3d printing gurus, a TPU/ninjaflex question

[Andy Sayle]

Morning all.

I've got an Ultimaker 2 printer.  I run it on PLA almost exclusively,  mainly because it lives in my office, and ABS stinks.  I've recently tried printing Ninjaflex and TPU on it, with really poor results.  The main issue is that the Ultimaker material feed uses a bowden cable arrangement where there is about 500mm of filament between the feeder and the hotend.

Rather than try and make do, I'm considering a second printer, set up exclusively for TPU.  I don't have the money to be spending ultimaker type cash again, so can anyone recommend a printer that can print TPU reliably, and accurately?  I don't mind if it is a kit build too.  The build volume doesn't need to be as big asmartphone the UM2 too, 150x150mm bed would be pleeeenty.

Cheers
Andy.

[pk-surfing]

Subscribed
Watching with interest (my printer also has the Bowden tube feed)

PK

[luvbus]

So does mine but after installing an updated extruder it works really well.
Where I am coming from, it is possible to get a Bowden feed printer to work with TPU.
Some of it is software related as the printer needs to accept some feed slip on the feed rollers and some is physical in having a smooth path for the filament to run to the hot head.
My printer (Robox) has a tube of about 300mm which may help.....

[Andy Sayle]

That's interesting.  I've just assumed that it would always be a poor solution, a compromise if you like, and that using an extruder that has the feeder as close as possible would be the best in terms of performance.

If I'm being honest here, I'm trying to justify (both to myself, and SWMBO!) getting another printer though ;)

Andy

[luvbus]

Having the extruder at the hot end is the ideal but CEL have shown it is possible to get great results with the Robox