This guide explains the Vision Miner approach to setting print speeds in PrusaSlicer for the 22IDEX. The core philosophy is to configure relatively high nominal speeds and accelerations, understanding that the actual print speed is often dynamically limited by the material's maximum volumetric flow rate and the minimal layer time requirement for proper cooling and adhesion.
The goal is to achieve the fastest possible print times without compromising part strength or geometric accuracy. This involves understanding the interplay between slicer speed settings, acceleration capabilities, material extrusion limits, and cooling requirements. This guide details how to configure these settings in PrusaSlicer and explains the factors that ultimately govern the real-world print speed.
This approach complements the strategies discussed in the Layer Times & Cooling Guide. Prerequisites include familiarity with basic PrusaSlicer navigation and an understanding of the concepts covered in the Minimal Layer Time and Volumetric Flow Rate guides.
Achieving the optimal print speed involves setting parameters in the slicer, but several factors create a hierarchy of limitations that determine the actual speed used during printing:
Volumetric Flow Rate (Max Extrusion Rate): This is typically the primary limiting factor. It defines the maximum volume of plastic (in mm³) that can be reliably melted and extruded per second (mm³/s). Setting speeds that demand a higher flow rate than the hotend/material combination can handle will result in under-extrusion and failed prints.
Minimal Layer Time: As detailed in the Layer Times & Cooling Guide, this setting intentionally slows down the print speed on layers with small cross-sectional areas. This ensures adequate cooling time to prevent melting and deformation, preserving geometric accuracy and layer bonding, especially crucial for high-temp materials relying on ambient cooling. This is a deliberate slowdown for quality.
Acceleration Settings: Define how quickly the toolhead can change speed. Even if a high top speed is set, the printer may never reach it on short print moves if acceleration is too low. Think of it like driving in a city – acceleration matters more than top speed between short distances. The physical limit of acceleration on the 22 IDEX is 15,000mm/s², but we limit it to 5,000mm/s²
Configured Speed Settings: These are the target speeds you enter in PrusaSlicer for different features (infill, perimeters, etc.). They act as an upper bound, but the printer will only reach them if not limited by the factors above.
This critical setting caps the overall extrusion throughput.
5 mm³/s.10 mm³/s.15 mm³/s or more.Important: Setting Volumetric Flow Rate correctly is crucial. Setting it too high will cause print failures, regardless of your speed settings. Consult the Volumetric Flow Rate Guide for detailed instructions.
Acceleration determines how quickly the printer reaches its target speeds.
Perimeters, Infill, and Travel acceleration. However, excessively high acceleration can cause ringing/ghosting artifacts, skipped steps, or increased machine wear. Increase incrementally and test print quality.These are the target speeds for different print features.
200 mm/s or higher). Set moderately high speeds for internal Perimeters. However, use deliberately slower speeds for features critical to quality and strength:
50 mm/s). This negates the benefit of a fast machine and can sometimes cause issues due to prolonged nozzle heat exposure on the part. Rely on the Volumetric Flow Rate and Minimal Layer Time settings to impose limits where needed.Cooling strategies differ significantly based on the material type and desired part properties:
For detailed configuration of cooling parameters, including Minimal Layer Time and dynamic fan settings, refer to the Optimizing Layer Times & Cooling.
200 mm/s, but the printer seems much slower. Why?
Slow down if layer print time is below) to ensure those small layers don't overheat and deform. This is expected behavior for maintaining quality.Optimizing print speed on the Vision Miner 22IDEX involves setting high target speeds and accelerations while respecting the fundamental limits of volumetric flow rate and the necessary cooling time between layers. By understanding how these factors interact, you can leverage the machine's capabilities to produce strong, accurate parts rapidly and reliably. Always start with the tested Vision Miner profiles and adjust methodically.
Contact Vision Miner Support for further assistance.