-slip surfaces with excellent vibration dampening.
Bumpers & Protective Covers
Impact-absorbing bumpers, corner protectors, device cases, and protective sleeves. TPU absorbs shock without cracking or breaking.
Vibration Dampeners & Mounts
Anti-vibration mounts, isolators, and cushion pads for machinery, electronics, and sensitive equipment. Custom durometer to match your damping needs.
Products with Embedded Hardware
TPU parts with magnets, metal inserts, or electronics embedded during printing. We specialize in high-volume production of magnet-embedded TPU products.
Wearable Components
Watch bands, straps, wristbands, and body-worn device housings. TPU is skin-safe, flexible, and comfortable for extended wear.

TPU Durometer Options

Hardness Feel Best For Comparable To
Shore 85A Soft rubber Gaskets, seals, soft grips, wearables Rubber band, pencil eraser
Shore 95A Semi-rigid rubber Bumpers, mounts, structural flex parts Shopping cart wheel, shoe sole

Not sure which durometer you need? We can print test samples in both hardnesses so you can feel the difference before committing to a production run.

TPU vs. Other Flexible Options

Property TPU (FDM) Flexible 80A (SLA) Silicone Molding
Tooling Cost $0 $0 $2,000–$10,000+
Durability Excellent Moderate Excellent
Abrasion Resistance Excellent Low Good
Surface Finish Layer lines visible Smooth Smooth
Volume Economics Best under 500 units Best under 50 units Best over 500 units
Embedded Hardware Yes — magnets, inserts No Limited

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — this is one of our specialties. We embed magnets, metal inserts, and even small electronics inside TPU parts during the printing process. The magnet is fully encapsulated in flexible material, creating a professional, durable product. We produce thousands of magnet-embedded TPU products monthly.
Shore 85A TPU feels similar to a pencil eraser or thick rubber band — definitely flexible and rubbery. Shore 95A is stiffer, more like a shoe sole. TPU won't match silicone's softness (Shore 20A-40A), but it's significantly more durable and abrasion-resistant than silicone.
TPU's flexibility causes it to compress and buckle in the extruder, leading to jams, inconsistent extrusion, and failed prints on improperly configured machines. We've dialed in our TPU settings over thousands of prints — our process produces consistent, high-quality flexible parts even in volume.
TPU itself is waterproof, but FDM-printed parts can have micro-gaps between layers. For water-tight applications, we can optimize print settings for maximum layer fusion or apply a sealing coating. Many of our TPU parts are used successfully in marine and wet environments.

Ready to Print in TPU?

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