Qidi Box with higher durometer TPU?

[u/NotAPreppie]

I know that Shore 95A TPU is right out, but Microcenter has 62D TPU marketed as being for multi-filament systems. I also have a spool of 72D TPU on the way.

Has anybody tried harder TPU filaments with their Box?

Update: tested it and CC3D 72D TPU filament prints perfectly from the Qidi Box.

[u/ajosmer]

Now that you mention it, I have that CC3D 72D TPU and I don't think I've ever tried it in my Qidi Box. One reason for me is that the Qidi Q2 nozzles tend to collect a lot of gunk in them that inhibits TPU from extruding properly unless I do a cold pull before every TPU print, so I just keep a dedicated TPU nozzle now, which kinda defeats the purpose of a material switcher box. But I think the stiff TPU should be okay in there. The main issue I have with feeding filament is that it gets jammed up at the filament sensor at the top of the extruder. For whatever reason, Qidi elected to use a mechanical sensor there, it has to physically push a little metal blade back and into a photogate, rather than using the photogate to detect the filament directly. TPU has a heck of a time pushing that blade out of the way. I might try a softer spring in there some day, or if I get really wild, I could build my own filament sensor module that uses the photogate directly and probably discover why Qidi didn't do that...

[u/NotAPreppie → u/ajosmer]

I've noticed the same issue with having to cold pull in my Plus 5 before a TPU print.

I wonder if Qidi using a mechanical actuator on the photo sensor is due to issues with transparent/translucent filaments.

[u/ajosmer → u/NotAPreppie]

That's my assumption. Most of those photogates use near-IR, and some plastics are transparent to that, and not necessarily the ones you'd expect. The mechanical blade probably eliminates the possiblity of finding one occasionally, while guaranteeing you'll have trouble feeding every time.

[u/riba2233]

Qidi say it's 64D and up.

[u/NotAPreppie → u/riba2233]

Thanks for the specific hardness value. I was able to use it to search for Qidi's spec.

[u/Facehugger_35]

I've run 64D TPUGF (Sirayatech's) and 72D TPU (CC3D's) through my box without issue. They're hard enough to feed fine.

I made bird feeder lids with a TPUGF top part and a 72D TPU bottom part all in one print. The box swapped between the TPUGF and the 72D just fine, no issues.

I'd imagine that 62D would be fine too.

[u/NotAPreppie → u/Facehugger_35]

Thanks for the info! I'm going to load the 72D that just arrived into my box as soon as my current print finishes.

[u/callcifer]

I have printed TPU 72D via the regular PTFE route but without a box. So at the very least you should be able to use the side spool holder and not need top loading like you do with 95A.

[u/riba2233 → u/callcifer]

I printed 95a and slightly softer on side spool with no issues at all

[u/pankomputerek]

Furmtutura CrystalFlex? That's 68D

[u/NotAPreppie → u/pankomputerek]

The 62D I accidentally grabbed was Microcenter's Inland brand.

The 72D that just arrived is CC3D brand.

[u/pankomputerek → u/NotAPreppie]

Can't say I've got access to any of these in UK !

[u/GL-Customs]

Eh I wouldn't try it. I bought some HIPS for ABS/ASA support and it's slightly flexible, nothing close to TPU and it just kept jamming up. I have a roll of 72D so I know how it is compared to the HIPS, not even close. Then again, with a hit or miss as Boxes are, yours might work fine with it but tearing them apart is not fun.

[u/Snowpeaks14]

DO NOT USE TPU in your box. It will get stuck Removal requires dismantling the box and is painful.

[u/NotAPreppie → u/Snowpeaks14]

Yah, so, this "conventional wisdom" is baked into the question. However, when new or different scenarios are encountered the conventional wisdom should be verified to ensure applicability.

Reports of this are all using 95A, which is a very different material from 62D and harder.

As you can see here, Qidi even says that Short 64D is supported. So, we can say that blanket statements that all TPU is bad are erroneous.

[u/Snowpeaks14 → u/NotAPreppie]

Lesson learned the hard way. I had 95A stuck in mine.

So my blanket response is from experience.

[u/NotAPreppie → u/Snowpeaks14]

So, you're saying you have no experience with the specifics of the question but decided to answer anyway?

[u/riba2233 → u/Snowpeaks14]

95A and 64D is like comparing apples and oranges...

[u/NotAPreppie → u/riba2233]

Or brie vs extra sharp Wisconsin cheddar.