Making Wearables with Your Bambu Lab? Here’s Why TPU 85A & 90A Are Ideal

Designing wearables with 3D printing requires materials that are flexible, durable, and comfortable. Whether you're making wristbands, straps, phone grips, or soft enclosures, you need a filament that can handle movement and skin contact — without breaking or cracking.

That’s where Bambu Lab’s TPU 85A and TPU 90A come in. In this post, we’ll explore the key differences between the two, what kinds of applications they’re suited for, and tips for printing flexible parts successfully on your Bambu Lab printer.

🔹 Bambu Lab TPU 85A: Maximum Flexibility

🔹 TPU 85A – Ultra-Soft & Stretchy

Bambu Lab TPU 85A is the softest TPU option in their lineup. It's ideal for wearable parts that need to stretch, flex, and compress frequently without losing shape.

Best For:

• Watch straps

• Insoles or orthopedic pads

• Gaskets and seals

• Shock-absorbing gear

• Skin-contact accessories

Key Features:

• Shore hardness: 85A (very soft)

• High elongation and rebound

• Requires slower print speeds and extra drying

• Not recommended for use inside the AMS due to its softness

🔸 Bambu Lab TPU 90A: Balanced Performance

TPU 90A is slightly stiffer, offering a balance between flexibility and form stability. It’s great for:

• Flexible clips or mounts

• Grippy handles

• Semi-rigid straps

• Durable wearable enclosures

Key Features:

• Shore hardness: 90A

• Easier to print than 85A

• Better dimensional accuracy

• Still soft enough for body contact

💡 Ideal for prints where some flexibility is needed but structural strength matters too.

🖨️ Tips for Printing TPU on Bambu Lab Printers

Printing TPU — especially softer grades like 85A — can be tricky without the right setup. Here's how to get great results on the Bambu Lab X1C, P1S, or P1P:

• Print slowly: 20–40 mm/s for better accuracy and layer bonding

• Disable AMS: Feed filament directly via side port

• Dry the filament: TPU absorbs moisture quickly; dry at ~55°C for 6–8 hours

• Minimize retractions: Excessive retraction can lead to jams

• Use direct drive settings: Bambu Lab printers are well-equipped for flexibles

🏁 Final Thoughts

If you're serious about printing wearables, TPU is the material of choice — and Bambu Lab's TPU 85A and 90A give you two great options. Choose TPU 85A for maximum softness and stretch, or TPU 90A when you want more structure and ease of use.

Both offer the comfort, durability, and flexibility needed for body-worn or impact-resistant prints — with full compatibility on Bambu Lab's high-performance 3D printers.