Material Flow / Extrusion ratio (Calibration)

There is 2 parts:

  • tuning your extruder steps/mm value - this mechanical part can use recommanded value
  • tuning your extrusion multiplier - this is specific to each filament

Tuning your extruder steps/mm value

When the g_code require a certain amount of filament, this allow to get the right length of filament.

Instruction to calibrate this:

  • setup factory parameter for extruder (eg orbiter)
  • take a light color filament that can be marked
    • insert filament in extruder directly (not within bowden)
    • make sure flows go through
    • make a mark at 70mm above the extruder entry
    • extrude 50mm
    • measure what’s left above the extruder entry (it should be 20mm)
    • if there is a difference of more than 1mm - use formula to adjust parameters

Next calculate flow per filament (Tuning your extrusion multiplier section).

How do you determine your printer’s max volumetric speed?

Ender 3 Ender 6 default extruder + CHT nozzle 0.6 max is aboug 12mm³/sec which correspond to 0.6 nozzle, 04 layer height and xx mm/sec

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Tuning your extrusion multiplier

Using Orca Slicer This is also available in Cura plugin Calibration shape - multi flow test

  • choose a filament profile close to the filament you are using
  • print the extrusion test
  • look for the relative flow setting that looks the best (on the outer surface)
  • apply formula to current flow.

A very simple and fast print test for configuring a 3d printer extrusion ratio.

see also the calculator

On Cura the extrusion ratio can be found in Material.flow.

  • using Materials plugins the Material flow, can be stored be material config (as well as other parameters).

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Negative Space Test

Written on October 27, 2017, Last update on February 5, 2024
3dprint calibration cura