How slow is too slow?

[BiMNrd 11]

I noticed the feed-rate setting for the extrudes. What is "normal" and would be considered too slow? I am gusseting that just like in CNC this has to do with the filament being printed?

Thank you

[johnse 31]

The slicer computes the feed rate based on the speed the print head is moving, the height and thickness of the lines, etc. 

 

as for the printing speed, in mm/sec, that depends very much on the filament, the printer, how hot the nozzle is and other factors. 

 

On many printers and many filaments, 30-70 mm/sec is pretty normal. The first layer is often done at about half speed.

[BiMNrd 11]

Thank you, I noticed that you can manually override it. So I was thinking that depending of the detail and featured on the part (curves and holes) you could slow it down a little to bet better resolution or fidelity?

[geert_2 558]

For my (older) UM2 and PLA and PET materials, 25...30mm/s is slow enough to get good quality. At 50mm/s (default for PLA) quality is okay for most models, but not optimal for high details. Printing at 10mm/s is too slow: then the material is sitting too long in the nozzle and it starts to discolor and decompose (gets brown). It also depends on the temperature.

 

Lower speed gives less ringing, cleaner corners, and better layer bonding.

 

I would say, make a small test model with your typical features, and print that at various speeds and temperatures, and closely watch what happens while printing. This may cost a day of testing, but you will soon win that time back.

 

[BiMNrd 11]

^great answer thank you.