How to print Flexible Filament on Direct Drive Ender 3 3D Printer

I just printed a hoopin cable clip from Thingiverse by Haku3D in TPU with my Ender 3 V3 KE. I used Creality Print and the included TPU profile. I used 2mm retraction (7mm did not work and did not finish the print. The filament stopped flowing the last part and I attempted it 2 times and it failed 2 times.) and 40mm/s retraction speed. I printed it at 100mm/s with a layer height of 0.2mm, an Initial layer speed of 30mm/s and a flow rate of 115%. I had no problems and finished 2 prints, 1 at 60mm/s and 1 at 100mm/s. Both look good.

Awesome, I just came up with something I need printed in TPU, I'm glad you made this video recently!

Hey! Excellent calibration strategy! Thank you for sharing it!

Thanks, I've got my first TPU arriving tomorrow and I'm happy to try this profile.

@FilamentFriday Chep, I for sure would be interested in building the same filament tester you built. Thank you for sharing your work with the rest of us. Great content!

Grabbed this and I'm tuning it on my Artillery Sidewinder right now. The "Outer wall inset" that was set on the profile was causing issues for me so I removed that setting. I tend to print smaller objects in TPU so it may be fine on larger things. So far the print is looking great. I'm so excited to not have to deal with all the strings anymore. Thank you!

Thank You CHUCK. I’m currently not printing in TPU but I know it’s coming soon. And this setting will help TY

Just tried this on my ender 3 thats got the newer silent board, direct drive and cr touch. I was having lots of issues before with vase mode and non sticking of layers etc. Used your profile and still a few minor issues, so dropped the speed a little and thickness to 0.2mm and it works great! Thanks :)

Your profiles are GOATED, thx They really helped me to get my prints right Keep up the good work, take care

Thanks! Copied the retraction settings into OrcaSlicer for my Ender 3 S1 and it works perfectly! Been struggling printing tpu and never thought to up the retraction that high on direct drive. I previously had it at 0.5 and it was a mess.

I print a lot of flexible and all I do to tune out the stringing is run a standard retraction tower for both distance and speed. 0 stringing with TPU/TPE from 95a to 90A to Ninaflex. Benchy's with no stringing. Printing with combos Orbiter/REVO, MS Direct Drive/MS all metal hotend, LGXLite/Phaetus Dragonfly, Bondtech with MS all metal hotend, and BTT BQH2 . Works with all of them - no stringing after two simple tests. Just keep it simple.....

I'm embarrassed that I watched a half dozen videos before this one. Thank you for saying the opposite of turn off your retraction and explaining why. Thank you for pointing out the temperature difference between the spool and the website. All my tpu prints at 195-205 and I truly thought something was wrong that made no sense. I follow a could other people I thought that knew what they were talking about and they all said to just deal with the stringing.

Interesting way to calibrate! Well done.

I like the methodology. Great results!!

That's a great way to estimate retraction. I wish I'd thought of it. I just happen to have a spare Creality v1.1.3 board so that's a forthcoming project for me.

How is this smiling unassuming genius so smart!

Sweet! Really interesting indeed! 😃 Thanks, Chuck!!! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

Just did my very first TPU print (of course of the octopus... seems perfectly fitting!) on my new Ender 3 V3 SE, only after reassuring my good ole' reliable pal V2 that he's still the PLA champ in my books 🤣 The direct drive and auto leveling on the V3 SE made it much easier to try TPU and it came out nearly perfect with this Cura profile. I'm still not sure how they were able to put these parts together and still make a profit but I'm very happy with it. Anyway cheers for guiding us all through this fun hobby and sharing your knowledge with us! 🍻

Wow interesting. I have just started in TPU after many years of PLA. having under extrusion issues but as I am adding a direct drive i might give this a crack!

I'd be interested in a TPU tester for sure!