A Faster-To-Print TPU Alternative? Check Out This PEBA Kickstarter
Synbotron, seemingly a new player in 3D printer filaments, has launched its PEBA filament on Kickstarter, and with it some bold claims.
Synbotron is not a name we’re familiar with in 3D printing filaments, but the company is gearing up to launch its polyether block amide (PEBA) filament over on Kickstarter. Its press release touts a long history of expertise in PEBA development, and the new filament is being positioned as a superior alternative to traditional TPU, the most popular flexible consumer material.
According to the company, its PEBA offers unmatched elasticity, durability, and print efficiency. Synbotron states it is twice as fast to print with as TPU, with a volumetric flow rate of 7.2 mm³/s, which, if true, could bring down a lot of print times. It is also marketed as being 15-20% lighter than TPU, possibly opening up some opportunities in applications where weight is a factor.
If these claims are delivered on, it could make it a highly desirable material for a wide range of uses, from robotics to wearable tech.
The company’s online presence seems to be rather limited, but its common for smaller organizations to launch on Kickstarter. It’s even a common marketing strategy for larger firms too, but as the company’s press release claims Synbotron is an industry leader, it has left us with some doubts.
The Kickstarter kicked off today however, and the company also has a website set up. Material from the website quotes this YouTube channel as a source, so you can watch some videos of the material in action there too. Also of note, the Kickstarter page has a handful of videos from various people who’ve gone hands on with it. Shipping is expected to begin in October 2025, and pledges begin at $49 for an 800 g spool.
Two PEBAs are offered to put a pledge behind — 85A and 90A. The brief differences are that 85A is stretchier but has greater tensile strength and is more resistant to rebound force, whereas 90A has superior strength in flexibility, but trades this for less resistance to tearing and stretching.
If Synbotron’s PEBA lives up to the stated benefits – including an elongation at break exceeding 500% and high impact resistance – it looks like we might have a pretty fun material on our hands. We’ll be keeping an eye on it!
Editor's Note – This article highlights a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Kickstarter is not a shop; campaigns are under no legal obligation to deliver on crowdfunding promises, nor offer refunds on unfulfilled campaign rewards. For more insight, read our article 8 Things to Watch for When Backing a 3D Printing Kickstarter.
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