Flow Rate Calibration for 3D Printing
Why flow rate matters
If flow rate is wrong, every wall in every print is wrong by the same proportion. Dimensions are off, walls are weak or rough, and the only fix is to recalibrate flow. Worth doing once per filament brand.
How to calibrate flow
- In your slicer, set wall line width to 0.4 mm (or your nozzle size)
- Print a single-wall calibration cube (search 'flow calibration cube' on Thingiverse)
- Wait for the print to cool
- Measure the wall thickness with digital callipers in several places
- Average the measurements
- If average = 0.4 mm, your flow rate is perfect
- If average = 0.36 mm, increase flow by (0.4 / 0.36) = ~11 percent
- If average = 0.44 mm, reduce flow by (0.4 / 0.44) = ~9 percent
Per-filament tuning
Flow rate varies by filament. Even within one brand, different colours can have slightly different pigment loading that changes effective diameter. Calibrate once for each filament you use regularly; the value rarely changes after that.
Slicer-specific notes
- OrcaSlicer: Calibration > Flow Rate (built-in wizard)
- PrusaSlicer: Filament Settings > Filament > Extrusion Multiplier
- Cura: Material Flow
Browse the range
All filament. Siddament free profiles include pre-tuned flow rates.