3D Print Speed vs Quality: Finding the Right Balance

Every 3D printing hobbyist faces the same dilemma: faster prints or better quality? The good news is that modern printers and slicers offer tools to get remarkably good quality even at high speeds. This guide helps you find the right balance for every project.

The Speed-Quality Trade-Off in 3D Printing

The fundamental trade-off is simple: moving the printhead faster means less time for each line of plastic to cool and settle before the next one is deposited. This can cause:

• Rougher surface finish from vibration and ringing artifacts
• Weaker layer adhesion from insufficient heating
• Dimensional inaccuracies from momentum-induced shifts
• More stringing and oozing from rapid pressure changes

However, printing too slowly also has drawbacks: heat creep, oozing, and wasted time. The goal is finding the sweet spot.

How Print Speed Affects Surface Finish

Surface quality degrades at higher speeds primarily due to two effects:

• Ringing/ghosting: Shadow-like ripples near sharp corners caused by the printhead’s momentum. Visible at speeds above 80 mm/s on printers without input shaping
• Uneven extrusion: At high speeds, the extruder may struggle to push filament fast enough, causing slight under-extrusion that creates rough surfaces

Speed recommendations for surface quality:

• Exhibition/display quality: 30-40 mm/s
• Good quality: 50-60 mm/s
• Acceptable quality: 80-100 mm/s
• Draft/prototype quality: 150+ mm/s

Layer Height and Its Impact on Detail

Layer height has a more visible impact on quality than print speed:

• 0.08-0.12 mm: Ultra-fine detail. Ideal for miniatures, figurines, and smooth curved surfaces. Print time increases 2-3x compared to 0.2 mm
• 0.16-0.2 mm: The sweet spot for most prints. Good detail with reasonable print times
• 0.24-0.32 mm: Fast printing with visible layer lines. Fine for prototypes, internal parts, and functional components where appearance does not matter

Key insight: Reducing layer height from 0.2 to 0.12 mm doubles print time but dramatically improves curved surfaces. For flat or angular designs, 0.2 mm is perfectly fine.

Acceleration and Jerk Settings Explained

Acceleration and jerk (or junction deviation) control how quickly the printhead speeds up and changes direction:

• Acceleration: Higher values let the printer reach top speed faster but can cause ringing. 500-1000 mm/s² is safe for most printers. Modern CoreXY printers handle 5000-20000 mm/s²
• Jerk: Controls instantaneous speed changes at corners. Lower jerk values produce smoother corners but slow the printer. 8-10 mm/s is a good default
• Junction deviation: Marlin firmware’s replacement for jerk. A value of 0.08-0.13 works well for most printers

Input Shaping for High-Speed Printing

Input shaping is the technology that lets modern printers like Bambu Lab and Voron print at 200+ mm/s without quality loss:

• It measures the printer’s natural vibration frequencies using an accelerometer
• The firmware then pre-compensates movements to cancel out vibrations
• Result: no ringing or ghosting even at extreme speeds
• Available in Klipper firmware (Voron, modded Ender 3) and Bambu Lab printers
• Can also be added to Marlin firmware printers with the right hardware

Impact: With input shaping, a printer can produce the same quality at 200 mm/s that a non-IS printer produces at 60 mm/s. It is truly a game-changing technology.

Optimal Speed Settings by Filament Type

• PLA: 50-80 mm/s standard, up to 300 mm/s with input shaping. PLA is the most forgiving filament for speed
• PETG: 40-60 mm/s standard. PETG is more stringy at high speeds. Reduce by 20% compared to PLA settings
• ABS: 50-70 mm/s in an enclosure. Speed is less of an issue than temperature consistency
• TPU: 20-30 mm/s maximum. Flexible filaments cannot be pushed fast through the extruder. Direct drive is essential
• Nylon: 40-50 mm/s. Similar constraints to PETG with added moisture sensitivity

When Speed Matters vs When Quality Matters

Prioritise speed when:

• Prototyping and iterating on designs
• Printing internal components nobody will see
• Batch printing simple parts
• Testing fitment and dimensions

Prioritise quality when:

• Printing display pieces, gifts, or items for sale
• Printing parts that require smooth mating surfaces
• Creating moulds or masters for casting
• Printing customer orders (first impressions matter)

Frequently Asked Questions