Advanced Tuning: Temperature and Pressure

Temperature Tower = one print, ten information at once

The Temperature Tower is a model printed with a gradually changing nozzle temperature. The result shows the ideal temperature range for a specific filament and printer.

Model

Download "Temperature Tower" from Printables.com

PLA Temperature Range

374 - 428 °F (step 41 °F)

PETG Temperature Range

428 - 482 °F (step 41 °F)

What to Watch

Stringing, bridging, surface detail

• How it works: Slicer will use a plugin or manual G-code changes that change nozzle temperature in specific layers. Each floor of the tower corresponds to a different temperature.

• Ideal tower section: Smallest stringing + best bridging + compact surface without gaps = your ideal temperature.

• Why is it different from coil to coil: Every manufacturer and batch of filament is different. The temperature that works for Prusament PLA may not work for Bambu Basic PLA.

PA/LA = cleaner corners, less blobs, even extrusion

Pressure Advance (Klipper) or Linear Advance (Marlin) compensates for extrusion lag during speed changes.

Klipper – Pressure Advance

Value: 0.02-0.08 (Direct Drive)

Marlin – Linear Advance

K-factor: 0.05-0.2 (Direct Drive)

Bowden extruder

Higher values: 0.4-1.5

Calibration

PA Tower nebo Marlin K-factor test z Printables

• A symptom of a poorly set PA: Corners are blob (too large PA) or rounded and thin (too small PA).

• How to calibrate: Print a PA calibration model with a gradually changing value. Find the line with the sharpest corners and no blobs.

• Key point: A properly set PA will dramatically improve print quality at high speeds without the need to slow down.

E-steps calibration = the basis of accurate and reliable printing

E-steps determine how many motor steps correspond to 0.04 in of filament movement. Incorrectly calibrated E-steps cause under- or over-extrusion.

Procedure

Mark the filament 3.94 in from the extruder, extrude 3.94 in, measure the fact

Formula

New E-steps = (Current E-steps × 100) / Actual Extruded mm

Flow Rate (in the slicer)

Tuning ±5-10% without intervention in the firmware

Tolerance

Ideally 98-102% accuracy

• E-steps vs. Flow Rate: E-steps is the physical calibration of the extruder in the firmware. Flow Rate is a software tuning in the slicer. Correct procedure: first E-steps, then Flow Rate.

• Calibration Single Wall cube: Print a thin-walled calibration die and measure the wall thickness with a caliper. It should correspond to the width of the nozzle (0.02 in).