Bambu Studio - Flashforge Flexible PLA Settings for A1 Best Generic TPU Profile Tweaks

Flashforge Flexible PLA can turn a clean Bambu A1 print job into a stringy, blobby mess if the slicer treats it like PLA or TPU. The good news is that the A1 handles flexible filament well when the Generic TPU profile is slowed down, cooled correctly, and given direct-drive-friendly retraction.

This guide gives you a practical starting profile for Flashforge Flexible PLA using Generic TPU profile in Bambu Studio on the A1. It is built around a 220°C nozzle, 50°C textured PEI bed, 5-10 mm³/s max volumetric speed, and slower wall and travel speeds to keep the filament under control.

Use these settings as a baseline, then make small changes for your specific spool. Flashforge Flexible PLA varies a lot between materials, hardness ratings, colors, and moisture levels.

Flashforge Flex PLA performs best when speed, temperature, and retraction work together.

Start with the Generic TPU profile in Bambu Studio

Do not build the profile from scratch unless you have a reason to. Bambu Studio already gives you a workable Generic TPU base. The better move is to duplicate that profile and tune it for Flashforge Flexible PLA on an A1.

In Bambu Studio, start with:

• Printer

Bambu A1

• Filament

Flashforge Flexible PLA Amazon: https://a.co/d/03nzx0ss

• Process

A normal quality profile that matches your nozzle size and layer height

Then save a copy before changing anything. Name it something clear, such as `A1 - FF Flexible PLA 220C Textured PEI`. That way, you can test without damaging your default profile.

The A1’s direct drive toolhead is the reason these settings work. Flexible filament does not have to travel through a long Bowden tube, so it needs less retraction and responds better to controlled speed changes. Flexible PLA still likes patience, but the A1 gives it a shorter, cleaner filament path.

Before changing the slicer, check the basics:

• Dry the Flexible PLA if it pops, hisses, or leaves rough surfaces.

• Keep the filament path smooth with no sharp bends.

• Use the textured PEI plate clean and free of grease.

• Print a small test part before starting a multi-hour job.

  
  

Flexible PLA absorbs moisture from the air just like TPU. Wet Flexible PLA can string badly even when the slicer settings are correct. If a profile suddenly gets worse after the spool sits out for a few days, dry the filament before chasing every setting in Bambu Studio.

Use these A1 filament settings for Flashforge Flexible PLA

The filament profile controls the most important Flexible PLA limits. These are the settings to change first.

Setting	Recommended value	Why it works on the A1
Print temperature	220°C	The A1 hotend handles Flashforge Flexible PLA well at this temperature.
Bed temperature	50°C	Flexible PLA stick to textured PEI plate.
Max volumetric speed	10 mm³/s	Lets the A1 extruder push Flexible PLA a little faster than older setups.
Retraction distance	1.4 mm	Direct drive needs much less retraction than Bowden printers.
Retraction speed	25 mm/s	Keeps retraction controlled without yanking soft filament too hard.

Print temperature should start at 220°C

Set the Flexible PLA print temperature to 220°C.

This is a strong starting point for many Flashforge Flexible PLA spools on the A1. It is hot enough to flow cleanly, but not so hot that it automatically creates extra ooze. If the print looks under-extruded, has weak layer bonding, or feels easy to tear along layer lines, raise the temperature in small steps.

If strings get worse and the part looks overly glossy or smeared, try dropping the temperature slightly. Do not make large jumps. Flexible PLA tuning works best in small moves.

A simple range to test after the first print is:

• 215°C if the part is stringy and glossy

• 220°C as the baseline

• 225°C if layer bonding looks weak

  
  

Change only one variable at a time. If you adjust temperature, leave retraction and speed alone until you see what changed.

Set the bed to 50°C on textured PEI

Set the bed temperature to 50°C.

On the A1 textured PEI plate, Flexible PLA usually sticks well without glue. In many cases, glue makes the surface messier rather than better. A clean textured PEI sheet at 50°C gives enough grip for most flexible parts.

The key is removal. Let the plate cool completely before taking the print off. Flexible PLA can grip PEI strongly while warm. If you pull too soon, you risk stretching the part, bending thin features, or putting unnecessary stress on the build surface.

For small parts, wait until the plate returns close to room temperature. For wide Flexible PLA parts, give it more time. Once cool, flex the plate gently and peel slowly.

Let the textured PEI plate cool before removing Flexible PLA parts.

*** If you run into stickiness issues on the Texture PEI plate, try covering the plate with blue painters tape. This will allow for easier removal and avoid ruining your plate! Remember to enable the auto bed leveling and flow dynamics features for the intial print. Once these have been done once, you can disable the flow dynamics feature if you would like to for recurring prints.

Ensure that you line up the tape strips to avoid gaps, this could cause unwanted lines on the bottom surface.

Limit max volumetric speed to 10 mm³/s

Set max volumetric speed to 10 mm³/s.

This setting matters because Flexible PLA does not behave like stiff filament. Even if the toolhead can move fast, the flexible filament can compress in the extruder path. When that happens, extrusion becomes inconsistent. You may see wavy walls, gaps, blobs, or delayed pressure changes after travel moves.

The A1 extruder can handle Flexible PLA better than many older printers, so 10 mm³/s is a reasonable A1-specific limit. It lets the printer move faster than very conservative Flexible PLA profiles while still keeping flow under control.

If you print softer Flexible PLA, such as very flexible material around 90A range hardness, you may need to reduce this limit. 10 mm³/s is often a good starting point.

Use 1.4 mm retraction at 25 mm/s

Set retraction distance to 1.4 mm and retraction speed to 25 mm/s.

This is one of the biggest differences between direct drive and Bowden Flexible PLA settings. Bowden printers often need longer retraction because the filament path has more room for compression. The A1 uses a short direct drive path, so long retractions can make Flexible PLA harder to control.

Too much retraction can cause:

• Chewed filament

• Delayed extrusion after travel

• Small gaps at seam starts

• Inconsistent top surfaces

• Occasional jams with Flexible PLA just like with TPU

  
  

Too little retraction can cause:

• Fine hairs between features

• Thick strings between separate islands

• Blobs near seams

• Oozing during travel

  
  

The 1.4 mm and 25 mm/s combination is a balanced starting point. If strings remain after drying the filament and lowering travel speed, increase retraction distance slightly. If the nozzle pauses and then under-extrudes after travel moves, reduce retraction.

Slow the print settings without making the print crawl

Flexible PLA likes predictable motion. You can print it faster than many old guides suggest, especially on the A1, but it still benefits from slower walls and controlled travel.

Use these process settings in Bambu Studio.

Print setting	Recommended value	What it improves
Outer wall speed	40 mm/s	Cleaner visible surfaces
Inner wall speed	60 mm/s	Good strength without excessive print time
Infill speed	80 mm/s	Faster internal structure while staying controlled
Travel speed	150 mm/s	Less branching stringing than very fast travel
Z-hop when retracting	Normal 0.4 mm or Spiral	Reduces nozzle marks and collision risk

Keep outer walls at 40 mm/s

Set outer wall speed to 40 mm/s.

The outer wall is what you see and touch. With Flexible PLA, the outer wall can show every pressure change in the filament path. Printing it at 40 mm/s gives the extruder time to keep up without making the printer painfully slow.

If the surface still looks wavy, check the max volumetric speed and filament dryness before lowering outer wall speed even further. Wet Flexible PLA can mimic poor speed tuning.

Set inner walls to 60 mm/s

Set inner wall speed to 60 mm/s.

Inner walls do not need to look as perfect as outer walls, but they still affect strength. At 60 mm/s, the printer can build the part at a fair pace while keeping extrusion steady.

This is especially useful for flexible parts that need repeated bending, such as bumpers, feet, gaskets, cable protectors, and grips. Strong inner walls help the part survive flexing without splitting.

Use 80 mm/s infill for a practical balance

Set infill speed to 80 mm/s.

Infill can usually run faster than walls because it is hidden inside the part. On the A1, 80 mm/s gives a good balance between print time and flow control when paired with the 10 mm³/s volumetric limit.

If your infill starts looking thin or inconsistent, the printer may be hitting the flow limit. Reduce infill speed or lower max volumetric speed. For Flexible PLA, slower infill often gives better results.

Small test prints make Flexible PLA tuning faster and less wasteful.

Reduce stringing with slower travel and smart Z-hop

Stringing is the complaint most people have with Flexible PLA. Some of it comes from retraction, but travel behavior matters too. A nozzle that races across the print can pull thin Flexible PLA hairs from one feature to another, especially if the filament is warm or damp.

Set travel speed to 150 mm/s.

That may sound slow compared with fast PLA profiles, but it helps reduce the long branching strings that appear between separate parts or tall features. Flexible PLA does not always benefit from aggressive travel moves. A little restraint can make the final cleanup much easier.

For Z-hop, use either:

• Normal

Set to 0.4 mm

• Spiral

Use this if it gives cleaner movement on your part geometry

Normal 0.4 mm Z-hop is a safe starting point. It lifts the nozzle during retracted travel moves, which can reduce scars and collisions. Spiral Z-hop can also work well, especially when you want smoother lift behavior.

If Z-hop seems to make strings worse, test with less Z-hop or turn it off for a small print. On some geometries, lifting the nozzle gives molten Flexible PLA more time to stretch into hair-like strands. On other parts, it prevents the nozzle from dragging across flexible surfaces. The right answer comes from the test part, not from theory.

A good stringing test should include separate towers or small posts. Print it with your saved Flexible PLA profile, then check:

• Fine hairs between towers

• Thick strands that look like branches

• Blobs at travel start and end points

• Under-extrusion after long travels

• Nozzle marks across top surfaces

  
  

If the part has fine hairs only, drying the filament may fix it. If it has thick branches, tune temperature, retraction, and travel speed.

A simple tuning order that saves time

Changing five settings at once makes troubleshooting hard. Start with the profile above, then tune in a clean order.

Test adhesion first

Print a small flat Flexible PLA part on the textured PEI plate at 50°C. If it sticks during printing and releases after cooling, leave the bed settings alone.

If corners lift, clean the plate with dish soap and warm water, then dry it well. Avoid touching the surface with bare fingers. Skin oils can hurt adhesion.

If the part sticks too hard, let it cool longer. Do not pry aggressively.

Check flow and walls next

Print a small cube or simple flexible part. Look at the walls. Smooth walls mean the temperature, volumetric speed, and wall speeds are close.

If the walls show gaps, try raising temperature slightly or lowering max volumetric speed. If the walls look swollen or smeared, try lowering temperature slightly.

Tune stringing last

Only tune retraction after the filament is dry and the temperature is close. Retraction cannot fully fix wet Flexible PLA.

Use these small adjustments:

Problem	First adjustment
Fine hairs everywhere	Dry the filament, then test 215°C to 220°C
Thick strings between towers	Increase retraction slightly or lower temperature
Gaps after travel moves	Reduce retraction distance
Blobs near seams	Lower temperature or check pressure buildup
Nozzle dragging on soft areas	Try Normal 0.4 mm Z-hop or Spiral

Keep each test short. Flexible PLA can take longer to print than PLA, so small test models save time and filament.

A tuned Flexible PLA profile should produce flexible parts with clean walls and manageable stringing. This was the result for a Custom 3D printed stamp made for Marigold Bread and Coffee Co.

Use this complete A1 Flashforge Flexible PLA profile as your baseline

Here is the full set of tweaks in one place.

Category	Setting	Value
Filament	Print temperature	220°C
Filament	Bed temperature	50°C
Filament	Max volumetric speed	5 - 10 mm³/s
Filament	Retraction distance	1.4 - 1.6 mm
Filament	Retraction speed	25 mm/s
Print process	Outer wall speed	40 mm/s
Print process	Inner wall speed	60 mm/s
Print process	Infill speed	80 mm/s
Print process	Travel speed	150 mm/s
Print process	Z-hop when retracting	Normal 0.4 mm or Spiral

This profile is not meant to be the final answer for every Flexible PLA spool. It is a strong starting point for the Bambu A1, especially with Flashforge Flexible PLA on the textured PEI plate.

The most reliable workflow is simple. Duplicate the Generic TPU profile, enter these values, dry the filament, print a small test, then adjust one setting at a time. If the part sticks well, bends cleanly, and only has light strings that wipe away, the profile is doing its job.

Let’s Connect!

If you tried these settings or printed something cool with Flashforge Flexible PLA, I’d love to see it! Tag me or follow along for more 3D printing profile tweaks, guides, and projects:

• MakerWorld: @Theycallmeluie

• Cults 3D: @theycallmeluie

• Instagram: @lagoscaceresstudio

• Tiktok: @lagoscaceresstudio

• Website: Lagos Caceres Studio

  
  

Have questions or run into issues with your print? Drop a comment below or send a message - happy printing!