Looking For A Flat Black TPU Filament
- morrisey0
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:45 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Has thanked: 74 times
- Been thanked: 1741 times
Looking For A Flat Black TPU Filament
I am hoping there is someone out there with some TPU experience that can help me out. I have thought of a couple of items that I would like to make that would have been typically made of simple black rubber. No sheen, just black rubber. I picked up some Overture Black TPU, and I am okay with the printing (the pictured is literally first print so nothing is dialed in), and I am not super impressed with the "rubbery" squishiness of it, but I really hate the gloss. They advertise it with an RC tire next to it, and it is flat black, and it is no where near that in real life. It is much more glossy than the PLA I typically use.
So, anyone a TPU expert and can recommend a filament that will look a bit more like rubber?
So, anyone a TPU expert and can recommend a filament that will look a bit more like rubber?
I build RCs like people would have done back in the '90s ..................................... if they had 3D printers.
- GoMachV
- Approved Member
- Posts: 12184
- Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2012 10:31 pm
- Location: Twin Falls, ID
- Has thanked: 1080 times
- Been thanked: 3729 times
Re: Looking For A Flat Black TPU Filament
While I cant offer up a flat black tpu, I have been hearing a lot of good things about TPE and if I were printing tires that's the stuff I'd be looking for. I don't know if that would change what you are looking for so I figured I'd mention it just in case. Hate to see you chasing flat tpu just to find out flat TPE is available.
Here is a link to some esun TPE on Amazon, not sure if the link will work but it shows the printed black material and I think it looks about right!
https://a.co/d/5ISdbjg
Here is a link to some esun TPE on Amazon, not sure if the link will work but it shows the printed black material and I think it looks about right!
https://a.co/d/5ISdbjg
-
- Approved Member
- Posts: 4054
- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2016 2:21 pm
- Location: Guildford UK
- Has thanked: 2697 times
- Been thanked: 2234 times
Re: Looking For A Flat Black TPU Filament
I've never seen a flat TPU they all seem high gloss and most are 95 Shaw so much to stiff for rubber , you can experiment with lower wall counts and sparse infill , temperature is important , too hot and it hardens up , too cold and it jams up though so it's risky tuning too low in temp .
As GoMachV suggests TPE is more likely to have a Matt or flat finish , I have some that's 40 Shaw almost like a rubber band but hard to print and more flat finish "FilaFlex40" by Filatech.
As GoMachV suggests TPE is more likely to have a Matt or flat finish , I have some that's 40 Shaw almost like a rubber band but hard to print and more flat finish "FilaFlex40" by Filatech.
If a jobs not worth doing then its certainly not worth doing well.
A problem shared is a problem halved but an advantage shared is no advantage at all.
A problem shared is a problem halved but an advantage shared is no advantage at all.
- silvertriple
- Approved Member
- Posts: 2011
- Joined: Sun May 02, 2021 10:31 am
- Location: France, Isere
- Has thanked: 708 times
- Been thanked: 1221 times
Re: Looking For A Flat Black TPU Filament
You may look into Colorfabb Varioshore foaming TPU : both shore, foaming and aspects are depending upon the printing temperature...
I buy kits to build and ru(i)n them 

- morrisey0
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:45 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Has thanked: 74 times
- Been thanked: 1741 times
Re: Looking For A Flat Black TPU Filament
Thanks guys! I think I will give the TPE a try, and the eSUN is on sale, so might as well. I will report back.
I build RCs like people would have done back in the '90s ..................................... if they had 3D printers.
- morrisey0
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:45 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Has thanked: 74 times
- Been thanked: 1741 times
Re: Looking For A Flat Black TPU Filament
SO SO SO much better!!
The sheen, the shore, the ease of printing right out of the box! Loving TPE over TPU!
Now I need to design and print the Hilux motor cover that was the main reason of getting this stuff.

Now I need to design and print the Hilux motor cover that was the main reason of getting this stuff.
I build RCs like people would have done back in the '90s ..................................... if they had 3D printers.
-
- Approved Member
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2022 1:42 pm
- Location: Cut and Shoot Texas
- Been thanked: 19 times
Re: Looking For A Flat Black TPU Filament
Maybe try fuzzy skin? In Cura you can do this and it creates a textured outer wall, may give you the finish you are looking for.
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute
Sign in
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 18 Replies
- 3294 Views
-
Last post by jwscab
-
- 5 Replies
- 1613 Views
-
Last post by Coelacanth
-
- 4 Replies
- 634 Views
-
Last post by XLR8
-
- 2 Replies
- 1124 Views
-
Last post by silvertriple
-
- 2 Replies
- 541 Views
-
Last post by GreenBar0n
-
- 6 Replies
- 848 Views
-
Last post by Lowgear
-
- 10 Replies
- 1342 Views
-
Last post by Ruffy
-
- 0 Replies
- 984 Views
-
Last post by mikea96
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests