QA

Question: How To Calculate Retraction For Bowden Tube 3D Printer

What should my retraction distance be?

The distance will tell the nozzle to pull back the amount of filament according to the specified length. According to the experts, the retraction distance should be between the 2mm to 7mm distance and should not be more than the length of the printing nozzle. The default retraction distance on Cura is 5mm.

How do you calculate retraction speed?

The retraction speed of a cylinder rod is equal to the oil flow rate divided by the annular piston area, as Figure 2-25 shows.

What is a good retraction distance for PLA?

Materials like ABS and PLA will do well with a speed of 40 to 60 mm/s and a retraction distance of 0.5 to 1.0 mm on direct drive extruders.

How much is retraction for PETG?

Retraction distance should be set at about 6 or 7 millimeters for Bowden extruders, and 3 or 4 millimeters for direct drive extruders. With PETG, retraction speed is more important than distance. If you still have oozing and stringing, try lowering the retraction speed.

What is retraction setting on 3D printer?

Retraction is a feature found in many 3D printers that’s designed to optimize the amount of filament the nozzle releases as well as the speed at which the nozzle recoils. It’s called “retraction” because it “retracts” unwanted filament from the nozzle.

How do I know if my retraction is too high?

Too much retraction results in little gaps, or even globbing due to air pockets within the print head. When your printer does not retract enough, visible oozing will occur as the nozzle travels. You will see filament stringing between features as your nozzle is not stopping material extrusion before moving.

How can I reduce retraction?

Retraction is a process used to reduce this effect. By pulling some of the plastic out of the printer’s hot end before it travels, the pressure in the molten plastic is reduced, decreasing the odds of stringing over open spaces.

What is 3D printer retraction speed?

Retraction speed: Speed at which the extruder motor drives back the filament. With this parameter it’s necessary to be very careful if high speeds are used (greater than 70mm/s) because it can mark the filament in such a way that it’s unusable to continue the 3D printing.

What is retraction distance and speed?

Looking first at the former, retraction distance is the length of filament that’s pulled back by the extruder every time retraction occurs. The longer this distance is, the more time a retraction might take depending on the speed, but also, the less likely you are to experience stringing.

What is a good Z hop height?

I like my z hop to be around 2 layers high so as I do the majority of my printing in 0.2 my z hop is set to 0.4. On my cr10 with 0.6 nozzle that I use for larger/draft prints I do a lot of 0.3mm layers, the z hop is set to 0.5 on that printer.

Should I use retract at layer change?

Retract on layer change – Movement along the Z axis must also be considered when dealing with oozing, otherwise blobs may occur. It is recommended to leave this setting on. Wipe before retract – Moves the nozzle whilst retracting so as to reduce the chances of a blob forming.

What is Z hop?

Z Hop at Retraction | ideaMaker profile The specified z hop value is the distance the nozzle gets lifted away from the surface of the model during retraction. This helps prevent nozzle from scratching again the printed part when traveling across.

What is retraction extra prime amount?

Retraction extra prime amount This is the extra amount of material that is extruded after a retraction to compensate for oozed material after a travel move. This setting can be useful, especially with flexible filaments as these require extra pressure to print properly.

How do you improve stringing on PETG?

Another quick fix for PETG stringing is to increase travel speed. The quicker the nozzle moves between two points, the less time melting filament will have to ooze. Try increasing your printer’s travel speed in 10-mm/s increments until you find the perfect speed. Some makers even use travel speeds of up to 200 mm/s.

Should I use combing with PETG?

I have found that because PETG is so runny, combing is not appropriate for a lot of models. If you do use combing with PETG, use a very small max comb distance with no retract. Certainly no more than 10.

What is raft in 3D printing?

A Raft is a horizontal latticework of filament that is located underneath your part. Your 3D printed part will be printed on top of this raft, instead of directly on the build platform surface.

What is Z retraction?

Z-hop when retracted With this setting, the build plate will move down by the set value when a retraction is performed, allowing the print head to travel over the print without the nozzle touching it. This prevents the nozzle from hitting the object or leaving “blobs” or scratches on the print surface.

How do you make a smooth top layer on a 3D printer?

To ensure a smooth top layer, it has to be thick enough. As a rule of thumb, you can use a height of 0.75mm for the entire top layer. Depending on the printing height, you will therefore have to use several layers to reach a 0.75mm top.

What should Z hop speed be?

Ideally up to 30mm/s, as Cura has the setting but limits at 10mm/s.

What is outer wall wipe distance?

Outer wall wipe distance At the end of every outer wall, a short path is traveled without extrusion. This results in a reduced seam when traveling from the outer wall to other parts of the 3D print. It is visible in the layer view by short travel moves right over the outer wall.