What is the best / your process for tuning a new filament profile?
Is there a generally accepted best practice / process for calibration of a new filament that doesn't already have a profile? I'll share what I have found / do so far (though I'm new to this). Perhaps if there isn't a "duh" pretty much everyone does xyz answer then others can share what they do and we can take the best of those and put it into one reference.
I see a lot of different types of calibration models out there. Some that are specific to one aspect and some that are trying to be a combined all around test. It seems to me like you'd want to calibrate at least some parts of the configuration in some specific order and not try to have an all-in-one because you'd waste a lot of filament with trial and error. I have a Core One+ so here's the process I found so far and use (not saying its the best):
Filament Calibration for Prusa Core One
The Prusa Core One uses automatic first-layer calibration via its LoadCell sensor, so manual Z-offset adjustments are generally unnecessary after initial setup. However, calibrating new filament involves tuning temperature, flow rate, and retraction settings for optimal print quality.
Step-by-Step Filament Calibration Process
Start with a Generic Profile
Use the default Prusa filament profile (e.g., PLA, PETG) in PrusaSlicer as a baseline. Most filaments work well out of the box with these settings.
Print a Temperature Tower
Use a temperature tower (e.g., from Printables or Thingiverse) to test optimal printing temperature.
Print at 5°C intervals across the recommended range (e.g., 190–220°C for PLA).
Evaluate print quality: look for stringing, under-extrusion, or over-extrusion.
Select the temperature with the best balance of adhesion, layer definition, and minimal defects.
Calibrate Extrusion Multiplier (Flow Rate)
Print a single-walled hollow cube in vase mode (e.g., from Prusa’s calibration guide).
Measure the wall thickness at multiple points and compare to the intended value (e.g., 0.45 mm, 0.8 mm).
Adjust the extrusion multiplier in the filament profile until measured thickness matches target.
Reprint to verify; aim for consistent, accurate flow (typically between 0.95–1.02).
Test Retraction and Stringing
Print a retraction test tower (e.g., from Thingiverse).
Look for micro-holes or stringing between towers.
If stringing occurs, adjust retraction distance (start with 4.5–5.5 mm) and retraction speed (50–60 mm/s).
For PETG or flexible filaments, reduce retraction slightly or disable "wipe while retracting" to avoid scarring.
Fine-Tune with Visual Tests
Print a calibration kitty, flexi raptor, or overhang test to assess:
Overhang performance (use Atom 80° overhang test).
Layer adhesion and surface finish.
Adjust print speed and cooling as needed—especially for high-temp filaments.
Save Your Custom Profile
After calibration, save the profile as a new filament preset (e.g., "BrandX-PLA-Red").
This allows you to reuse settings confidently on future prints.
✅ Pro Tip: Use PrusaSlicer’s built-in calibration tools or Superslicer (a PrusaSlicer fork) for automated test prints and streamlined workflows.
⚠️ Note: The Core One’s LoadCell automatically handles first-layer height, so Live Adjust Z is not needed unless you’re troubleshooting adhesion issues. If problems persist, check the LoadCell alignment or print surface condition.
RE: What is the best / your process for tuning a new filament profile?
Missing 2 very important tests. Max volumetric flow and shrinkage. Here is my list: Calibrating Filament for Functional Prints
I've also created a special version of PrusaSlicer with built-in calibration tools: Prusa Slicer 2.9.4 Calibration Edition
RE: What is the best / your process for tuning a new filament profile?
Missing 2 very important tests. Max volumetric flow and shrinkage. Here is my list: Calibrating Filament for Functional Prints
I've also created a special version of PrusaSlicer with built-in calibration tools: Prusa Slicer 2.9.4 Calibration Edition
That is awesome and is exactly what I was looking for. Nice work! It looks like it is fairly new, is there a significant backlog on bugs to remediate so far or has it been pretty solid outside of the Windows version issue? Is the idea that you run this forked version just to do calibration and then switch back to the main version for prints or to use your fork for all? Do you think you would be able to get the dev team for PrusaSlicer to include it in the main program instead of a fork? That would be cool and I think this functionality is definitely a gap of the current main version.
RE: What is the best / your process for tuning a new filament profile?
Missing 2 very important tests. Max volumetric flow and shrinkage. Here is my list: Calibrating Filament for Functional Prints
I've also created a special version of PrusaSlicer with built-in calibration tools: Prusa Slicer 2.9.4 Calibration Edition
That is awesome and is exactly what I was looking for. Nice work! It looks like it is fairly new, is there a significant backlog on bugs to remediate so far or has it been pretty solid outside of the Windows version issue? Is the idea that you run this forked version just to do calibration and then switch back to the main version for prints or to use your fork for all? Do you think you would be able to get the dev team for PrusaSlicer to include it in the main program instead of a fork? That would be cool and I think this functionality is definitely a gap of the current main version.
No bugs currently (that I'm aware of). The forked version is the main version + the calibration enhancements. So you can use it exclusively. When the 2.9.5 version is created then the enhancements will be patched into that version. As for 3.0.0, not sure what it will include (yet). When I have finished the work I'll create PR against the main branch but I doubt Prusa will use it. They tend to ignore public PRs
RE: What is the best / your process for tuning a new filament profile?
Quick question:
When you get a new filament, is it best to use structural, balanced, or speed profile for your calibrations?
RE: What is the best / your process for tuning a new filament profile?
Quick question:
When you get a new filament, is it best to use structural, balanced, or speed profile for your calibrations?
It'll be interesting to see @hyiger's answer, but my opinion is you should calibrate to the profile that you generally use. The other profiles will probably be close enough, but I don't have any evidence to support or contradict my guess.
Remember, opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one and thinks theirs smells the best (or at very least lest offensive). I give my opinion recognizing this maxim. 😋
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs
RE: What is the best / your process for tuning a new filament profile?
Quick question:
When you get a new filament, is it best to use structural, balanced, or speed profile for your calibrations?
I always print functional parts with STRUCTURAL so that's what I calibrate to. That said, 3 properties are filament intrinsic so are independent of profile: nozzle temp, EM and XY/Z shrinkage. As for the profile sensitive ones, pressure advance can shift slightly at different speeds/accelerations, and max volumetric flow is by definition a rate limit that interacts with how fast the profile tries to push plastic out the nozzle. In practice though, PA is usually stable enough across BALANCED and STRUCTURAL speeds on the Core One that a single value is good enough. Where it matters more is you are jumping between, say, 50 mm/s STRUCTURAL and 200+ mm/s SPEED, the flow dynamics change enough that PA might need to be tweaked. However, I don't bother.
RE: What is the best / your process for tuning a new filament profile?
Is there a generally accepted best practice / process for calibration of a new filament that doesn't already have a profile? I'll share what I have found / do so far (though I'm new to this). Perhaps if there isn't a "duh" pretty much everyone does xyz answer then others can share what they do and we can take the best of those and put it into one reference.
I see a lot of different types of calibration models out there. Some that are specific to one aspect and some that are trying to be a combined all around test. It seems to me like you'd want to calibrate at least some parts of the configuration in some specific order and not try to have an all-in-one because you'd waste a lot of filament with trial and error. I have a Core One+ so here's the process I found so far and use (not saying its the best):
Generally speaking:
Optimizing filaments for your printer usually depends on what I ultimately want to achieve.
I use the manufacturer’s profiles, if available, provided my printer is listed. If those don’t work, I switch to existing profiles or generate my own.
I often determine the flow rate by eye when it comes to smooth surfaces. I start with a flow rate of 1 and print a standard cube with many top and bottom layers. Depending on whether there is under- or over-extrusion, I adjust the setting on the printer. The percentage change is then my new value.
Mods for Core One: Core One HT 450 degrees, Comfortable display , Very fast print start and Reducing noises
Mods for Prusa XL: Very fast print start