Choose TPU with the appropriate hardness. In the industry, there are different hardness levels available for TPU. Here they are listed in descending order:
77D > 70D > 55D > 95A > 85A > 83A > 80A > 75A > 70A.
TPUs with hardness levels of 95A, 90A are moderately hard and can be printed using QIDI printers (higher hardness levels have lower risks of print failures). On the other hand, TPUs with hardness levels of 85A, 83A, or lower should not be printed using QIDI printers. These softer TPUs are prone to getting flattened by the extruder wheel, which can cause clogging issues.
Use a forced-air type oven (recommended) or QIDI Plus4 printers to dry the filament and prevent moisture-related issues like excessive stringing or oozing in printed models. Refer to the table below for the recommended drying parameters:
| Filament | Temperature (°C) | Time (h) | Bed Temperature (°C) | Time (h) | Turning-over Time (h) | Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPU | 65 - 75 | 8 | 80 - 90 | 12 | Every 6 | Filament box / PC Box |
Kind Notes:
When using an oven to dry filament, it is recommended to use a forced air-type oven with sufficient capacity. Ensure that the filament spool is kept away from the heating zone as much as possible to ensure even temperature distribution and prevent deformation or damage to the spool and filament caused by localized overheating.
When drying filament with the Plus4 printers, it is necessary to cover the filament spool with the original packaging box or a self-printed PC box. Throughout the drying process, make sure to tightly close the top cover and front door to maintain a higher temperature inside the space. Additionally, during the drying process, it is recommended to flip the spool to ensure thorough drying of the filament.
For TPU filaments that cannot be printed with QIDI Box, place the dried filament into a sealed box with a roller axle and insert a fresh desiccant. Then, lock the box to prevent the filament from absorbing moisture during printing. The roller axle helps reduce feeding resistance and prevent feeding abnormalities caused by excessive resistance.
For QIDI TPU95A-HF, it is recommended to use a 0.4 mm nozzle and the corresponding QIDI TPU95A-HF preset. For third-party TPU, it is advised to use a 0.4 mm nozzle and select the Generic TPU95A preset with a lower maximum volumetric speed (print speed). If the third-party TPU has a hardness of 95A or higher and/or is specified as high-speed TPU, you may consider using the QIDI TPU95A-HF preset and slightly increasing the "maximum volumetric speed" based on that.
Please note that TPU is prone to feeding failures or clogging issues at higher print speeds. If you are unsure whether the TPU can be printed at high speeds, it is recommended to use a lower print speed whenever possible.
TPU is prone to stringing. So it is important to avoid excessive travel. That is, you should avoid placing multiple models on a plate and printing by layer, but rather select a plate to place only one or a few models and print by object.
Not suggested: print by layer
Suggested: print by object
Generally, TPU exhibits strong adhesion to the build plate, making it challenging to remove large-bottomed models. In such cases, avoid using excessive force to prevent damage to the model or build plate. Instead, lift one corner of the model slightly to create a gap and spray alcohol into it. Then, you can carefully remove the model from the print bed.
Drying the TPU filament before printing will only reduce the amount of stringing on the prints, but will not eliminate it completely, especially on models with a lot of travel. To remove the stringing from the model, you can use hot air from a hairdryer to blow on it or use the flame from a lighter to quickly burn the stringing area. However, be cautious to avoid hurting yourself and damaging the model.
If you have any other questions, Our team is always ready to help you and answer any questions you may have.
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karl@qd3dprinter.com
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