The TPU will release November 12, with a Reddit post – and user preview – revealing more details and images.
Bambu Lab has announced the forthcoming release of a TPU filament compatible with the company’s AMS material changer.
Described in the “New Arrivals” section of Bambu Lab’s Black Friday sale page as a “flexible material for AMS”, the company says the new filament will be available on November 12. There’s no word on pricing yet.
Like most material changers, Bambu Lab’s AMS is generally considered incompatible with flexible filament like TPU, given that flexibles can easily jam in the long filament pathing. To print with TPU, AMS users must first detach the PTFE coupler to separate the 3D printer and AMS feeding paths.
Bambu Lab, it seems, wants to remedy that gap in its material changer offering with a material that just works.
Thanks to social media, we do know a few details about the material early. About two weeks ago, Bambu Lab created a Reddit post with images of the TPU filament, and promises of its ability to create “indestructible automotive parts and durable engineering accessories”. The company subsequently sent samples of the TPU to several Reddit users who commented on the post. User Vorkosigan78 then posted a short write-up of their experience with it. Be sure to check out their post for photos of printed parts and a gif showcasing the material’s flexibility.
While there were a few difficulties with getting a printer to recognize the material and with layer adhesion at 240 °C, Vorkosigan78 writes that printing at 245 °C resulted in a part that was “noticeably harder” than TPU 95A.
Drooping was noticeable, especially under bridging, and multi-material adhesion with PETG was good, but not great. Those criticisms aside, the review is overall positive – especially for an unreleased material.
Bambu Lab TPU for AMS will be available for everyone to try for themselves next week.