Direct Drive

Also known as: Direct Drive Extruder

intermediate Hardware

An extruder mounted directly on the print head, providing precise filament control.

Direct drive refers to an extruder mounted directly on the print head, with minimal distance between the drive gear and hotend.

Advantages

  • Better retraction - Short filament path, precise control
  • Prints flexibles - Can handle TPU and other soft filaments
  • More forgiving - Less tuning needed
  • Consistent extrusion - Less lag and pressure variation

Disadvantages

  • Heavier print head - May limit speed
  • More inertia - Can cause ringing at high speeds
  • Motor heat - Motor near hotend can cause issues

Best For

  • Flexible filaments (TPU, TPE)
  • Fine detail work
  • Reliable everyday printing
  • Beginners
  • Prusa MK3S/MK4
  • Bambu Lab X1/P1/A1
  • Creality Ender 3 S1
  • Voron (most configurations)

Retraction Settings

Direct drive needs less retraction:

  • Distance: 0.5-2mm
  • Speed: 25-40mm/s