Retraction Test

3D Print Retraction Test

The aim of the retraction test is to achieve a "cleaner" part without material residues in the ovement areas of the hotend. The slicer parameters that influence this test are mainly speed and retraction
distance.

Retraction Test

3D Print Retraction Test

The aim of the retraction test is to achieve a "cleaner" part without material residues in the ovement areas of the hotend. The slicer parameters that influence this test are mainly speed and retraction
distance.

How to proceed?

Download the retraction test part

We download the following part (Retraccion_Test) and adjust the printing parameters as follows:

  • Temperature: The one obtained with the temperature tower test for the chosen material.
  • Flow: The one obtained with the flow test.
  • Layer height: 0.2 mm
  • Initial shrinkage: On the chart bellow

Initial Shrinkage

Extrusion system

Direct

Short Bowden

Long Bowden

Distance

1 mm

4 mm

4,5 mm

Velocity

35 mm/s

40 mm/s

40 mm/s

3d printers examples

Prusa MK3s, Artillery X1 or similar

Ender 3 or similar

CR10, Tevo Tornado or similar
01

Observe the finished part

With the finished, part we observe the amount of "hairs" that have been generated between the different shapes (next image). Next, we adjust the distance between the shapes:

  • If there is fuzz between the shapes, we increase the value by 1mm.
  • If there is no fuzz, we decrease the value by 0.5mm.
02

Print it again

We print the part again using the new shrinkage data and check.

03

Printing the part again

We do this iteration several times until there is no link between the shapes of the part and the shrinkage values are as conservative as possible (the lower the better).
01

Observe the finished part

With the finished, part we observe the amount of "hairs" that have been generated between the different shapes (next image). Next, we adjust the distance between the shapes:

  • If there is fuzz between the shapes, we increase the value by 1mm.
  • If there is no fuzz, we decrease the value by 0.5mm.
02

Print it again

We print the part again using the new shrinkage data and check.

03

Printing the part again

We do this iteration several times until there is no link between the shapes of the part and the shrinkage values are as conservative as possible (the lower the better).

Final results

In the following example, after several iterations with a Prusa MK3S the following shrinkage parameters have been obtained: 35mm/s and 0.9mm with a temperature of 205 degrees and a nozzle of 0.4mm.

3D Printing

More Guides

View all

Extruder Calibration

Calibrating the extruder is a crucial aspect of 3D printing with filament (FDM or FFF). If the extruder distributes too little material, the object will have holes or walls that are too delicate. O...

Jan 16, 2023

3D Print Retraction Test

The aim of the retraction test is to achieve a "cleaner" part without material residues in the movement areas of the hotend. The slicer parameters that influence this test are mainly speed and retr...

Nov 14, 2022

3D Print Temperature Tower

This test should be carried out every time you print with a new material, as it provides one of the main printing parameter parameter of the filament i.e. the extrusion temperature. This test consi...

Nov 14, 2022
Carbon-neutral shipping with Shopify Planet
All deliveries are carbon neutral
Powered by Shopify Planet

Worldwide Shipping

Technical Support

Customer Service

Satisfied or Refunded

Secure payments