Understanding Slicer Settings

Learn what each slicer setting does and how to tune them

20 min read Beginner
Contents
What is a Slicer? Layer Height Infill Settings Print Speed Temperatures Supports & Adhesion Retraction

What is a Slicer?

A slicer is software that converts your 3D model (STL, OBJ, 3MF) into instructions (G-code) that your printer understands.

Popular slicers:
- PrusaSlicer - Great defaults, powerful features
- Cura - User-friendly, huge community
- BambuStudio - For Bambu Lab printers
- SuperSlicer - Fork of PrusaSlicer with extras
- OrcaSlicer - Modern multi-platform option

All slicers produce the same type of output (G-code) but have different interfaces and default settings.

Layer Height

What it does: Controls the thickness of each printed layer.

Range: 0.08mm - 0.32mm (for 0.4mm nozzle)

Rule of thumb: Max layer height = 75% of nozzle diameter

Trade-offs:
- Thin layers (0.1-0.12mm):
- Better surface finish
- Slower print times
- Better for detailed models

- Medium layers (0.2mm):
- Good balance of speed/quality
- Default for most prints

- Thick layers (0.28-0.32mm):
- Fast printing
- Visible layer lines
- Good for draft prints

Infill Settings

Infill Density:
- 0% - Hollow (vases only)
- 10-15% - Decorative items
- 20% - Standard (default)
- 40% - Strong parts
- 100% - Solid (rarely needed)

Infill Patterns:
- Grid - Fast, moderate strength
- Gyroid - Strong in all directions, flexible
- Cubic - Good all-around
- Lines - Fastest, weak
- Honeycomb - Strong but slow
- Lightning - Minimum material for top layers

Pro tip: Strength comes more from perimeter count than infill. 3-4 perimeters with 20% infill is usually stronger than 2 perimeters with 50% infill.

Print Speed

Speed affects:
- Print time (obviously)
- Surface quality
- Layer adhesion
- Printer vibration and noise

Typical ranges:
- First layer: 20-30 mm/s (always slow!)
- Perimeters: 40-60 mm/s
- Infill: 60-100 mm/s
- Travel: 150-250 mm/s

Speed vs Quality:
Faster speeds can cause:
- Ringing/ghosting on surfaces
- Poor layer adhesion
- Missed steps
- Overheating on small parts

High-speed printing (100+ mm/s):
Requires pressure advance, input shaping, and good cooling.

Temperatures

Nozzle Temperature:
- Too low: Poor layer adhesion, under-extrusion
- Too high: Stringing, oozing, thermal degradation
- Start with manufacturer recommendation
- Fine-tune with temperature tower

Bed Temperature:
- Too low: Warping, poor adhesion
- Too high: Elephant's foot, stuck parts
- First layer: Often 5C higher than rest

Recommended starting temps:
| Filament | Nozzle | Bed |
|----------|--------|-----|
| PLA | 210C | 60C |
| PETG | 235C | 80C |
| ABS | 245C | 105C |
| TPU | 225C | 50C |

Supports & Adhesion

When you need supports:
- Overhangs greater than 45 degrees
- Bridges longer than 50mm
- Floating parts

Support types:
- Normal - Touches model everywhere needed
- Tree - Organic branches, easier removal
- Organic - Similar to tree, different algorithm

Bed adhesion options:
- None - Relies on first layer settings
- Skirt - Lines around model (tests extrusion)
- Brim - Attached border (helps adhesion)
- Raft - Platform under model (maximum adhesion)

Retraction

Retraction pulls filament back during travel moves to prevent oozing.

Key settings:
- Distance: How far to pull back
- Direct drive: 0.5-2mm
- Bowden: 4-8mm

- Speed: How fast to retract
- 25-50 mm/s typical

- Minimum travel: Only retract for moves longer than this

Troubleshooting:
- Stringing: Increase distance, increase speed
- Gaps after travel: Decrease distance, add extra prime
- Clicking extruder: Too much retraction, causing jams