Printer and filament calibration, step by step
Calibration guides describe the procedures documented by OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, Klipper and Marlin, with the exact commands and setting names, and the arithmetic that turns a test print into a value. Where a calculator does that arithmetic, the guide links to it.
A sensible order is extruder first (rotation distance or e-steps, on printers that need it), then temperature, flow ratio, pressure advance, maximum volumetric speed and retraction. Motion tuning such as input shaping is independent of the filament.
11 guides
- Flow ratio and extrusion multiplier: calibrating how much plastic leaves the nozzle
How OrcaSlicer, Bambu Studio and PrusaSlicer calibrate flow ratio, the formula each test uses, and when changing the value is the wrong fix.
12 sources
- Reading a temperature tower: how the test works and what it cannot tell you
How temperature towers step nozzle temperature by height in OrcaSlicer, Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer and Klipper, how to judge each band, and the test's limits.
11 sources
- Tuning pressure advance in Klipper, Marlin Linear Advance and OrcaSlicer
Klipper's tuning tower, Marlin M900 K, OrcaSlicer's tower, pattern and line tests, adaptive PA and Bambu flow dynamics, with the value-from-height math.
11 sources
- E-steps and rotation_distance: a measure-and-trim extruder check for Marlin and Klipper
Mark the filament, extrude 50 mm slowly, and correct Marlin's M92 E steps or Klipper's rotation_distance, plus when an extruder needs neither change.
11 sources
- Max volumetric speed: test the melt limit, then convert mm³/s into mm/s
Run OrcaSlicer's volumetric speed test, compute the limit from tower height, convert mm³/s to mm/s with the line cross-section, and compare hotend limits.
12 sources
- Retraction settings explained: tower tests, Bowden vs direct drive, and G10/G11
OrcaSlicer's retraction tower defaults for direct drive and Bowden, what each slicer setting does, and firmware retraction in Klipper and Marlin.
16 sources
- Bed mesh leveling vs tramming: Klipper bed_mesh, Marlin G29 and Prusa's mesh
Configure Klipper bed_mesh, Marlin bilinear and UBL leveling, Prusa mesh bed leveling and adaptive meshes, and why a mesh does not replace physical tramming.
14 sources
- Getting the first layer height right: Z offset, Live Adjust Z and probe calibration
How Prusa Live Adjust Z, Klipper PROBE_CALIBRATE and Z_OFFSET_APPLY_PROBE, Marlin M851 and Bambu Lab auto-leveling set the nozzle-to-bed gap for layer one.
12 sources
- Input shaping explained: measuring ringing frequency and picking a shaper
Klipper SHAPER_CALIBRATE and the ringing-tower method, Marlin M593, Prusa's accelerometer calibration, Bambu vibration compensation and OrcaSlicer's test.
11 sources
- Cornering speed limits: classic jerk, junction deviation and square corner velocity
How Marlin jerk and junction deviation (M205), Klipper square_corner_velocity and RepRapFirmware M566 cap corner speed, plus OrcaSlicer's cornering test.
14 sources
- Dimensional accuracy: compensating holes, outer contours, the first layer and shrinkage
XY hole and contour compensation, elephant foot compensation, shrinkage fields with opposite conventions, skew correction and OrcaSlicer's tolerance test.
12 sources