About Creality HP-TPU Flexible Filament

Creality HP-TPU is a high-speed flexible 3D printing filament made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Engineered by Creality, a global leader in 3D printing with over 5 million printers shipped worldwide, HP-TPU breaks the long-standing trade-off between flexibility and print speed. Ordinary flexible filaments typically max out at 20-40mm/s; HP-TPU prints reliably at speeds up to 120mm/s — 3 to 5 times faster — while delivering uniform color, smooth surfaces, and the elasticity that flexible parts require. The filament is optimized for use with Creality's direct extrusion kit, which grips flexible material reliably and prevents the under-extrusion and stringing that plague Bowden setups.

Key Specifications

HP-TPU vs Standard TPU vs PLA

Recommended Print Settings

• Nozzle temperature: 210-230°C (recommended: 220°C)
• Bed temperature: 40-60°C
• Print speed: 30-120mm/s (start at 40mm/s, increase once extrusion is stable)
• Layer height: 0.16-0.28mm
• Cooling fan: 50-100% (after first layer)
• Retraction: minimize or disable (0-0.5mm) to prevent flexible filament jamming
• Infill: 15-30% for flexible parts, 100% for solid functional parts
• Extrusion type: Direct Drive strongly recommended
• Build surface: PEI sheet, glass with glue, or blue painter's tape

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Creality HP-TPU Flexible Filament?

Creality HP-TPU is a high-speed flexible 3D printing filament made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). It is engineered to print 3-5x faster than ordinary TPU filaments at speeds up to 120mm/s while delivering excellent flexibility, elasticity, and surface smoothness.

How fast can HP-TPU print?

HP-TPU prints at speeds up to 120mm/s, which is 3 to 5 times faster than ordinary TPU filaments that typically print at 20-40mm/s. This makes HP-TPU one of the fastest flexible filaments on the market, ideal for both prototyping and production.

Is HP-TPU truly flexible after printing?

Yes. HP-TPU produces finished models with high elasticity and flexibility. Prints can be bent, twisted, and compressed repeatedly without cracking or layer separation, making HP-TPU suitable for gaskets, phone cases, shoe soles, hinges, and other flexible functional parts.

Which 3D printers work with HP-TPU?

HP-TPU is optimized for Creality 3D printers equipped with a direct extrusion kit, such as the Ender series with the Creality direct drive conversion, K1, K1 Max, K1C, and CR-M4. Direct drive extrusion is strongly recommended for flexible filaments to prevent jamming and under-extrusion. HP-TPU can also be used on other FDM printers that have a direct drive extruder.

What colors does HP-TPU come in?

HP-TPU is currently available in three classic colors: Black, White, and Transparent. Additional colors may be released by Creality over time.

What are the recommended print settings for HP-TPU?

Recommended print settings for HP-TPU are: nozzle temperature 210-230°C, bed temperature 40-60°C, print speed 30-120mm/s, retraction off or very low (0.2-0.5mm), and direct drive extrusion. Disable or minimize retraction to prevent flexible filament jamming.

What can I print with HP-TPU?

HP-TPU is suitable for flexible phone cases, watch bands, gaskets and seals, shoe insoles, hinges, drone parts, vibration dampers, RC car tires, soft robotics, medical models, toys, and any application requiring rubber-like flexibility and durability.

What is the difference between TPU and regular PLA?

TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is a flexible, rubber-like material, while PLA is a rigid biodegradable plastic. TPU can be bent, stretched, and compressed, whereas PLA is brittle. TPU typically prints at lower speeds and benefits from direct drive extrusion, but produces parts with far greater impact resistance and flexibility than PLA.

About Creality

Creality is a global leader in 3D printing technology, founded in 2014 in Shenzhen, China. With over 5 million 3D printers shipped worldwide, Creality offers a comprehensive ecosystem of FDM 3D printers, resin printers, filaments, and software — including the popular Ender, K1, and CR-M4 series. Creality Cloud provides one of the largest free 3D model libraries in the world with over 300,000 ready-to-print designs.