--- title: "TPU Vapor Smoothing for Elastomer Parts | AMT PostPro" description: "TPU vapor smoothing with PostPro: Ultrasint TPU01 roughness results, sealed and cleanable elastomer parts, GM production seals, agents and systems." canonical: https://amtechnologies.com/materials/tpu/ updated: 2026-10-07 type: material --- Materials · Elastomers # Vapor smoothing TPU and TPE parts. TPU vapor smoothing reflows the rough, porous skin of a 3D printed elastomer part into a smooth, sealed surface that wipes clean. On BASF Ultrasint TPU01 printed by HP MJF, AMT measured surface roughness going from 13.42 → 1.18 µm[1]. PostPro systems smooth TPU from MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS[2], and TPE on the SF50 and SF100. [Test your parts, free](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/submit?utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=material-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=tpu-tpu-hero) [Get a price](https://amtechnologies.com/configurator/) No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks[3] ![TPU bellows as printed, with a rough gray surface](https://amtechnologies.ai/img/ba-bellows-before-960.webp) As printed · ![The same TPU bellows after PostPro vapor smoothing, with a smooth, sealed surface](https://amtechnologies.ai/img/ba-bellows-after-960.webp) Vapor smoothed · Photo · The same 3D printed TPU bellows before and after PostPro vapor smoothing. Not retouched. - **Surface roughness**: 13.42 → 1.18 µm[1] - BASF Ultrasint TPU01 · HP MJF - **Systems**: SFX · SF2X · SF50 · SF100[4] - TPU listed - **Processes**: MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS[2] - TPU Why smooth TPU ## Flexible parts need a closed skin. TPU lattices, seals, bellows and grips are printed for flexibility and comfort. As printed, their surface is rough and open, so it traps dirt, absorbs liquids and feels coarse. 1. ### Sealed lattices and seals Vapor reaches every strut of a lattice and every fold of a bellows, so the whole surface closes, including the faces no tool can reach. 2. ### Smoother by an order of magnitude Ultrasint TPU01 went from 13.42 → 1.18 µm[1] in surface roughness after PostPro vapor smoothing. 3. ### Cleanable, comfortable A closed, smooth skin wipes clean and feels better against skin, for grips, straps and orthoses. 4. ### Proven at volume GM used vapor-smoothed TPU01 spoiler closeout seals in production: 60,000 parts, needed quickly to avoid delaying 30,000 vehicles[5]. Proof ## Sealed against water. The water test below was filmed on two TPU bellows printed together: the drop beads on the vapor-smoothed part and soaks into the as-printed one. - Surface 13.42 → 1.18 µm[1] Surface roughness, as printed to vapor smoothed BASF Ultrasint TPU01 · HP MJF - Production 60,000 parts, needed quickly to avoid delaying 30,000 vehicles[5] Spoiler closeout seals HP MJF, BASF Ultrasint TPU01 → vapor smoothed [Ultrasint TPU01 whitepaper](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/whitepapers/surface-enhancement-of-ultrasint-tpu01-parts-by-postpro-vapor-smoothing/) [GM case study](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/case-studies/basf-ultrasint-tpu01/) FOOTAGE · Water test: a drop beads on the vapor-smoothed bellows (left) and soaks into the as-printed one (right). Agents and systems ## Which agent, which machine. Forward AM TPU runs with PostPro Pure or FA326; Lubrizol TPU with PostPro Pure. Every system lists TPU; TPE is listed on the SF50 and SF100. **TPU by printing process and finishing agent** | Process | Material | PostPro Pure | FA326 | FA9202 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | MJF | Forward AM TPU[6] | Listed | Listed | Not listed | | MJF | Lubrizol TPU[6] | Listed | Not listed | Not listed | - [SFX Desktop TPU listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sfx-desktop-vapor-smoothing-system/) - [SF2X Desktop, double chamber TPU listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf2x/) - [SF50 Production TPU listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf50/) - [SF100 High volume TPU listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf100/) Material lists as published on each PostPro product page.[4] - [SFX Desktop Confirm with AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sfx-desktop-vapor-smoothing-system/) - [SF2X Desktop, double chamber Confirm with AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf2x/) - [SF50 Production TPE listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf50/) - [SF100 High volume TPE listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf100/) Material lists as published on each PostPro product page.[4] In production ## TPU parts in service. Published stories on vapor-smoothed elastomer parts. - GM HP MJF · Ultrasint TPU01 ### [Spoiler closeout seals](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/case-studies/basf-ultrasint-tpu01/) 60,000 parts, needed quickly to avoid delaying 30,000 vehicles[5] - Orthobroker HP MJF · PA11 and TPU ### [Orthoses for daily wear](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/case-studies/3d-printed-orthoses-with-vapor-smoothing/) Reliable, consistent quality for both custom and serial production[7] Questions ## TPU vapor smoothing: questions. Short answers from AMT’s published tests and material lists. Anything else, [ask an engineer](https://share.hsforms.com/1lOH82JpuRdSM-4wJ1ZeYlw45o6d?website_source=Vapor+Smoothing&utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=material-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=tpu-talk). ### Can TPU be vapor smoothed? Yes. TPU from MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS[2] is on AMT’s material lists. On Ultrasint TPU01 printed by HP MJF, surface roughness went from 13.42 → 1.18 µm[1]. ### Does vapor smoothing seal TPU lattices? The vapor reaches every exposed strut and surface of a lattice, so the whole part is finished at once, including faces a tool cannot reach. Very fine or deep lattices are worth a test part first. ### Which consumable is used for TPU? Forward AM TPU runs with PostPro Pure or FA326, and Lubrizol TPU with PostPro Pure.[6] ### Which PostPro systems handle TPU and TPE? All four PostPro systems list TPU. TPE is listed on the SF50 and SF100; for the SFX and SF2X, ask AMT.[4] Next step ## See the price. Run the numbers. Hold the part. List prices are public and the cost-per-part math is yours to check, with no email needed for either. The free benchmark puts your own parts, vapor smoothed, in your hands. 1. 01 Quote ### Build your quote Pick a system and its options and get an itemized total on screen, from AMT’s published list prices. [Build your quote](https://amtechnologies.com/quote/) 2. 02 ROI ### Calculate your ROI Compare your cost per part with manual finishing, using your own labor rate and volumes. Every assumption is editable. [Calculate ROI](https://amtechnologies.com/roi/) 3. 03 Benchmark ### Test your parts, free Ship us your parts with a prepaid label. We vapor smooth them and send them back with before-and-after photos and a benchmark report. [Test your parts, free](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/submit?utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=material-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=tpu-decision) No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks[3] Prices: AMT list prices, excluding tax and shipping; confirmed in your formal quote. [Not sure which system? Help me choose](https://amtechnologies.com/configurator/) ## Sources 1. [Ultrasint TPU01 enhancement with PostPro vapor smoothing (whitepaper)](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/whitepapers/surface-enhancement-of-ultrasint-tpu01-parts-by-postpro-vapor-smoothing/) · AMT · Nov 7, 2022 2. [Vapor smoothing consumables: PostPro Pure (FA5802), FA326 and FA9202](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/consumables/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026 3. [PostPro benchmarking: send us your 3D printed parts](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026 4. [Vapor smoothing: SF and X-series family page and SFX, SF2X, SF50, SF100 product pages](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026 · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sfx-desktop-vapor-smoothing-system/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf2x/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf50/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf100/) 5. [GM's success: vapor smoothing for automotive production (spoiler closeout seal case study)](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/case-studies/basf-ultrasint-tpu01/) · AMT · Jan 23, 2023 · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/industries/automotive/) · also [Forward AM](https://forward-am.com/gain-knowledge/blog/additive-manufacturing-gets-cars-into-showrooms/) 6. [AMT PostPro brochure: automated post-processing systems for additive manufacturing, V4.0 (June 2026)](https://info.amtechnologies.com/download-document?document_name=brochure) · AMT · Jun 2026 7. [3D-printed orthoses enabled with vapor smoothing (Orthobroker case study)](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/case-studies/3d-printed-orthoses-with-vapor-smoothing/) · AMT · Oct 9, 2025