So I got some of the new AMS compatible TPU and printed something off with it. It printed perfectly. I was super impressed. so I tried to print another of the same exact thing. Nothing. It will not print. it stops extruding most of the time before it even completes the first layer. I have tried everything I can think of to get it to print. some times it gets on the 2nd layer before it stops extruding. I can load and unload the filament fine.
I changed the extruder and the hotend,
I cut a section of the filament off to make sure it was not thinner.
I let the printer set for 4 hours with the doors open and fans on to make sure it was as cool as it was when the first print was done.
I dried the filament for 12 hours before the first print.
other filaments work correctly.
I tried lowering the pressure and speeding up the first layer.
I tried raising and lowering the temperatures for both the build plate and hotend.
I lowered the volumetric speed from 18 to 15.
Probably a few more things I don’t remember right now. I have the TPU set as PLA, which is what it was set at the first time. right now pressure is set to .98 it is set to print at 230c, volumetric is set to 18. first layer is set at 50 outer wall 100 inner wall 200 sparse infill set at 200 internal solid infill 200 top surface 200 gap infill 220. these are the settings I used for the successful print. I really don’t know what else to do.
the file maybe got corrupted some how. I did all of the calibration tests, and they all printed fine and they all confirmed the calibration was already correct. I then imported the same step files into a new project and manually put all the settings to the same thing they were in the other project. so far it is printing just fine. I really am not sure what happened in the other project.
Studio can fool you. It prompts any time you exit or load a file to save anything that changed and that can cause problems if you do it without meaning to.
Ok so it failed after about 2 hours of printing. it stopped extruding again. When i pulled the TPU out the end is chewed up. This time it is acting a little more like heat creep. that or maybe the filament end is getting damaged a little when doing a filament change? I have not tried replacing the blades to see if that helps. I was printing with the door open and the chamber temp was only 35c, so I wouldn’t think that would have been enough but maybe it is. I am really at a loss here. If I did not have 1 perfect print with these settings I would not be as confused. but the first print was flawless as far as printing goes. the design needed a small tweak.
I even have that new Sunlu S4 thing and have yet to even try it, normally I am quick to play with new and shiny toys. It is just so big, I having trouble finding room to put it amongst my farm.
I am using orcaslicer, I may try it in bambu studio, if nothing else I can get the exact profile they are using and make sure mine matches that. I also may try drying it again. it was sealed in the ams after drying buy trying to rule everything out I can.
So I just opened bambu studio and I still can not select the TPU for AMS option. it shows then it disappears and just shows a ? I have read this is because the firmware for the ams needs to be updated. it doesn’t show an update available though
yes, it shows up in bambu studio, and on the printer if i do it from there, and even in the ios app, but in all of them shortly after selecting it, it goes back to a ? I had this when they added the HF TPU also. I don’t remember the fix, I think it was just an update once released.
As stated above, there is now a profile for AMS TPU in Bambu slicer. This worked perfectly for me. I would add that no one should expect a rubber like finish from this TPU. It’s more of a resilient, somewhat flexible plastic. For my specific application of thin plastic car parts, it’s actually perfect. For really flexible parts, I still use Ninjaflex. Of course, I don’t have an AMS, so really flexible TPU prints just fine.
