Advanced Slicer Settings - Pressure Advance, Input Shaping, and Beyond

After mastering basic settings, advanced slicer features unlock next-level print quality. These techniques separate “acceptable” prints from “exceptional” prints.

This guide covers pressure advance, input shaping, wall ordering, and other optimization tools.

Pressure Advance (Linear Advance)

What it is: Compensation for nozzle pressure buildup, improving line consistency.

The problem it solves:

• Nozzle continues extrusion during travel (oozing, blobs)
• Nozzle stops extrusion too early (thin lines, weak corners)
• Filament pressure isn’t instant (lag between extrusion command and flow)

How it works: Slicer tells extruder to start/stop extrusion slightly before/after nozzle reaches the position where extrusion should start/stop.

Example:

• Nozzle should extrude from 0-10mm
• Command extrusion to start at -0.5mm (account for lag)
• Command extrusion to stop at 10.0mm (before nozzle moves away)
• Result: Perfect extrusion window (0-10mm)

Implementation in Cura:

1. Open settings (gear icon)
2. Search “Linear Advance Factor”
3. Start with 0.05 (conservative)
4. Print test cube
5. Increase by 0.01 if under-extruding at line starts
6. Decrease by 0.01 if over-extruding at line ends

Typical range: 0.05-0.15 (depends on printer, nozzle, filament)

Testing protocol:

1. Print cube at 0 advance (baseline)
2. Print at 0.05, 0.10, 0.15
3. Compare line widths, corners, edges
4. Choose value with most consistent line width

Real impact:

• Line consistency: ±10% width (perfect) vs ±20% (no advance)
• Corner quality: Sharp vs rounded
• Blob elimination: 80-90% reduction

Input Shaping

What it is: Firmware technique predicting vibration and smoothing nozzle movement.

The problem it solves:

• Mechanical resonance causes ringing/ghosting (ripples on flat surfaces)
• Fast direction changes create vibration
• Heavy nozzle assembly oscillates after movement stops

How it works: Firmware analyzes printer’s mechanical resonance frequency and adjusts acceleration profile to avoid exciting that frequency.

Example:

• Printer resonates at 50Hz
• Input shaping alters acceleration curve to avoid 50Hz
• Result: Flat surfaces are flat (no ringing)

Availability:

• Prusa firmware: Built-in, automatic calibration
• Bambu Lab: Built-in
• Creality (Marlin): Supported, requires firmware update and calibration
• Artillery: Some models support it

How to calibrate (if supported):

1. Print acceleration test (specific pattern)
2. Firmware analyzes ringing frequency
3. Firmware calculates optimal input shaping
4. Apply and test

Real impact:

• Surface finish: Visible ringing gone
• Detail preservation: Fine features clearer
• Speed capability: Can print faster without quality loss

Wall Ordering

What it is: Controlling which walls print first (outer vs inner), affecting surface quality and strength.

Options:

Outside-In (Outer Perimeter First):

• Print outer wall first
• Then inner walls
• Then infill
• Pros: Best surface quality (outer wall has nothing pushing against it)
• Cons: Inner walls might not support outer wall perfectly

Inside-Out (Inner Perimeters First):

• Print inner walls first
• Then outer wall last
• Then infill
• Pros: Outer wall has rigid inner walls to rest against
• Cons: Outer wall might show slight defects

Closest (Default):

• Print whichever wall is closest to starting position
• Pros: Simplest, fastest
• Cons: Inconsistent quality between prints

Recommendation:

• Visual prints: Outside-in (best appearance)
• Functional prints: Inside-out (best strength)
• Mixed: Closest (good balance)

Implementation in Cura:

1. Search “Wall Order Optimization”
2. Select “Outside-in” or “Inside-out”
3. Test on visual print

Infill Optimization

Sparse Infill Strategies:

Gyroid (Organic):

• 3D pattern (waves interconnected)
• Best strength-to-weight
• Slower to print
• Recommended for functional parts

Grid (Geometric):

• Simple crossed lines
• Fast to print
• Adequate strength
• Recommended for decorative

Line (Unidirectional):

• Single direction lines
• Fastest
• Weakest in lateral directions
• Recommended for speed-only

Honeycomb (Hexagonal):

• Honeycomb pattern
• Good strength
• Moderate speed

Infill Gradient: Slicer creates denser infill near walls, sparse in center:

• Saves material (30-40% less)
• Maintains strength
• Slightly longer print time
• Excellent for large prints

Variable Density by Height: Dense infill at bottom (critical areas), sparse at top:

• Example: 30% bottom 3 layers, 10% rest
• Saves material while maintaining structural integrity

Retraction Optimization

Advanced retraction techniques:

Retraction Distance by Material:

• PLA/PETG: 4-6mm (Bowden), 1.5-2.5mm (direct drive)
• TPU: 2-3mm (minimal)
• Nylon: 3-4mm (can jam if too aggressive)

Speed varies by pressure:

• Conservative: 30mm/s
• Normal: 40mm/s
• Fast: 50mm/s (risk of jams)

Minimum Travel Distance: Only retract when travel distance exceeds threshold:

• Normal: 2-3mm (retract for any movement)
• Conservative: 5-10mm (only retract for long travels)
• Reduces retractions, improves speed

Retraction Z-hop: Nozzle lifts slightly during travel:

• Prevents dragging on print
• Adds time (not always worth it)
• Recommended: 0.2mm hop (minimal travel time cost)

Combing Strategies

What it is: Nozzle movement within printed area to avoid retractions.

Options:

Off: No combing, retract everywhere

• Most reliable (fewest stringing failures)
• Slowest (most retractions)

Within Infill: Comb only within infill area

• Balance between reliability and speed
• Recommended for most prints

Within Skin: Comb within top/bottom layers

• Reduces retractions in visible areas
• Still reliable

Everywhere: Comb everywhere (avoid all retractions if possible)

• Fastest
• Risk of nozzle dragging on printed surfaces
• Use only for functional (non-visual) prints

Adaptive Layer Height

What it is: Automatically adjusts layer height based on geometry slope.

Example:

• Flat areas: 0.2mm (standard)
• Curved areas: 0.1mm (more detail)
• Steep slopes: 0.15mm (balance)

Advantages:

• Smooth curved surfaces (no visible stepping)
• Faster printing (keeps time reasonable)
• No manual intervention

How to use in Cura:

1. Search “Adaptive Layer Height”
2. Enable
3. Set minimum (0.08mm) and maximum (0.25mm) height
4. Slicer automatically varies height

Real impact:

• Curved objects look smoother (30-40% fewer visible steps)
• Print time reduced (10-20% vs uniform fine layer height)
• Detail preserved where needed

Bridge Optimization

Bridge settings control how overhangs print:

Fan Speed on Bridges: Increase cooling fan to 100% on bridge lines (critical for cooling):

• Normal layer: 50% fan
• Bridge layer: 100% fan
• Next layer after bridge: 50% fan

Bridge Flow: Reduce extrusion on bridge (less weight pulling down):

• Normal: 100% extrusion
• Bridge: 80-90% extrusion
• Prevents sagging

Bridge Speed: Faster printing through bridges (less time drooping):

• Normal: 80mm/s
• Bridge: 100-120mm/s

Implementation in Cura: Search individual settings and enable:

• “Bridge Settings Enabled”
• “Bridge Fan Speed” (100%)
• “Bridge Flow” (90%)
• “Bridge Speed” (120%)

Wall Line Width Optimization

Different line widths for different wall types:

Outer Wall: 0.35-0.4mm (thin for detail) Inner Wall: 0.4-0.5mm (normal, can be slightly thicker) Infill: 0.45-0.5mm (doesn’t need precision)

Impact:

• Outer walls look clean (thin, precise)
• Inner walls print faster (thicker, less movement)
• Infill prints quick (thickest, no detail)

Implementation: Search “Wall Line Width” in Cura, set values for each wall type.

Print Speed Profiles (Variable Speed)

Different speeds for different features:

Walls: 60-80mm/s (detail matters) Infill: 100-150mm/s (speed okay) Travel: 150-200mm/s (no extrusion, can be fast) First layer: 20-30mm/s (critical adhesion)

Example profile:

• Layer 1: 20mm/s (adhesion critical)
• Layers 2-3: 40mm/s (still crucial)
• Layers 4+: Normal speed

Implementation in Cura: Search individual settings and assign speed to each:

• Wall Speed: 70mm/s
• Infill Speed: 120mm/s
• Travel Speed: 180mm/s

Nozzle Temperature Ramping

Adjust temperature mid-print:

Example:

• First layer: 215°C (better adhesion)
• Layers 2+: 210°C (slightly cooler for detail)

When useful:

• First layer sticks better at higher temp
• Higher layers look better at lower temp

Implementation: Add temperature commands in GCode (advanced, requires slicer support or manual editing).

Testing Advanced Settings

Procedure for optimization:

1. Change one setting
2. Print test cube
3. Evaluate result (compare to baseline)
4. Document what changed
5. Keep if improvement, revert if worse
6. Repeat with next setting

Never change multiple settings simultaneously (impossible to know which helped).

Common Optimization Mistakes

Mistake 1: Over-optimization

• Tuning 10 settings simultaneously
• Confusing which setting caused improvement
• Solution: Change one, test, document

Mistake 2: Chasing diminishing returns

• Optimizing last 5% of quality (takes 50% more effort)
• 95% quality with default settings > 97% with 20 hours tuning
• Solution: Accept “good enough”

Mistake 3: Copying other’s settings blindly

• Different printers, nozzles, materials need different tuning
• Your printer might need opposite adjustment
• Solution: Use as starting point, always test

Recommended Optimization Priority

1. Pressure advance (biggest impact on quality)
2. Input shaping (if firmware supports)
3. Wall ordering (outside-in for visual)
4. Infill pattern (gyroid for strength)
5. Combing (within infill by default)
6. Bridge settings (100% fan on bridges)
7. Variable speed (slower walls, faster infill)
8. Adaptive layer height (for curved objects)

The Honest Take

Advanced settings can improve prints by 20-30%, but with effort. Default settings are already optimized for 80-90% quality.

Spend time on advanced settings only if:

• You’re printing regularly (100+ prints/month)
• Quality matters critically
• You have time to experiment

Most users get better ROI from improving technique (bed leveling, filament quality, design) than from advanced settings.

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Master basic settings first. Advanced settings are optimization for experienced users who’ve already nailed the fundamentals. Don’t skip to advanced until you’re comfortable with temperature, speed, and layer height.