Retraction distance and speed direct drive. With my direct drive extruder I use 0. Tiny pillars like many of the retraction torture tests are worst case scenarios and seem to give a false indication with PETG. A retraction speed between 40mm/s and 80mm/s is a good place to start. Travel and retraction settings govern how the printhead moves between extrusion points and manages filament pressure to minimize defects like stringing, oozing, and collisions. 25 incriment For bowden start with . I've seem some users reporting using these recommendations, but others saying they do better with 0. 5mm distance and high retraction speeds like 80-90mm/s. For Direct Drive Ender 3 Printers, you can use a smaller Retraction Distance that’s between 0. Set the retraction prime speed to 40mm/s and the retraction minimum travel to 1. Do not exceed 1mm for direct drive. 5mm increments per level so it finished with 2. What is Retraction Distance in 3D Printing? Retraction distance is the length of filament the extruder pulls back. Hence the retraction distance being 2 mm. 5 mm and the retraction speed of 35 mm per second I'm currently using microswiss direct drive. The retraction is mainly divided into the retraction distance and the retraction speed. The speed is comparable to PLA, but also strongly dependent on the TPU used. Use what works best for you. Disable Z-hop initially. 5-2. 5 millimeters (2 millimeters for Direct Drive extruders), and a retraction minimum travel value of 1. 6mm and 2. Some other tips for getting rid of stringing on your Ender 3 (Pro/V2) are to lower your nozzle temp a lil’ bit, set the Combing Mode to “Within Infill”, and clean the nozzle! Default settings should work with bowden tube. 1. More importantly, retraction speed impacts the final 3D print model in a big way. 5mm. Jan 19, 2023 · While the optimal retraction settings for PETG depend on your printer, here are some values you can use to start experimenting with to find the optimal configuration that works for you. Read on to learn all about 3D printer retraction!. I am looking to see what is recommended for the new retraction settings? I did not have to adjust them. Print a Retraction Test: Download or create a Jul 1, 2025 · Key Retraction Settings to Understand When it comes to dialing in your printer's retraction settings, there are a few key terms you'll need to familiarize yourself with: retraction distance, retraction speed, and flow rate percent. I’ve printed a retraction distance tower for petg, its printed at 235 degrees and direct drive, retraction speed is 45 mm/s. Set print speed to 30mm/s for perimeters and 25 mm/s for infill. Again start at a low speed, like 10mm/s to get a baseline and then increase it by 5-10mm for each successive print. We suggest you use a retraction length between 2 and 5 mm for direct-drive extruders and between 4 and 7 mm for bowdens. 0mm, while some Bowden extruders may require a retraction distance as high as 15mm due to the longer distance between the extruder drive gear and the heated nozzle. Jan 4, 2020 · RE: What Settings Work For PETG to Reduce Stringing? That article comes from times when the only printer they had was direct drive printer (MK3 in this case). Jan 19, 2023 · On the other hand, if you are unsure where to start, a retraction speed of 40 millimeters per second, a retraction distance of 4. I think it's mostly to do with moisture in the filament but wondering what retraction distance and speed others are using. For bowden, this can vary. Bowden setups often require longer retraction distances, sometimes up to 15 mm, depending on the tube length. Alongside this, a retraction distance of 4mm to 6mm works well for Bowden set-ups, while 1mm to 3mm works best for direct drive 3D printers. Mar 5, 2022 · 3D printer retraction settings refer to the speed and length in which the nozzle pulls back the excess filament within the extrusion system. 5mm retraction length at level 1 with 0. On direct drive printers, the retraction distance should be between 0. Bowden: 0. 5mm to 1mm with retraction speeds 30-45mm/s or so. I'm going to do some stringing tests today but others experience can help put me in the ballpark. The retraction length indicates the amount of filament (expressed in mm) that is retracted upwards each time there is a retraction. Aug 20, 2025 · A Step-by-Step Guide to Calibrating Retraction Follow these steps to systematically optimize your direct drive retraction settings: Start with Baseline Settings: Begin with a retraction distance of 1mm and a retraction speed of 40mm/s. Thanks in advance. 5-1mm and a Retraction Speed that’s also in the 35 – 45mm/s range. 2 mm and a retraction speed of 45 mm/s. Direct drive extruders and Bowden-style extrusion systems will require vastly different values for Oct 9, 2023 · The best Retraction Settings for an Ender 3 is a Retraction Distance between 4-7mm and a Retraction Speed that’s in the 35 – 45mm/s range. Hey guys I just bought the direct drive upgrade kit for my ender 3. Aug 12, 2022 · A typical retraction distance ranges from 2 to 7 mm, but this value depends on your extruder configuration (direct drive or Bowden), hot end, and other factors; there’s no one perfect value. 5 mm and still with strings. 5 starting retraction and . (height: 11 when using a step of 0. Too much Retraction Distance can cause clogs in your hotend and gaps in your walls, while too little distance will not make an impact on stringing whatsoever. Sep 4, 2024 · There are several Cura retraction settings to play with, including retraction distance, retraction speed, and minimum travel distance, and knowing how these parameters affect the printing process is a great weapon in the fight against stringing. Once you have found the best distance you then want to move onto the retraction speed. If you want to adjust the retraction distance, try tweaking the default in 1-mm increments until stringing is eliminated without any clogs or other problems. With TPU, the retraction distance is usually between 1 and 2 times the distance of PLA. HELP I'm using a retraction distance of 1. Sep 14, 2020 · For Direct Drive extruders, retraction distance is on the lower end, of around 1mm to 3mm. Retraction Speed – 20-30 mm/s Retraction Distance – 2-7 mm (shorter for direct drive, longer for Bowden) Retraction Minimum Travel – 1-2 mm Retraction Distance is the length of material that is retracted before a travel movement. 5 incriment My first bunch of prints turned out great but I've started to get a lot of stringing. 5mm Height: Your maximum retraction length will be (height - 1) * step. Jan 19, 2023 · When configuring retraction settings specifically for direct drive extruders, the only modification you will need to make is to decrease the Retraction Distance value by a considerable amount, as the distance between the extruder and the nozzle is much smaller compared to a Bowden extruder. Start with 1mm, only go up to an absolute max of 2mm if required. 8mm at 45mm/s. Starting with 0. 2 Retraction speed 45 Max Retraction Count 20 Minimum Extrusion Distance 1. 8mm, while the retraction speed should vary between 35mm/s and 45mm/s. 2 Combing: off (debating this one) Print speed with PLA usually 60m/s. Then adjust temps fan etc. For a Bowden extruder with PLA I used a distance of 2mm at a speed of 40mm/s. Step: Direct drive: 0. First try with defaults. 1mm) You will rarely need more than this, but it is possible with some high flow hotends and setups. 5 millimeters should provide a balanced profile that eliminates stringing issues. I read ideal retraction per BMG for direct drive is supposed to be anywhere from 0. Oct 26, 2022 · After many hours of testing, I’ve found that the best Ender 3 retraction settings include a retraction distance of 5. Calibration Retraction is one of the settings that must be calibrated for TPU. Apr 28, 2025 · In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to fine-tune your retraction and advanced settings to achieve beautiful, string-free TPU prints —even on Bowden and Direct Drive setups. Mar 25, 2024 · A direct drive extruder will usually sit directly on top of print head and the filament goes straight into that, no tube involved. IMPORTANT: Use a variable distance retraction test that has blocks or walls in between retractions. Nov 9, 2022 · Retraction Speed & Distance Thanks to its stretchiness, PETG needs faster and longer retraction settings than PLA to print well. What are your retraction settings and also what speed are you printing at with DD? Currently: Retraction Distance: 1. The Retraction Distance should be 6mm, the Retraction Speed 20mm/s, the Maximum Retraction Count 5, and the Minimum Extrusion Distance Window 10m m. I found that thoroughly drying PETG helped immensely with stringing and overall print quality, I printed few print-in-place articulated toys like octopus and lizard May 28, 2023 · Pulling filament back into the hot end is a useful function but tricky to master. While adjusting the retraction distance, increase or decrease it in small increments to get the best suitable length because it varies depending on the type of filament you are using. Proper configuration balances speed, precision, and material behavior for clean, efficient prints. Notes: For delta set bed size to 0 for x and y For direct drive start with . Beyond these general rules, you must consider the printer brand, filament quality, environmental conditions, and other calibration settings. Jul 1, 2025 · A typical retraction distance ranges from 2 to 7 mm, depending on your extruder configuration (Direct Drive Extruder or Bowden Extruder), hot end, and other factors; there's no one perfect value. Finding the right value will take some testing. So the molten filament material doesn’t leak out of the hot end when it embarks on the minimum travel distance trajectory. 1mm Bowden: 0. Check out our recommended products section Most direct-drive extruders only require a retraction distance of 0. Comparing them to the others to dial into the best speed. 3oq uqs pamq prx7p ogpn ilf 8rqy 16 ykr 5qky2