6. Techniques, insights and epiphanies

Note

These notes are based on my experiences with the Prusa i3 Mk3 and Artillery/Evnovo Sidewinder X1 printers. If you are using a different printer, please verify the hardware details are similar.

This section contains notes on wide-ranging 3D printing-related topics that don’t fit neatly into any of the other categories. Each page focuses on a range of settings and capabilities to solve specific problems.

Contents:

• 6.1. The illusion of speed
• 6.2. Maximizing printer output for production of PPE in response the the COVID-19 crisis
  • 6.2.1. Quick start
  • 6.2.2. Optimizing print times
  • 6.2.3. About “printing faster”
  • 6.2.4. Prusa i3 Mk3 with a 0.60mm nozzle printing PETG
    • 6.2.4.1. Print Settings
    • 6.2.4.2. Filament settings
    • 6.2.4.3. Printer settings
  • 6.2.5. 0.40mm nozzle settings
    • 6.2.5.1. Print settings
  • 6.2.6. Post processing
  • 6.2.7. Conclusions
• 6.3. Maximizing printer output part 1: Print, filament, and printer settings
  • 6.3.1. The challenge
  • 6.3.2. Optimizing layer heights
  • 6.3.3. Increasing maximum volumetric speed
  • 6.3.4. The Need for Speed: maximizing hardware
• 6.4. Maximizing printer output part 2: Infill settings
  • 6.4.1. The challenge
  • 6.4.2. Selecting the right infill pattern
    • 6.4.2.1. Support cubic
    • 6.4.2.2. Adaptive cubic
  • 6.4.3. Other infill optimizations
  • 6.4.4. Extrusion widths
  • 6.4.5. Balancing infill and perimeter quality
• 6.5. Fighting Stringing Part 1: Calibrating filament settings
  • 6.5.1. A word about “magic profiles”
  • 6.5.2. Filament and moisture
  • 6.5.3. PrusaSlicer presets
  • 6.5.4. Calibrating your extrusion mutliplier
  • 6.5.5. Linear advance
  • 6.5.6. About the Z-seam
    • 6.5.6.1. The effect of filament calibration on the z-seam
  • 6.5.7. Fine tuning retraction settings
  • 6.5.8. The payoff
• 6.6. Fighting Stringing Part 2: Calibrating retraction settings
• 6.7. Reducing 3D printer noise
• 6.8. Using variable layer heights for fine vertical detail
  • 6.8.1. Applying Variable Layer Heights
  • 6.8.2. Impact of variable layer heights on print time & quality
  • 6.8.3. Applying variable layer heights to different parts
  • 6.8.4. Setting minimum & maximum layer heights
• 6.9. Calibrating hotend maximum volumetric rate
  • 6.9.1. Example prints
  • 6.9.2. Maximum volumetric speed in PrusaSlicer
  • 6.9.3. Hotend limitations
  • 6.9.4. Extruder limitations
  • 6.9.5. Testing approach
  • 6.9.6. Test procedure
  • 6.9.7. Test results
  • 6.9.8. Smaller nozzle results
  • 6.9.9. Larger nozzle results
  • 6.9.10. High performance hotends
• 6.10. Calibrating linear advance
  • 6.10.1. Calibrating Linear Advance using the Marlin K-factor Calibration pattern
  • 6.10.2. Calibrating Linear Advance using Prusa gcode
  • 6.10.3. Calibrating Linear Advance using the custom test print
• 6.11. My experience with the Prusa textured powder-coated spring steel print surface
  • 6.11.1. Background
  • 6.11.2. February 2020 update
  • 6.11.3. Final update
  • 6.11.4. Comparison to alternatives

Contact and feedback

You can find me on the Prusa support forums or Reddit where I lurk in many of the 3D printing-related subreddits. I occasionally drop into the Official Prusa 3D discord server where I can be reached as bobstro (bobstro#9830). You can email me directly at projects@ttlexceeded.com.

Last edited on Mar 27, 2021. Last build on Aug 30, 2021.