CHCKX

TPU 98A · 1.75 MM ±0.03 · SHORE 98A

TPU 98A

Flexible, not vague: Shore 98A with the fullest settings row we sell.

$15.99 (multi-packs to $89.99) on Amazon US

Flexible filament has a reputation for guesswork, so TPU 98A ships with the most complete verified settings row in the CHCKX catalog: Shore 98A, nozzle 210 to 230 °C, bed 0 to 35 °C, speed 30 to 100 mm/s, and a drying schedule of 5 to 8 hours at 60 °C before use. No folklore, just the numbers on the page.

The 98A hardness is the practical sweet spot: soft enough for gaskets, bumpers, and phone-case flex, firm enough to feed through a stock extruder without spaghetti. Fourteen colors cover it, including a Transparent that prints into genuinely useful seals and light covers.

COLOR LIBRARY

14 colors on the wall.

  • Black
  • White
  • Gray
  • Red
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Yellow
  • Orange
  • Purple
  • Skin
  • Silver
  • Brown
  • Pink
  • Transparent

Color names are shown in English as listed on Amazon.

THE DATASHEET

Every spool documented.

At a glance

Best for
Gaskets, seals, and O-ring stand-ins · Bumpers, feet, and vibration dampers · Phone cases and device sleeves
Nozzle temp
210–230 °C
Bed temp
0–35 °C
Drying
5–8 h @ 60 °C before use
Price on Amazon US
$15.99 (multi-packs to $89.99)

The spec sheet

Property Value
Diameter 1.75 mm
Tolerance ±0.03 mm
Shore hardness 98A
Nozzle temp 210–230 °C
Bed temp 0–35 °C
Print speed 30–100 mm/s
Drying 5–8 h @ 60 °C before use
Density ~1.21 g/cm³

Values shown are representative for this material class. Final figures come from the manufacturer's datasheet. Request the TDS for batch-specific data.

= Industry-representative value

PRINT SETTINGS

Dial these in first.

98A

Shore hardness

210–230 °C

Nozzle temp

0–35 °C

Bed temp

30–100 mm/s

Print speed

5–8 h @ 60 °C before use

Drying

USE-CASE GUIDANCE

Where it earns its keep.

Feed it like you mean it

Direct-drive extruders print TPU happiest. On Bowden setups, slow to the bottom of the 30 to 100 mm/s range and shorten retractions until stringing settles. The strand is a spring: the shorter and more constrained the filament path, the better.

See PCTG

Dry it first, every time

TPU drinks moisture faster than any rigid filament, and wet TPU bubbles at the nozzle. The verified schedule is 5 to 8 hours at 60 °C before use. Spools arrive dried and vacuum-sealed with desiccant; once opened, plan on re-drying before long jobs.

See PETG

Design for the flex

Infill percentage becomes a hardness dial in TPU: 20% prints a squishy bumper, 80% a firm wheel. Print seals as single-wall spirals where you can, and let the Shore 98A base do the sealing.

See PLA

Print tips

  • Stay between 210 and 230 °C; hotter TPU strings, colder TPU jams.
  • Bed at 0 to 35 °C. TPU grips bare PEI hard; cooler beds release easier.
  • Slow down: 30 mm/s for fine parts, up to 100 mm/s once tuned.
  • Dry 5 to 8 hours at 60 °C before use; bubbles and steam mean wet TPU.
  • Reduce retraction distance and speed; flexibles hate sharp yanks.

THE HONEST BIT

Good at this. Not at that.

Every material has a job. Here is where this one belongs, and where it does not.

Best for

  • Gaskets, seals, and O-ring stand-ins
  • Bumpers, feet, and vibration dampers
  • Phone cases and device sleeves
  • Wheels, treads, and grips
  • Living hinges that survive real use

Not ideal for

FAQ

Buyer questions, straight answers.

What does Shore 98A actually feel like?

Like a skateboard wheel or a stiff shoe sole. It bends and rebounds, but a thick part still feels solid in the hand. Softer than 95A gel-type TPUs, firmer than a silicone band.

Will it work with my Bowden extruder?

98A is on the firm side, which is exactly why we stock it: it feeds through Bowden setups that softer TPUs defeat. Print at the slow end of the speed range and tune retraction down.

Why does the bed run at 0 to 35 °C?

TPU bonds aggressively to build surfaces. A cool bed protects your sheet and your part; heat is only there to help the first layer settle, not to hold the print down.

Is the Transparent really clear?

Translucent-clear in thin walls, frosted in thick sections, like every flexible on the market. Printed slowly and dry, single-wall parts pass enough light for seals, covers, and diffusers.

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WHOLESALE · DISTRIBUTION

Need TPU 98A by the pallet?

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