I’ve had some success and some failures in using TPU with the Sidewinder X-1. Apart from higher temps than PLA for both the bed and nozzle and slowing the first layer down significantly (like 33% speed) does anyone have suggestions that increase the probability of success? I also have an enclosure to keep the ambient temps up and I use Prusa slicer.
Thanks!
It all depends on the TPU that you are using. I USE SAINSMART printed at 215 on the nozzle 60 on the bed and because my machine is tuned I can print over 100mm/second, you need the right extruder. But with that being said with that machine you should be able to print 60mm/second unless you have under 95a tpu 82a and lower like 25mm. Retractions on your machine should be set to 1.
Not sure what you mean by failure, but for me it’s the bed adhesion. More so with TPE, but to combat this, I layer the bed with 3M clear packing tape. I’ve tried hairspray, blue painters tape, but nothing sticks as well as the packing tape. Almost too good. I found after running multiple stringing tests at different temperature, cooling, and retraction, my best result for the brand of TPU I have is the same temperature as PLA, retraction up at 2mm, and cooling only during bridging. I suspect every brand of TPU and printer is going to be different. Run the stringing test to find the right temperature, speed, cooling, and retraction for your brand. I don’t think you can ever eliminate stringing altogether though for TPU?
I never get smooth TPU prints it is the only material I struggle with. I usually get terrible blobs where the seam is, some stringing too.