Top 10 Essential 3D Printing Slicer Settings for Reliable, High-Quality Prints

A 3D printing slicer is a software package that converts a 3D model into a set of machine-readable instructions to print the part. The success of the 3D printed part depends heavily on selecting the correct 3D printing slicer settings. These settings can mean the difference between a high-quality part and a difficult-to-clean tangled mess of plastic. The most important settings for an optimal 3D print are temperature, location, number of supports, and anything that can affect the bed adhesion. Getting these settings wrong will most likely result in a failed print. This article will explore the ten most important settings of FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printers to keep track of to ensure a successful 3D printed part.

1. Temperature

The temperature settings in 3D printer slicer software refer to the temperatures of the build platform and the extruder hardware (also known as the “hot end”). The optimal build platform temperature helps keep the first printed layer attached to the build platform while also limiting the potential for warping. 

The extruder temperature, on the other hand, is the temperature that the plastic is heated to as it is extruded from the print nozzle. Typically the extruder apparatus contains a heating element, which is regulated by a heat sensor, such as a thermocouple. 

Both of these temperatures are selected based on the material being extruded. For example, PLA (Polylactic acid) requires a bed temperature of 50–60°C and an extruder temperature of 190–220°C, whereas ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) requires a bed temperature of 90–110°C and an extruder temperature of 220–250°C. Many slicers will have predefined temperature settings for specific material classes. These values generally work well without too much tweaking.

2. Speed

Printing speed can be set to a global value in a slicer program. However, it is possible to set specific speeds for specific parts of the print. For example, speeding up the printing of the infill can save significant time, as these areas will not be seen, while printing the walls at a slower speed will result in improved print quality. In general, increasing the speed will result in faster prints, but this will be at the expense of print quality. The more rigid a 3D printer is, the higher the speed it can print at while maintaining good quality.

3. Flow

The flow rate of the 3D printer refers to the rate at which material exits the nozzle. Normally, the flow rate is set at a default value depending on the printer. An incorrect flow rate will result in wall thicknesses that are either too thin or too thick. A high flow rate will result in excessive filament usage, whereas a low flow rate may result in structurally weak prints. The flow rate rarely needs to be changed. The flow rate is usually not changed directly but is modified by entering a factor that is multiplied by the default flow rate.

4. Retraction

Whenever the printer is not actively printing, i.e., when it is moving from one location to the next, it will slowly ooze plastic from the nozzle. This phenomenon can result in thin strings of plastic draped all over the print. Retraction addresses this issue by reversing the extruder to pull the material back into the nozzle when it is not actively being dispensed, thus preventing oozing. Retraction settings can be further customized by setting the amount of material that is retracted as well as the speed of retraction.

5. Cooling

3D printer settings for cooling are primarily linked to the speed of the fan located on the extruder assembly. This fan speed is set on a scale of 0 to 100%. The cooling fan speed is especially important if large unsupported overhangs or bridges are to be printed. This is because the plastic will sag between unsupported areas if not cooled quickly enough. The fan is typically turned off during the printing of the first layer, as this helps produce a better bottom surface and improves the bed adhesion.

6. Infill

Many slicers will have a large number of different infill settings. The most important of these are the infill density and the infill pattern. The higher the infill density, the denser the part, with 0% referring to a part with no infill and 100% referring to a completely solid part. A typical infill density is 20%. The term “infill pattern” refers to the geometric shape of the infill. There are many different infill patterns. The most common is the grid infill. Some patterns optimize print time at the expense of part strength. Others prioritize parts strength but compromise by having a longer print time.