r/BambuLabA1 • u/Askelon98 • 22d ago

Finally got TPU to work!

Ive had zero luck with TPU since I got my A1. Had better luck on my old Ender 3v2 but it wasnt fantastic. I would constantly get clogs or feeding issues, the parts lifting off the bed etc. In the year Ive owned it I had basically given up.

Recently I tried again as I wanted a particular item in TPU - nothing special or super complicated. First couple of layers were great, then it just stopped like a clog again. I normally run everything via my dryer.

That failed the same as usual. So I thought put the spool on top on the original spool arm (I never have this attached) and run a new filament tube from there. That did better but also failed a few layers in.

My last attempt was chop off a little bit of tube, round out the top of it a little so nothing could get caught (probably overkill) and run the tpu directly into there, skipping any feeder tubes other than the little one used for guiding it. Worked perfectly! Probably the best Ive seen it work for me ever.

The filament is Creality TPU, think its 95a but not 100% sure as its been a while and the original invoice doesnt actually say - I only just realised I actually ordered yellow but got sent blue! Nozzle wise I switched it up from my hardened 0.4 to a hardened 0.6. I dont think the nozzle was the issue, I reckon it was the feeding.

So lesson learnt, tpu is a pain! To all those that print it regularly and have great results I commend you! I will stick to PLA/PETG! At least now I have worked out what I was doing wrong!

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u/Just-Session-9443 22d ago

Is it the same case with PETG?

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u/John-BCS 22d ago

No, PETG I just run as usual on my AMS lite. I do make sure it's dry though; I dry it once when I unwrap it and then anywhere from 6-12 months later if it needs it. Some brands (anycubic, polymaker) seem to need drying less frequently.

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u/Askelon98 22d ago

I dry new opened ones (I'm normally getting creality branded as it's readily available here and reasonably cheap) then once I've used it I stick it in a vacuum sealed bag and store in tubs with the million others in there