{"id":164437,"date":"2022-02-21T11:05:13","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T03:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164437"},"modified":"2022-11-08T17:33:26","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T09:33:26","slug":"find-the-best-3d-print-speed-settings-for-pla-more","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/find-the-best-3d-print-speed-settings-for-pla-more","title":{"rendered":"Find the Best 3D Print Speed Settings for PLA & More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tuning 3D print speed can be tricky. Learn how to find the perfect print speed settings for PLA and more materials!<\/p>\n

One of the ways that 3D printing is often used is for \u201crapid prototyping\u201d. The slight irony here is that individual prints can take hours or even days to complete! Fortunately, printing speed can be adjusted to reduce production time, but poor adjustment may also lead to print imperfections and failures.<\/p>\n

Here, we\u2019ll run you through the common 3D printer speed settings. By the end of this guide, you\u2019ll know how to strike the perfect balance between printing speed and quality. Keep in mind that different printers, slicing software, and filament may behave differently, so repeated testing may be necessary.<\/p>\n

Fire up your slicing software and let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n

Print Speed<\/h3>\n
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Ringing artifacts (right) caused by high printing speeds (Source: orcinus via Thingiverse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Print speed is the main speed setting that will influence your 3D prints. As the name suggests, print speed determines how fast the motors of your printer move. This includes the motors controlling the X- and Y-axes, as well as the extruder motor.<\/p>\n

To test for print speed, download a\u00a0print speed test model<\/a>. These models generally come with instructions on how to set the correct settings. The model linked here will essentially print the same shape at gradually increasing speeds, allowing you to visually identify the optimal setting.<\/p>\n

Too slow of a print speed may cause print deformation due to the nozzle sitting on the plastic for too long. Too fast and there may be other overheating artifacts caused by insufficient cooling, as well as\u00a0ringing<\/a>,\u00a0under extrusion<\/a>, and\u00a0weak layer adhesion<\/a>. The sweet spot should be as fast as your printer can get without sacrificing too much print quality (and some use cases might demand a higher level of quality than others).<\/p>\n

To better refine print speed, this setting is commonly split into many more\u00a0secondary settings<\/strong>:<\/p>\n