Bottom line: TPU 65A is very soft and highly deformable, 85A balances softness with support, and 95A is semi-rigid and dimensionally stable. The right grade depends on how far the part must deflect, how much load it carries and how much print difficulty you can accept. Softer grades demand a shorter, more constrained filament path.
Positioning the grades
| Grade | Character | Typical parts |
|---|---|---|
| 65A | Very soft | Seals, membranes, highly deformable parts |
| 85A | Soft | Dampers, guards, grips |
| 95A | Semi-rigid | Covers, functional parts, clips |
Printing notes
- Direct drive is strongly preferred for 65A and 85A.
- Keep retraction short or disabled.
- Use moderate speed to avoid under-extrusion.
- Dry the filament and keep it dry while printing.
- Size wall thickness for the intended deflection.
Costly mistakes
- Choosing on Shore hardness alone.
- Reusing PLA profiles.
- Underestimating feed-path resistance.
- Printing wet filament.
- Ignoring wall thickness and infill.
Buyer / engineer checklist
- How much deflection is required?
- Is elastic return or damping needed?
- Does the extruder support TPU?
- Is the filament dry?
- Are walls and infill dimensioned correctly?
Describe the part and its deflection and we can recommend the right hardness.TPU guidance