Your 22 IDEX printer opens up the freedom to print with virtually any material. This comprehensive guide will walk you through three essential tuning tools that are built directly into your machine's firmware—no external files or complicated setups required.
We provide these tools so you can unlock your machine's full potential and tune any material to achieve optimal results. By using these three tests, you'll establish a finely tuned material profile that enables your printer to produce consistently high-quality, strong, and accurate parts. These tuning tools cover the three most critical parameters:
- Nozzle Temperature - Finding the optimal temperature for layer adhesion and strength
- Pressure Advance - Eliminating blobs and gaps at corners and seams
- Flow Rate (Extrusion Multiplier) - Ensuring solid, strong layers without gaps or over-extrusion
Why Use These Tools: Material manufacturers typically provide temperature ranges designed to reach the broadest possible audience. Since many hobbyist machines have temperature limitations, manufacturers often recommend lower temperature ranges to make their materials accessible to these machines. However, these conservative settings may not deliver the best strength and print quality that your high-temperature 22 IDEX is capable of achieving. These tuning tools help you find the optimal settings for your specific machine and material combination.
What You'll Need:
- Your 22 IDEX printer with the latest firmware (all tuning tests are built-in)
- The filament material you want to tune (properly dried)
- 1.75mm filament diameter
- 0.4mm nozzle installed (tests are designed for this nozzle size only)
- Calipers (for measuring test print heights)
- 2-3 hours of time (the tests run automatically, but you'll need to analyze results)
- Material data sheet (for manufacturer's recommended print temperature range)
Before You Begin:
- Ensure your printer is properly homed and auto-calibrated
- Make sure your filament is thoroughly dried according to manufacturer specifications
- Have the printer's chamber and bed at operating temperature
- Clear the build plate and ensure it's clean
Important: The built-in calibration tests are currently designed for 0.4mm nozzles only. They are not available for other nozzle diameters at this time.
Pro Tip: After each test, you can find a detailed report in the System tab > Results folder on your machine. This file lists the exact parameter values used for each section of the test print, making it easy to identify your optimal settings.
Reference Point: Our slicer presets provide excellent starting temperatures for materials we've already tested. You can use these as reference points when tuning similar materials. Check the built-in profiles for guidance.
All three calibration prints were engineered specifically around a 0.4 mm nozzle. Running them with larger (0.6 mm) or smaller (0.2 mm) nozzles will not damage anything, but the geometry of the tests (wall thickness, bridges, perimeters) will no longer line up with the programmed expectations, so the results become unreliable. For the most accurate data, temporarily install a 0.4 mm nozzle of the same material (brass vs. hardened steel) and run the tests there.
Once you have tuned a material with a 0.4 mm nozzle, you can reuse most of the data with other nozzle diameters:
- Temperature & Flow Rate: Reuse these values directly for any other nozzle diameter of the same type (brass/steel). The melt behavior is tied to the material, not the nozzle size.
- Pressure Advance: Scale the value based on nozzle diameter. Larger nozzles need smaller pressure advance values because they build pressure more slowly; smaller nozzles need larger values.
| Nozzle Diameter |
Example Pressure Advance Value* |
| 0.2 mm |
0.060 |
| 0.4 mm (baseline) |
0.045 |
| 0.6 mm |
0.010 |
*Example assumes your 0.4 mm calibration produced 0.045. Use the same proportional change if your baseline differs. Always confirm the new value with a quick test print before committing it to production parts.
Reminder: If you absolutely must run the calibration prints with a non‑0.4 mm nozzle, treat the results as approximate only. The safest workflow is to capture accurate numbers with a 0.4 mm nozzle and then translate them using the guidance above.
The first and most important tuning step is finding the ideal printing temperature for your filament. Temperature directly affects layer adhesion, which is the key to creating strong, durable parts. Too low and layers won't bond properly; too high and you'll see degradation, stringing, and poor surface quality.
The built-in Temperature Tower test automatically prints at different temperatures at various heights, allowing you to visually and physically assess the impact of heat on your material.
¶ Understanding Temperature Selection
Before running the test, you need to determine an appropriate temperature range based on the manufacturer's recommendations and your nozzle type.
Most material manufacturers aim to reach the broadest possible audience with their products. Since many hobbyist machines have temperature limitations, manufacturers often provide conservative temperature ranges in their specifications. This ensures the material works on lower-temperature machines, but these settings may not be optimal for achieving maximum strength and print quality on your high-performance 22 IDEX printer.
The Key Principle: You want to print as hot as possible without degrading the material. Higher temperatures improve layer adhesion and part strength—up to the point where the material begins to break down. Don't be afraid to test at higher temperatures—that's what this test is designed to help you discover.
Step 1: Find the Manufacturer's Recommended Print Temperature
Look at your filament's technical data sheet or packaging for the recommended extruder temperature range. This is different from material properties like melting temperature—we want the manufacturer's actual print temperature recommendation.
Step 2: Determine Your Maximum Test Temperature
Start with the manufacturer's highest recommended temperature and add a buffer:
- Take the manufacturer's maximum recommended temperature
- Round up to the nearest 10°C if needed (e.g., 345°C → 350°C)
- Add 10°C as a buffer to test the upper range
- If using a brass nozzle: Use this temperature as your maximum
- If using a stainless steel nozzle: Add another 10-20°C (steel requires higher temperatures due to lower thermal conductivity)
Example: Material with 315°C-345°C recommended range (Brass Nozzle)
- Manufacturer's maximum: 345°C
- Round up: 350°C
- Add buffer: 350°C + 10°C = 360°C maximum test temperature
Example: Material with 315°C-345°C recommended range (Steel Nozzle)
- Manufacturer's maximum: 345°C
- Round up: 350°C
- Add buffer: 350°C + 10°C = 360°C
- Steel nozzle adjustment: 360°C + 20°C = 380°C maximum test temperature
Step 3: Determine Your Minimum Test Temperature
Use the manufacturer's lowest recommended temperature, or go slightly below:
- Take the manufacturer's minimum recommended temperature
- Optionally, reduce by 5-10°C to test the lower range
- This will be your minimum test temperature
Example: Material with 315°C-345°C recommended range
- Manufacturer's minimum: 315°C
- Optionally test lower: 310°C minimum test temperature
Important Tips:
- Narrower ranges give more precise results: Once you find a general working temperature, you can run a second test with a narrower 20°C range for more precision
- Don't be afraid to test high temperatures: The test is designed to help you discover the upper limits safely
- Check our slicer profiles: If we've already tested your material, our built-in profiles provide excellent starting temperatures
Step 4: Account for Your Nozzle Type
- Brass nozzle: Use the temperatures calculated above
- Stainless steel nozzle: Add 10-20°C to both minimum and maximum values (steel has lower thermal conductivity)
-
Download the latest Temperature Tower file:
- Grab it directly from the release page: 1 - Temp Tower Test.gcode
- This link is always kept up to date with the newest prompts and fixes
- Already on the printer: A copy also ships on your machine under Files > Jobs > G-Codes Directory/Test Prints, but it may lag behind future updates
-
Upload and start the file:
- In Duet Web Control, go to Files > Jobs and click Upload to add the downloaded G-code (or select the built-in copy if you prefer)
- Highlight the file and click Print—the scripted prompts will appear automatically
-
Enter Your Temperature Range:
- When prompted, enter your Minimum Temperature (e.g., 310°C)
- Enter your Maximum Temperature (e.g., 360°C for brass, 380°C for steel)
- The printer will automatically calculate the temperature steps
-
Let the print run:
- After you confirm the prompts, the job starts automatically
- The print takes approximately 30-60 minutes, depending on settings
- Temperature changes happen automatically as each section is printed
What Happens During the Print:
The printer starts at your minimum temperature and gradually increases temperature as it builds upward. The test consists of exactly 6 sections, each representing a specific temperature. This creates 6 distinct samples in a single print for comparison.
¶ Understanding the Temperature Tower
The tower consists of:
- 6 distinct sections (one for each temperature step)
- Each section prints at a specific temperature for several layers
- Temperature increases from bottom to top
- Sections include features to test: overhangs, bridges, small details, and solid layers
Once the print is complete and has cooled to room temperature, you'll perform two types of analysis:
Start at the lowest temperature (bottom) and work your way up, examining each section carefully.
Signs of Optimal Temperature:
- ✅ Clean, sharp edges and corners
- ✅ Smooth surface finish
- ✅ Good overhang quality
- ✅ Clean bridging (no sagging)
- ✅ Consistent layer lines
Signs of Excessive Temperature (Too Hot):
- ❌ Glossy, melted appearance
- ❌ Loss of fine detail
- ❌ Drooping overhangs
- ❌ Poor bridging (sagging between supports)
- ❌ Oozing and stringing between sections
- ❌ Degraded surface on lower layers (where nozzle passes back over)
Important: You don't want to print hotter than the point where degradation begins. Note which section starts showing these negative signs—this is your upper limit.
The break test reveals the true layer adhesion strength, which is the most important factor for functional parts.
How to Perform the Break Test:
-
Start at the Bottom Section (lowest temperature)
- Using your hands, try to break off the section along the layer lines
- Apply moderate force perpendicular to the layers
-
Observe the Break Behavior:
- At low temperatures: Sections will snap easily with minimal force—this indicates poor layer adhesion
- The break will be clean, showing clear layer separation
-
Move Up Through Each Section:
- Progress to the next temperature section
- Attempt to break it the same way
- Note how the required force increases
-
Find the Strong Sections:
- At higher temperatures: Sections become much more difficult to break
- The material resists separation between layers
- Breaking may require significant force or may be impossible by hand
- Identify Degradation:
- Continue to the highest temperatures
- If material quality degrades (becomes brittle, changes color, or shows other signs from visual inspection), stop here
- The optimal temperature is just before degradation begins
Your ideal nozzle temperature is found at the sweet spot where:
- ✅ Layer adhesion is maximized (difficult to break)
- ✅ Visual quality is still good (no glossy surface, good details)
- ✅ No signs of material degradation
Typical Outcome:
- Bottom sections (low temp): Weak, easy to break ➔ Not suitable
- Middle sections: Strong, good visual quality ➔ Candidate range
- Top sections: Maximum strength, may start showing degradation ➔ Upper limit
Pro Tip: If you're between two temperature sections and can't decide, choose the higher temperature for functional parts where strength is critical. Choose the lower temperature for parts where visual quality and dimensional accuracy are more important.
If your initial temperature range was broad (50°C or more), you may want to run a second, narrower test to pinpoint the exact optimal temperature.
Benefits of Narrower Ranges:
- More sections concentrated in the optimal range
- Smaller temperature steps between sections
- More precise identification of the ideal temperature
Example:
- First test range: 310°C to 380°C (70°C range, ~14°C per section)
- Best performance observed: Around 360°C
- Second test range: 350°C to 370°C (20°C range, ~4°C per section)
- Final optimal temperature: 362°C
Pro Tip: Don't hesitate to test at higher temperatures in your first test. It's better to find the upper limit than to miss the optimal temperature by testing too conservatively.
Once you've identified your optimal temperature:
-
Check the Results File:
- Navigate to System > Results folder
- Open the temperature tower results CSV file
- Find the exact temperature value for your chosen section
-
Document Your Findings:
- Record the optimal temperature (e.g., 390°C)
- Note any observations about material behavior
- Keep this value for the next calibration steps
-
Save to Slicer Profile (You'll do this after all three tests are complete)
What's Next: Now that you've determined the optimal nozzle temperature, you'll use this temperature setting for the remaining two calibration tests: Pressure Advance and Flow Rate.
Pressure Advance is a firmware feature that compensates for the pressure build-up inside your hotend. When properly calibrated, it creates sharp corners and clean seams by preventing blobs at the end of a line and gaps at the start of the next line.
The built-in Pressure Advance test uses a special teardrop-shaped model where you can easily see the effects of different pressure advance values.
¶ Understanding Pressure Advance
When your printer extrudes filament:
- Filament gears push filament into the cold end
- Pressure builds in the molten plastic inside the hot zone
- Plastic flows out through the nozzle orifice
The Problem:
- When the print head stops moving (at a corner or seam), the nozzle stops immediately
- But pressure is still present in the molten plastic
- This causes extra material to ooze out, creating a blob
The Solution:
- Pressure Advance monitors the motion plan
- Just before a stop, it retracts a small amount of filament
- This relieves pressure and prevents the blob
- The retraction amount is controlled by the Pressure Advance value
- Too low (under-compensated): Blobs and bulges at seams and corners
- Too high (over-compensated): Gaps and under-extrusion at seams and corners
- Just right: Clean seams and sharp corners
-
Set Your Nozzle Temperature:
- Use the optimal temperature you determined in Step 1
- Ensure bed and chamber are at operating temperature
- Allow the printer to stabilize
-
Download the latest Pressure Advance script:
- Grab the newest prompts here: 2 - Pressure Advanced Tuning.gcode
- Each printer also ships with a copy under Files > Jobs > G-Codes Directory/Test Prints, but the release link is always the most current
-
Upload, run, and enter your range:
- In Duet Web Control, go to Files > Jobs, click Upload, and add the downloaded file (or select the built-in copy)
- Click Print—the script will prompt you for your test range
- When prompted, enter:
- Your slicer baseline ±0.03 (if you already have a profile)
- Or 0.0 to 0.15 if you are starting from scratch
Example: If your slicer profile shows a pressure advance value of 0.06, test from 0.03 to 0.09. This narrower range will give you more precise results.
Note: After finding your optimal value, you can run a second test with an even narrower range for greater precision.
- Let the print finish:
- The test takes approximately 10-20 minutes
- The printer will print a teardrop shape with gradually increasing pressure advance values from bottom to top
¶ Understanding the Teardrop Test Print
The teardrop shape is specifically designed with:
- Sharp pointed corner at the front
- Rounded seam at the back (where each layer starts and stops)
- Pressure Advance value increases from bottom to top
- Each layer uses a slightly higher pressure advance value
You need to inspect two critical areas on the test print:
This is where you'll see the most obvious effects of pressure advance.
At the Bottom (Low Pressure Advance):
- ❌ Visible bulge or blob where the seam is located
- Extra material has oozed out during the stop
Moving Upward (Increasing Pressure Advance):
- ✅ The bulge gets smaller and smaller
- Eventually becomes nearly invisible
Higher Up (High Pressure Advance):
- ❌ A gap or indent begins to appear
- Lines don't meet properly (under-extrusion)
The corner quality shows you when pressure advance is becoming too aggressive.
Optimal Range:
- ✅ Corner is sharp and well-defined
- Clean intersection of lines
Too High Pressure Advance:
- ❌ Corner becomes rounded or distorted
- Loss of sharpness
Your optimal pressure advance value is at the height where:
- Back seam is clean and nearly invisible (no bulge, no gap)
- Front corner remains sharp and well-defined
Visual Method:
- Examine the seam from bottom to top
- Identify where the bulge disappears
- Continue upward and identify where the gap begins to appear
- Your optimal value is between these two points, slightly favoring the area where the seam just becomes clean
Pro Tip: Look at the print under good lighting and rotate it slightly. The blob will catch the light and appear shinier, while gaps will appear as shadows or indentations.
If you started with a wide range (e.g., 0 to 0.15) and found your optimal zone is somewhere in the middle, you can run a second test with a narrower range for greater precision.
Example:
- First test: 0.0 to 0.15 (found optimal around 0.06-0.08)
- Second test: 0.04 to 0.08 (more precise steps)
- Final optimal value: 0.055
Benefits:
- Smaller steps between values for easier identification
- More precise calibration
- The test is quick (10-20 minutes), so re-running is practical
¶ Measuring and Recording Your Value
Once you've identified the optimal zone by visual inspection:
- Use a marker to mark the exact height on the print where the seam looks best
- Try to be as precise as possible
- Use calipers to measure the distance from the bottom of the print to your marked point
- Measure in millimeters
- Record this value (e.g., 18.5mm)
- Navigate to System > Results folder on your printer
- Open the Pressure Advance results CSV file
- Find the row corresponding to your measured height
- The pressure advance value in that row is your optimal setting
Example Results File:
Height (mm), Pressure Advance Value
0.0, 0.000
2.5, 0.019
5.0, 0.038
7.5, 0.056
10.0, 0.075
12.5, 0.094
15.0, 0.113
17.5, 0.131 ← If you measured 18.5mm, you'd interpolate between this
20.0, 0.150 and the next row
If your measurement falls between two rows, interpolate or choose the closer value.
Record:
- Your measured height: _______ mm
- Your optimal Pressure Advance value: _______ (e.g., 0.055)
- Test date and material name
Moisture Sensitivity: For moisture-sensitive materials, pressure advance values may vary depending on the filament's moisture level. Always keep your materials dry for consistent results.
Slicer Reference: Your slicer profiles already include recommended pressure advance values for common materials. These serve as excellent starting points for your calibration tests. See the "Saving Results to Your Slicer Profile" section below to learn where to find and adjust these values.
What's Next: With your optimal temperature and pressure advance values determined, you'll now calibrate the flow rate to ensure your layers are solid and strong.
The Flow Rate (also called Extrusion Multiplier) calibration fine-tunes the amount of material being extruded. This ensures your layers are solid, strong, and dimensionally accurate.
- Too little material (under-extrusion): Weak parts with gaps between lines
- Too much material (over-extrusion): Rough surface, dimensional inaccuracy
The built-in Flow Rate test prints a series of small, flat squares, each with a different flow rate ranging from under-extruded to over-extruded.
¶ Understanding Flow Rate
When your printer extrudes plastic:
- Filament diameter is 1.75mm
- Extrusion volume is calculated based on movement distance and diameter
- Material flows out of the nozzle and is deposited on the build plate or previous layer
- Line width and height are determined by nozzle size, speed, and extrusion amount
Ideal Layer Cross-Section:
- Each extruded line is slightly squished (not perfectly round)
- Lines have good contact with neighboring lines (minimal gap)
- Lines have good contact with the layer below
- The boundaries are: build plate below, nozzle above, neighboring lines on sides
Under-Extrusion (Too Little Material):
- Lines become more round (less squished)
- Gaps appear between lines
- Weak layer adhesion
- Part strength is significantly reduced
Over-Extrusion (Too Much Material):
- First line prints normally
- Second line has too much material and begins to overlap the first line
- Third line overlaps even more
- Material is pushed upward, creating waves or ridges on the top surface
- Surface becomes rough and bumpy
-
Set Your Temperatures:
- Use the optimal nozzle temperature from Step 1
- Ensure bed and chamber are at operating temperature
- Apply adhesive (glue stick) to build plate
-
Download the latest Flow Rate script:
- Use the release link to ensure you have the newest version: 3 - Flow Rate Tuning.gcode
- A factory copy is also stored under Files > Jobs > G-Codes Directory/Test Prints, but the link above is always kept current
-
Upload and run the file:
- In Files > Jobs, click Upload to add the downloaded file (or select the built-in copy)
- Click Print—the script starts automatically and requires no additional parameters
-
What to Expect:
- Test duration: 30-45 minutes
- The printer will produce multiple labeled squares
- Each square represents a different flow rate percentage
¶ Understanding the Test Print
The flow rate test consists of:
- Multiple squares (typically 13) arranged in a grid
- Each square is labeled with its flow rate percentage
- Example:
-12, -10, -8, -6, -4, -2, 0, +2, +4, +6, +8, +10, +12
0 represents 100% flow (your baseline)- Negative numbers are under-extrusion (e.g.,
-12 = 88% flow)
- Positive numbers are over-extrusion (e.g.,
+12 = 112% flow)
Test Print Structure:
Why the Test is Designed This Way:
The test doesn't print solid squares directly on the build plate because:
- Elephant's foot (first layer squish) would affect results
- First layer height variations would influence top surface quality
Instead, the test:
- Prints 10 layers of infill as a base (raised platform)
- Bridges across the infill with a solid top layer
- Adds 20 solid top layers above the bridge
- This accumulates the effect of flow rate over many layers
You'll use two methods to analyze the test squares: visual inspection and tactile feedback.
- Start with the Most Under-Extruded Sample (e.g.,
-12)
- You will see clear gaps between the lines
- You can see through to lower layers
- Lines are visibly separated
-
Move Toward Higher Values:
- Examine
-10, -8, -6, etc.
- Gaps become progressively smaller
- Lines start to touch each other
-
Find Where Gaps Disappear:
- Continue until you reach a square where gaps are no longer visible
- This is approaching your optimal value
-
Identify the Onset of Over-Extrusion:
- Continue to positive values
- Look for where lines start to merge and create a wavy pattern
- Surface becomes bumpy rather than flat
For even better precision, you can inspect the test squares under a microscope (USB microscope or jeweler's loupe, 20-40x magnification recommended).
Under-Extrusion Under Microscope:
- Gaps are clearly visible
- You can see the previous layer through the gaps
- Individual lines are distinct
Optimal Flow Under Microscope:
- Lines are touching with minimal to no gaps
- Previous layer is not visible
- Surface is relatively uniform
Over-Extrusion Under Microscope:
- Lines are merging together
- Wavy pattern on top surface
- Excess material visible
Run your finger across the top surface of each square, perpendicular to the extrusion lines.
Under-Extrusion Feel:
- Surface feels very smooth
- Your fingernail can catch in the gaps between lines
- Almost too smooth (because lines are round and separated)
Optimal Flow Feel:
- Surface feels relatively smooth
- Slight texture from individual lines
- No gaps for fingernail to catch
Over-Extrusion Feel:
- Surface feels rough and bumpy
- You can feel raised ridges where excess plastic was pushed upward
- Uneven texture
Pro Tip: Start with the most under-extruded square and move toward over-extrusion. It's easier to feel when the surface transitions from smooth to rough than to identify absolute roughness.
Your optimal flow rate is the value where:
- ✅ No visible gaps between extrusion lines (visual inspection)
- ✅ Surface is not rough or wavy (visual and tactile)
- ✅ Surface feels relatively smooth with slight texture (tactile)
The Transition Zone:
Typically, you'll find:
- Gaps visible at negative values (e.g.,
-4, -2)
- Gaps disappear around
0 to +4
- Over-extrusion roughness begins around
+6 to +10
Your optimal value is usually in the range where gaps just disappear, typically 0 to +6 for most materials.
For Filled Materials (Carbon Fiber, Glass Fiber):
- You may need to add +2% to +4% additional flow
- Filled materials tend to extrude slightly less consistently due to fiber content
- Extra flow ensures the part is completely solid and strong
- You can tolerate slight over-extrusion for the sake of part strength
Example: If visual inspection suggests +4 is optimal, you might choose +6 or +8 for a carbon fiber material to ensure maximum strength.
For Standard Materials (PLA, PETG, ABS):
- Choose the value where gaps just disappear
- Prioritize visual quality and dimensional accuracy
- Typical optimal range:
0 to +4
For Aesthetic Parts:
- Choose a slightly lower flow rate for smoother surface finish
- Accept minor gaps if surface quality is more important than absolute strength
For Functional Parts:
- Choose a slightly higher flow rate to ensure no gaps
- Prioritize strength over surface finish
Based on visual and tactile inspection, identify which labeled square represents your optimal flow rate.
Example:
- Gaps visible at:
-4, -2
- Gaps just disappear at:
0
- No gaps, good surface at:
+2, +4
- Roughness begins at:
+6, +8
- Optimal choice:
+4 (for a balance of strength and surface quality)
Flow rate is expressed as an Extrusion Multiplier in your slicer software.
Conversion Formula:
- Baseline (0%) = 1.00 multiplier
- Positive values: Add to 1.00
+4% = 1.04 multiplier+6% = 1.06 multiplier
- Negative values: Subtract from 1.00
-2% = 0.98 multiplier-6% = 0.94 multiplier
Example Conversions:
| Test Square Label |
Percentage |
Extrusion Multiplier |
-12 |
88% |
0.88 |
-6 |
94% |
0.94 |
0 |
100% |
1.00 |
+4 |
104% |
1.04 |
+8 |
108% |
1.08 |
+12 |
112% |
1.12 |
Record:
- Test square label: _______ (e.g.,
+4)
- Flow rate percentage: _______ % (e.g., 104%)
- Extrusion Multiplier: _______ (e.g., 1.04)
- Material name and batch/spool information
Now that you've completed all three calibration tests, you need to save these values in your slicer software so they're automatically applied to all future prints with this material.
- ✅ Optimal nozzle temperature (from Step 1)
- ✅ Optimal pressure advance value (from Step 2)
- ✅ Optimal extrusion multiplier (from Step 3)
- ✅ Slicer software installed
If you're not already in Expert mode:
- Go to Configuration > Preferences
- Under View mode, select Expert
- Click OK
-
In the top-right corner, click the Filament dropdown
-
Either:
- Select your existing material profile, then click the gear icon and choose Duplicate
- Or create a new profile from scratch
-
Name your profile descriptively:
- Example:
PPS CF10 - Fiberon - Tuned 390C
- Include material type, brand, and key temperature for easy identification
- In the Filament Settings tab, find Temperature section
- Set Nozzle temperatures:
- First layer: Your optimal temperature (e.g., 390°C)
- Other layers: Same as first layer (e.g., 390°C)
- In the Filament Settings tab, find Extrusion section (near the top)
- Set Extrusion multiplier: to your calibrated value (e.g.,
1.04)
Pressure Advance is set via custom G-code:
- In the Filament Settings tab, click Custom G-code (on the left sidebar)
- In the Start G-code section, add or edit the following line:
M572 D0:1 S0.055
Important: Replace 0.055 with your calibrated pressure advance value.
Explanation:
M572 = Set Pressure Advance commandD0:1 = Apply to both extruder drives (Drive 0 and Drive 1)S0.055 = Your pressure advance value
Note: If your machine has only one extruder, use D0. For dual extruder IDEX machines like the 22 IDEX, use D0:1 to apply the same value to both.
- Click the Save icon (disk icon) in the Filament Settings tab
- Your new profile is now available in the filament dropdown menu
- Select this profile before slicing any print with this material
The same principles apply to other slicers:
Cura:
- Temperature: Set in Material Settings > Temperatures
- Flow Rate: Set in Material Settings > Flow (as percentage, e.g., 104%)
- Pressure Advance: Add
M572 D0:1 S0.055 to Start G-code in Material Settings
Simplify3D:
- Temperature: Set in Edit Process Settings > Temperature
- Flow Rate: Set in Edit Process Settings > Extruder > Extrusion Multiplier
- Pressure Advance: Add
M572 D0:1 S0.055 to Starting Script
Once you've mastered the three core calibration tests, you can further optimize your prints with additional tests:
- Purpose: Minimize stringing and oozing during travel moves
- When to use: If you see stringing between printed parts
- Test duration: 20-30 minutes
- Purpose: Determine the maximum speed your hotend can reliably extrude
- When to use: For high-speed printing or when under-extrusion occurs at high speeds
- Test duration: 30-45 minutes
- Purpose: Optimize support interface gap for easy removal
- When to use: When printing complex parts with overhangs
- Test duration: 30-60 minutes
¶ Fan Speed and Layer Time
- Purpose: Prevent overheating on small, detailed parts
- When to use: When printing tall thin features or small cross-sections
- Test duration: 30-45 minutes
Note: These tests are available in future firmware updates and are considered advanced. The three core tests (Temperature, Pressure Advance, Flow Rate) will cover 85% of print quality issues.
Issue: Temperature tower or test prints are failing mid-print.
Solutions:
- Verify filament is dry: Moisture causes inconsistent extrusion and print failures
- Check bed adhesion: Apply glue stick or appropriate adhesive
- Verify nozzle is clean: Clean or replace nozzle if clogged
- Confirm temperatures are appropriate: Don't exceed material's degradation temperature
Issue: All temperature tower sections look the same, or all flow rate squares look similar.
Solutions:
- Use better lighting: Inspect under bright, directional light
- Use magnification: USB microscope or jeweler's loupe helps tremendously
- Widen your test range: Your range may be too narrow; expand it and re-run
- Compare extremes first: Look at the lowest vs. highest samples to see the full range of effects
Issue: Running the same test twice gives different results.
Solutions:
- Ensure filament is consistently dry: Moisture changes behavior significantly
- Stabilize chamber temperature: Wait for full thermal stabilization before testing
- Check for mechanical issues: Verify belts are tensioned, no binding in motion system
- Use the same build plate: Different build plates can affect first layer and test results
¶ Pressure Advance Teardrop Shows Both Blob and Gap
Issue: Can't find a zone where the seam is clean—always either a blob or a gap.
Solutions:
- Run a narrower test range: Your optimal value may be between the steps you tested
- Check nozzle condition: Worn or damaged nozzles can cause inconsistent flow
- Verify temperature is optimal: Pressure advance is temperature-dependent
- Dry filament thoroughly: Moisture causes pressure inconsistencies
Issue: Even at +10 or +12, you still see gaps between lines.
Solutions:
- Check filament diameter: If actual diameter is smaller than expected (e.g., 1.65mm instead of 1.75mm), you're under-extruding by default
- Verify extrusion multiplier in slicer: Make sure you're starting from 1.00 baseline
- Check for partial clog: Clean or replace nozzle
- Increase temperature: Material may not be flowing well at current temperature
¶ Maintenance and Re-Calibration
You should re-run calibration tests when:
- ✅ Switching to a new material (different type or brand)
- ✅ Changing nozzle size (e.g., 0.4mm to 0.6mm)
- ✅ Changing nozzle type (e.g., brass to hardened steel)
- ✅ After major firmware updates (if extrusion behavior changed)
- ✅ Print quality degrades despite other troubleshooting
You do NOT need to re-run tests when:
- ❌ Switching between different spools of the same material from the same manufacturer
- ❌ Changing build plates (as long as first layer adhesion is maintained)
- ❌ Adjusting print speeds or other slicer settings
- ❌ Printing different part geometries
¶ Summary and Best Practices
By completing these three calibration tests, you have:
- ✅ Determined the optimal nozzle temperature for maximum strength and quality
- ✅ Calibrated pressure advance for clean seams and sharp corners
- ✅ Set the correct flow rate for solid, strong layers
Result: A finely-tuned material profile that will enable your 22 IDEX printer to produce consistently high-quality, strong, and accurate parts.
- Dry your filament thoroughly before every print
- Ensure chamber and bed are fully heated and stabilized
- Clean the build plate with isopropyl alcohol before printing
- Use the correct material profile in your slicer
- Always monitor the first layer of every print
- If the nozzle is too close or too far, adjust Z baby-stepping (Z-offset adjustment)
- A good first layer is critical to print success
- Document your settings for each material
- Note any observations about material behavior
- Record spool batch numbers if you notice variations
- Name slicer profiles clearly:
Material - Brand - Key Settings
- Example:
ULTEM 9085 - Stratasys - 390C PA0.06
- Keep profiles backed up
Temperature:
- Manufacturer recommendations are often conservative
- Print as hot as possible without material degradation
- Higher temperatures = stronger parts (up to a point)
Pressure Advance:
- Eliminates blobs and gaps at corners and seams
- Highly sensitive to moisture—always dry filament
- Values typically range from 0.03 to 0.12 depending on material
Flow Rate:
- Ensures solid layers without gaps or over-extrusion
- Filled materials often require +2% to +4% additional flow
- Visual and tactile inspection are both important
¶ Support and Additional Resources
If you encounter issues or have questions about material tuning:
Contact Vision Miner Support:
- Email: support@visionminer.com
- Include:
- Material type and brand
- Test results and observations
- Photos of test prints (if applicable)
- Your slicer settings
Congratulations! You now have the knowledge and skills to tune any material for optimal performance on your 22 IDEX printer. Happy printing!