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 µm12022. PostPro systems smooth TPU from MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS2, and TPE on the SF50 and SF100.

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No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks3

TPU bellows as printed, with a rough gray surfaceAs printed
The same TPU bellows after PostPro vapor smoothing, with a smooth, sealed surfaceVapor smoothed
PhotoThe same 3D printed TPU bellows before and after PostPro vapor smoothing. Not retouched.
Surface roughness
13.42 → 1.18 µm12022
BASF Ultrasint TPU01 · HP MJF
Systems
SFX · SF2X · SF50 · SF1004
TPU listed
Processes
MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS2
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 µm12022 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 vehicles52023.

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 µm12022

    Surface roughness, as printed to vapor smoothed BASF Ultrasint TPU01 · HP MJF

  • Production

    60,000 parts, needed quickly to avoid delaying 30,000 vehicles52023

    Spoiler closeout seals HP MJF, BASF Ultrasint TPU01 → vapor smoothed

Ultrasint TPU01 whitepaper GM case study

FOOTAGEWater 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
ProcessMaterialPostPro PureFA326FA9202
MJFForward AM TPU6ListedListedNot listed
MJFLubrizol TPU6ListedNot listedNot listed

Listed by AMT— Not listedPostPro Pure runs in every PostPro system; FA326 on the SF50 and SF100; FA9202 for polypropylene.

Material lists as published on each PostPro product page.4

Material lists as published on each PostPro product page.4

In production

TPU parts in service.

Published stories on vapor-smoothed elastomer parts.

  • GMHP MJF · Ultrasint TPU01

    Spoiler closeout seals

    60,000 parts, needed quickly to avoid delaying 30,000 vehicles52023

  • OrthobrokerHP MJF · PA11 and TPU

    Orthoses for daily wear

    Reliable, consistent quality for both custom and serial production7

Questions

TPU vapor smoothing: questions.

Short answers from AMT’s published tests and material lists. Anything else, ask an engineer.

Can TPU be vapor smoothed?

Yes. TPU from MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS2 is on AMT’s material lists. On Ultrasint TPU01 printed by HP MJF, surface roughness went from 13.42 → 1.18 µm12022.

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. 01Quote

    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

  2. 02ROI

    Calculate your ROI

    Compare your cost per part with manual finishing, using your own labor rate and volumes. Every assumption is editable.

    Calculate ROI

  3. 03Benchmark

    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

    No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks3

Prices: AMT list prices, excluding tax and shipping; confirmed in your formal quote.

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