If you're in the market for a TPU 3D printer, you've come to the right place. TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is a popular flexible filament used in 3D printing, and it can be challenging to find a printer that can handle it well. In this article, we'll be taking a look at the top 15 best TPU 3D printers to buy in 2022, based on our personal experience and research.
What is TPU?
TPU is a type of flexible filament that's commonly used in 3D printing. It's soft, durable, and has excellent impact resistance. TPU is commonly used to print phone cases, toys, and other items that require flexibility and durability.
One of the critical characteristics of TPU is its elasticity, which means it can stretch and bend without breaking. It's a thermoplastic material, which means it can be melted and reshaped multiple times.
What to look for in a TPU 3D printer
When it comes to printing with TPU, there are a few things you need to look for in a printer:
- Bowden extruder: TPU is a flexible filament, and a direct drive extruder can cause feeding issues. A Bowden extruder is preferred for TPU printing.
- Heated bed: TPU tends to warp, so a heated bed is necessary to keep the print bed warm and prevent warping.
- Print speed: TPU prints best at slower speeds, so a printer with adjustable print speeds is preferred.
These three features are essential when considering a TPU 3D printer. However, other factors, such as the build volume, print quality, and ease of use, can also play a significant role in your decision.
The top 15 best TPU 3D printers to buy in 2022
- Creality CR-10S Pro V2
The Creality CR-10S Pro V2 is a reliable and affordable TPU 3D printer. It has a Bowden extruder and a heated bed, making it a great choice for printing with TPU. It also has a large print volume, so you can print bigger items.
The Creality CR-10S Pro V2 is a popular choice for many 3D printing enthusiasts due to its affordability and reliability. It comes with a filament sensor and resume printing function, which makes it convenient for long prints.
- Prusa i3 MK3S+
The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is a popular 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU. It has a direct drive extruder, but it's been optimized for TPU printing. It also has a heated bed and adjustable print speeds.
The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is one of the most popular 3D printers in the market today, and for good reasons. It's known for its excellent print quality and reliability. It's also highly customizable, making it a great choice for advanced users.
- LulzBot Mini 2
The LulzBot Mini 2 is a high-end 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU. It has a direct drive extruder and a heated bed, making it perfect for TPU printing. It also has an automatic bed leveling system, which makes bed leveling easy.
The LulzBot Mini 2 is a high-end 3D printer that's well known for its reliability and ease of use. It's built with high-quality components, and it's backed by a strong community of users.
- Anycubic Mega X
The Anycubic Mega X is an affordable 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU. It has a Bowden extruder and a heated bed, making it a great choice for TPU printing. It also has a large print volume, so you can print bigger items.
The Anycubic Mega X is a budget-friendly 3D printer that's great for beginners and hobbyists. It's easy to set up and use, and it comes with a large build volume.
- Ultimaker S3
The Ultimaker S3 is a high-end 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU. It has a direct drive extruder and a heated bed, making it perfect for TPU printing. It also has a large print volume, so you can print bigger items.
The Ultimaker S3 is a high-end 3D printer that's known for its excellent print quality and reliability. It's built with high-quality components, and it's designed for professional use.
- FlashForge Creator Pro 2
The FlashForge Creator Pro 2 is a reliable and affordable TPU 3D printer. It has a direct drive extruder and a heated bed, making it a great choice for printing with TPU. It also has an enclosed build chamber, which helps prevent warping.
The FlashForge Creator Pro 2 is a popular choice for many 3D printing enthusiasts due to its affordability and reliability. It comes with an enclosed build chamber, which makes it great for printing with TPU and other materials that tend to warp.
- Prusa Mini+
The Prusa Mini+ is a smaller version of the Prusa i3 MK3S+. It has a direct drive extruder optimized for TPU printing and a heated bed. It also has a small footprint, so it's great for smaller workspaces.
The Prusa Mini+ is a compact and affordable 3D printer that's great for beginners and hobbyists. It's easy to set up and use, and it comes with a direct drive extruder optimized for TPU printing.
- Creality Ender 3 V2
The Creality Ender 3 V2 is an affordable TPU 3D printer. It has a Bowden extruder and a heated bed, making it a great choice for printing with TPU. It's also easy to upgrade, so you can customize it to your needs.
The Creality Ender 3 V2 is a budget-friendly 3D printer that's great for beginners and hobbyists. It's easy to set up and use, and it comes with a Bowden extruder and a heated bed.
- Monoprice Maker Ultimate 2
The Monoprice Maker Ultimate 2 is a high-end 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU. It has a direct drive extruder and a heated bed, making it perfect for TPU printing. It also has an enclosed build chamber, which helps prevent warping.
The Monoprice Maker Ultimate 2 is a high-end 3D printer that's well known for its excellent print quality and reliability. It comes with an enclosed build chamber, which makes it great for printing with TPU and other materials that tend to warp.
- Artillery Sidewinder X1
The Artillery Sidewinder X1 is a reliable TPU 3D printer. It has a direct drive extruder and a heated bed, making it a great choice for printing with TPU. It also has a large print volume, so you can print bigger items.
The Artillery Sidewinder X1 is a budget-friendly 3D printer that's great for beginners and hobbyists. It's easy to set up and use, and it comes with a direct drive extruder and a heated bed.
- Qidi Tech X-Max
The Qidi Tech X-Max is a high-end 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU. It has a direct drive extruder and a heated bed, making it perfect for TPU printing. It also has a large print volume, so you can print bigger items.
The Qidi Tech X-Max is a high-end 3D printer that's known for its reliability and ease of use. It's built with high-quality components, and it's designed for professional use.
- Elegoo Mars Pro 2
The Elegoo Mars Pro 2 is a resin 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU-like materials. It has a small build volume, but it's perfect for printing small, detailed items. It also has a UV light source, which cures the resin quickly.
The Elegoo Mars Pro 2 is a resin 3D printer that's budget-friendly and great for printing small, detailed items. It's easy to set up and use, and it comes with a UV light source, which cures the resin quickly.
- Formlabs Form 3
The Formlabs Form 3 is a high-end resin 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU-like materials. It has a small build volume, but it's perfect for printing small, detailed items. It also has a UV light source, which cures the resin quickly.
The Formlabs Form 3 is a high-end resin 3D printer that's designed for professional use. It's built with high-quality components, and it's known for its excellent print quality and reliability.
- FlashForge Dreamer NX
The FlashForge Dreamer NX is a reliable TPU 3D printer. It has a direct drive extruder and a heated bed, making it a great choice for printing with TPU. It also has an enclosed build chamber, which helps prevent warping.
The FlashForge Dreamer NX is a budget-friendly 3D printer that's great for beginners and hobbyists. It comes with an enclosed build chamber, which makes it great for printing with TPU and other materials that tend to warp.
- Raise3D Pro2 Plus
The Raise3D Pro2 Plus is a high-end 3D printer that's great for printing with TPU. It has a direct drive extruder and a heated bed, making it perfect for TPU printing. It also has a large print volume, so you can print bigger items.
The Raise3D Pro2 Plus is a high-end 3D printer that's designed for professional use. It's built with high-quality components, and it's known for its excellent print quality and reliability.
Conclusion
When it comes to printing with TPU, it's important to have a printer that can handle it well. We've looked at the top 15 best TPU 3D printers to buy in 2022, and we hope this guide has helped you find the perfect printer for your needs. Remember to look for a Bowden extruder, a heated bed, and adjustable print speeds when shopping for a TPU 3D printer. Happy printing!