How to minimize travel distances

[jonnygexter 0]

Is there a simple way to reduce travel distances?

 

When the extruder travels far to the next location, I always get a delay before filament is actually extruded... so the print head starts moving, but there's a fraction of a second where no filament comes out, leaving a gap in the wall. 

 

In the example depicted here... 

the outer layer is a skirt, and it starts and ends printing the skirt at the black dot. Then it moves to the red dot to print the part... but I want to reduce the travel distance so it moves to the green dot to print the part.

 

PS: I am using 4mm of retraction, and also "Retraction Extra Prime Amount" of 0.07 mm3.

 

Can someone explain why it is happening? Can I reduce travel distances? Or do I have to adjust my retraction settings? I'm hesitant to increase the retraction extra prime amount, because then it might over-extrude when travelling short distances.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[GregValiant 1,287]

The Walls setting "Zseam Location" and "Z seam relative" along with the Travel settings "X Layer Start" and "Y Layer Start" can be fiddled with to get what you want.  I like to start the skirt near the left front corner so no string gets pulled across the build area.