Source: Mickavgl via Thingiverse

When printing a temperature tower (temp tower), Cura has its advantages. Read on to improve your 3D printing and save precious filament!

Temperature towers are designed to help choose the best settings for your filament. Essentially, they are models that include temperature changes after a certain number of layers or a set distance along the Z-axis. After the model is finished printing, it gives you the opportunity to compare all the temperature segments and decide which one best suits your needs.

Printing a temperature tower, especially when working with a new filament, is key to improving your prints. In this article we will discuss how to set up a temperature tower in Cura and how to read the finished print.

Where to find one

Compact Calibration Tower Explained (Source: gaaZolee via Thingiverse)

There are a few different options when it comes to getting a temperature tower. To start with, the easiest option is to download a ready-made one from Thingiverse or another STL repository. Some designs are as simple as blocks stacked on top of each other. Others offer more details and tests in addition to temperature checks.

However, if you are experienced in 3D design, you may want to design your own temperature tower. This gives you the opportunity to focus on points that are most important to you. The key design decision will be how to measure the distance between temperature changes. This can be done either by counting the layers or by measuring the Z-axis increments. Both options are explained below.

When designing your own tower, you can be as simple or fancy as you like. Just be sure to include some way to show where the temperature changes occur for easier comparison.

Create in Cura

A look at the base settings (Source: Lewis Horton via All3DP; Model: 
gaaZolee via Thingiverse )

To begin the process, you must open your chosen STL file in Cura by selecting "Open File(s)" from the File menu. Select the file you downloaded or designed. Once that's done, you can start looking at the settings.

  • Temperature settings (Temperature settings): The print temperature should be set to the temperature that corresponds to the first block in your tower so that the hot end of the printer heats up to the correct start temperature. Using a heated work plate will help adhesion in most cases and can be set to a value you know works for the material you are using.
  • Printing speed ( Print speed): The print speed will need to be set to a value that your printer can handle comfortably. For example, the Ender 3 V2 can be set to about 50 mm/s when printing PLA, the Ultimaker 3 - about 70 mm/s when printing PLA.
  • Fill (Infill): In general, fill settings can also be relatively low and simple. Cura's 20% grid is a nice middle ground to make sure the tower isn't flimsy and can support its own weight if some of the layers don't stick together well.
  • Layer Height (Layer height): This is very important for temperature tower tests and you will need to carefully set the layer height to ensure that your 3D printer can change at the points you want. A layer height of 0.2mm is generally considered to be a nice round number to work with (five layers is 1mm) while still being a usable value for layer heights in the print itself.

Add temperature changes

Start adding layers (Source: Lewis Horton via All3DP; Model: 
gaaZolee via Thingiverse )

This is where things get a little different compared to a normal 3D printing file.

Here you will add modifications to the G-code to tell the printer when you want the temperature to change and to what value. As for the specific values, if you've downloaded a file, there are usually instructions included that will explain what to set. If you're using a custom designed tower, a little math should let you figure out which values are best for your file.

  1. To access the screen, go to Extensions, then Post Processing, followed by Change G-Code. A new window will open giving you options to add what you need.
  2. Select "Add Script" followed by "Change Z". This will display a number of settings that will allow you to adjust your file based on either the Z axis height or the layer number.
  3. Set the Apply To setting to Target Layer + Subsequent. This means that the temperature will change on the set layer and will hold that temperature until either the end of the print or when it is told to change again.
  4. Activate the "Change Extruder 1 Temperature" button, then select the desired temperature.
  5. Repeat steps 2 through 3 for as many different temperature sections as you need for your chosen file.

How to interpret the results

How results may differ with temperature changes (Source: 
SocialCapableMichiel via Reddit )

At the end of the print, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and judging what you think works best will be different from person to person and print to print. A temperature tower isn't the only tool you should use to make sure your prints come out as close to what you need as possible, but it can help guide you toward the best settings.

The three most common things people use to evaluate thermal towers are layer adhesion, stringing, and print surface quality. Let's discuss each of these points in more detail.

Adhesion of the layer

Layer adhesion is the most common aspect of print quality that people look for in a temperature tower. Changes in temperature change the way the layers bond to each other, affecting both the strength of the model and its visual appearance.

If the material doesn't melt enough, it may not bond properly to the layer underneath. This means that you will have weak spots in the layers, which can result in a failed print or the finished part being particularly fragile. When the print is finished, this becomes more obvious because the layers can move apart or there are visible gaps between the layers.

Stringing / Stringing /

Threading is an annoying problem (Source: I_Kill_Giants87 via Reddit )

Another popular measure is the amount of stringing caused by different temperature settings. While this doesn't affect the print as much as the adhesion of the layer, it is a key indicator of whether the print is set up correctly. More stringing means more post-processing will be needed, and when time is critical, this can be a major factor.

Threading occurs when a small amount of thread exits the nozzle as it travels from point to point. It can vary in appearance, but often looks like fine fibers between two points that should not be connected.

Printing surface

The surface quality of the print is not often associated with the wrong temperature setting of the filament, but the two are more related than people realize.

If the material does not melt in a steady, even manner, you will lose print detail. This can manifest itself in many forms, including spots or blemishes on the surface or curves that appear staggered due to the layers not joining in a smooth manner.

Now that you know all this about  Temp Tower c Ultimaker Girl, it remains to try and use to always achieve perfect prints with your new materials.


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