Glossary · Setting

3D printing

Retraction

The printer briefly pulls the plastic filament back before moving to another spot. That way nothing drips out on the way.

Explained in more detail

Key values are retraction length and speed. Direct drive: usually 0.5 to 2 mm at 30 to 45 mm/s. Bowden: often 4 to 7 mm. Too much retraction can pull molten material into the heatbreak and cause clogs. Related settings are wipe, Z hop and pressure advance (or linear advance).

Where does the term come from?

Retraction means pulling back, from the Latin retrahere.

In practice

• Direct drive needs significantly less retraction than Bowden: usually 0.5 to 2 mm instead of 4 to 7 mm.
• For PETG, 0.5 to 1.5 mm is usually enough with direct drive.
• With TPU, keep retraction low or turn it off entirely, otherwise the soft filament buckles in the extruder.
• You will find the right value with a retraction test, which prints towers with increasing retraction length, for example in OrcaSlicer.
• If strings remain despite retraction, damp filament is often the cause: dry first, then readjust.

Not to be confused

More retraction is not automatically better: too much pulls soft material into cold areas and can clog the nozzle. Against strings caused by damp filament or too high a temperature, retraction helps only to a limited extent.

Frequently asked questions

What retraction values are right for direct drive?

Typical values are 0.5 to 2 mm at 30 to 45 mm/s. Increase in small steps and change only one value per test print.

Can too much retraction do harm?

Yes. If it retracts too far, molten material reaches cold areas, solidifies there and blocks the nozzle.