{"id":164915,"date":"2022-06-17T10:30:24","date_gmt":"2022-06-17T02:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164915"},"modified":"2022-08-12T10:46:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T02:46:24","slug":"cura-retraction-settings-how-to-avoid-stringing","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/cura-retraction-settings-how-to-avoid-stringing","title":{"rendered":"Cura Retraction Settings: How to Avoid Stringing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Retraction is the key to reducing stringing. Find out how to perfect your Cura retraction settings (including the coasting settings).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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FDM\u00a03D printing<\/a>\u00a0works by melting plastic\u00a0filament<\/a>\u00a0and extruding it in layers to construct 3D objects. Sometimes, this molten plastic can ooze out of the nozzle when you don\u2019t want it to, leaving unsightly strings and wisps of plastic attached to your print.<\/p>\n

Retraction<\/a>\u00a0is a process used to reduce this effect. By pulling some of the plastic out of the printer\u2019s hot end before it travels, the pressure in the molten plastic is reduced, decreasing the odds of stringing over open spaces.<\/p>\n

This setting is accessed and adjusted through your printer\u2019s\u00a0slicing software<\/a>\u00a0and can be tuned to achieve clean, precise prints. Here, we\u2019ll run you through the right settings for the best results in\u00a0Cura<\/a>. Just note that some of these settings aren\u2019t visible by default with \u201cBasic\u201d or \u201cAdvanced\u201d settings visibility, so it\u2019s a good idea to switch to \u201cExpert\u201d before you start experimenting.<\/p>\n

Before we get started, consider downloading this\u00a0retraction test print<\/a>\u00a0for tuning your settings.<\/p>\n

With that, let\u2019s get into it!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Distance & Speed<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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A retraction test allows you to hone your settings to eliminate stringing (Source: hoosierc via Thingiverse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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As their names suggest, retraction distance and speed deal with how the filament is pulled out of the hot end. Both will require tuning to find the sweet spot between retraction performance and the hardware limitations of your printer.<\/p>\n

Retraction distance\u00a0changes how far back the filament is pulled. Too low of a value will not properly relieve pressure in the hot end, but too high of a value can cause jams and\u00a0clogs<\/a>. Starting with the default Cura settings and tweak the distance by 1 mm at a time to find the optimal value.<\/p>\n

Likewise, retraction speed changes how fast the filament is pulled back. Too low of a value will lead to sloppy retractions, but too high of a value may end up\u00a0grinding the filament<\/a>. Starting with the default Cura settings, tweak the speed by 5 mm\/s at a time to find the optimal value.<\/p>\n

RELEVANT SETTINGS<\/strong><\/h4>\n