Essential slicer settings at a glance. Works for Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer, Cura, and beyond.
Layer Height Reference
Layer height affects detail, strength, and print time. Lower = finer but slower.
| Nozzle Size | Min Layer | Standard | Fast/Draft | Use Case |
|---|
| 0.4mm (standard) | 0.08mm | 0.2mm | 0.28mm | General purpose |
| 0.4mm | 0.12mm | 0.16mm | 0.24mm | Better detail |
| 0.25mm | 0.05mm | 0.1mm | 0.15mm | Fine detail, miniatures |
| 0.6mm | 0.2mm | 0.3mm | 0.4mm | Fast, functional parts |
| 0.8mm | 0.3mm | 0.4mm | 0.6mm | Very fast, large parts |
Rule of thumb: Layer height should be 25-75% of nozzle diameter.
Print Speed Reference
Speeds vary wildly by printer. These are quality-first guidelines.
| Setting | Quality | Standard | Draft | Notes |
|---|
| Outer Perimeter | 20-40mm/s | 40-60mm/s | 80-100mm/s | Slowest for best finish |
| Inner Perimeter | 40-60mm/s | 60-80mm/s | 100-120mm/s | Can be faster |
| Infill | 40-60mm/s | 80-100mm/s | 120-150mm/s | Fast is fine |
| First Layer | 15-25mm/s | 20-30mm/s | 30mm/s | Slow for adhesion |
| Travel | 100mm/s | 150mm/s | 200mm/s | As fast as your printer allows |
| Supports | 40-60mm/s | 60-80mm/s | 100mm/s | Appearance doesn't matter |
Infill Quick Reference
| Density | Strength | Weight | Print Time | Use Case |
|---|
| 0-5% | Very low | Lightest | Fastest | Display models, prototypes |
| 10-15% | Low | Light | Fast | Non-structural parts |
| 20% | Medium | Medium | Standard | General purpose |
| 30-40% | High | Heavy | Slow | Functional parts |
| 50%+ | Very high | Very heavy | Very slow | Load-bearing parts |
| 100% | Solid | Heaviest | Slowest | Maximum strength |
Infill Patterns
| Pattern | Best For | Notes |
|---|
| Grid | General use | Default in most slicers. Balanced |
| Gyroid | Strength, flexibility | Best overall strength. Isotropic |
| Triangular | Structural strength | Strong horizontally |
| Honeycomb | Weight-to-strength | Efficient but slow |
| Lines | Speed | Fast, but weak in some directions |
| Cubic | 3D strength | Good for compression loads |
Wall/Perimeter Reference
| Wall Count | Strength | Use Case |
|---|
| 2 walls | Standard | Most prints. Good balance |
| 3 walls | Stronger | Functional parts, threads |
| 4+ walls | Very strong | Load-bearing, pressure vessels |
Tip: More walls = stronger than more infill. For strength, increase walls before increasing infill.
Top/Bottom Layers
| Layer Height | Top Layers | Bottom Layers | Result |
|---|
| 0.1mm | 6-8 | 4-5 | Fine detail |
| 0.2mm | 4-5 | 3-4 | Standard |
| 0.3mm | 3-4 | 2-3 | Draft |
| 0.4mm | 3 | 2-3 | Fast/rough |
Too few top layers: Gaps, pillowing, see-through surfaces.
Retraction Settings
| Extruder Type | Distance | Speed | Notes |
|---|
| Direct Drive | 0.5-1.5mm | 25-35mm/s | Short path, minimal retraction |
| Bowden (short) | 3-4mm | 30-40mm/s | Under 400mm tube |
| Bowden (long) | 4-6mm | 35-45mm/s | Over 400mm tube |
Support Settings Quick Reference
| Setting | Standard | Easy Remove | Notes |
|---|
| Support Z-gap | 0.2mm | 0.3mm | Higher = easier removal |
| Support X/Y gap | 0.5mm | 0.7mm | Distance from model |
| Support density | 15-20% | 10-15% | Lower = easier to remove |
| Interface layers | 2-3 | 1-2 | More = cleaner overhangs |
Tree supports: Use for organic shapes. Less material, easier removal. Works great in PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer, Bambu Studio.
Cooling Fan Reference
| Filament | First Layer | After First Layer | Notes |
|---|
| PLA | 0-30% | 80-100% | Needs cooling for overhangs |
| PETG | 0% | 30-50% | Less cooling = better adhesion |
| ABS/ASA | 0% | 0-20% | Minimal cooling. Enclosure required |
| TPU | 0% | 0-50% | Start low, adjust if needed |
| Nylon | 0% | 0-30% | Minimal cooling |
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