Community guideMaterials / TPU
Vapor smoothing TPU and other elastomers: what AMT has published
Flexible parts make some of the most striking vapor smoothing examples: lattices, seals, grips and wearables.
Compatibility
- TPU is listed as compatible on all four PostPro systems (SFX, SF2X, SF50 and SF100). PostPro Pure and FA326 both list TPU.
- TPE is listed for the SF50 and SF100, with FA326.
Published results
- Surface roughness. BASF Ultrasint TPU01 on HP MJF: roughness from 13.42 µm to 1.18 µm after PostPro vapor smoothing (AMT whitepaper, Nov 2022).
- Production. GM’s spoiler closeout seals in BASF Ultrasint TPU01, printed on HP MJF and vapor smoothed: 60,000 parts, needed quickly to avoid delaying 30,000 vehicles42023 (AMT case study, Jan 2023). See Case study: GM spoiler closeout seals, 60,000 vapor smoothed TPU parts (opens the community forum in a new tab).
Examples you can see
The lattice saddle (MJF TPU) and the TPU bellows are in AMT gallery: before and after vapor smoothing.
Racking flexible parts
Soft parts need support that does not distort them. Join the discussion in Share your best racking setup for TPU lattices (opens the community forum in a new tab).
Sources
- Vapor smoothing: SF and X-series family page and SFX, SF2X, SF50, SF100 product pages
- Vapor smoothing consumables: PostPro Pure (FA5802), FA326 and FA9202
- Ultrasint TPU01 enhancement with PostPro vapor smoothing (whitepaper)
- GM’s success: vapor smoothing for automotive production (spoiler closeout seal case study)