Fastest filament

Bambu Lab X1 Series
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I typically print PETG @ .28 draft height and 150 to 200 mm/s depending on model size.
The prints are really nice and the Bambu scoots, but can it be faster?

Is it possible to print same model faster with other filaments?
What is the fastest volumetric speed filament out there?

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Red is always the fastest…

… I’ll see myself out

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I’ve no idea which is fastest, I don’t print enough for it to matter. My experience with almost anything is that the faster you run it, the faster it wears out or breaks.

I do run most of the Orca Slicer calibrations for the filaments I have on hand.

Inland PETG Silver and Black produces good results at a max volumetric speed of 20 mm³/s. The test print actually looked good up to 24 mm³/s, but I don’t need to push the limits.

The Studio default setting for Bambu PETG Basic is 14 mmÂł/s.

You won’t know the limits for your filaments on your prints until you test them.

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  1. Yes, you can print faster. Besides a capable filament and printer, you need to account also for the intensive tunning. In my opinion, the critical issue is the purpose. For example, higher speeds can easily hinder aesthetics, accuracy and strength.

  2. Different filament materials require distinct print settings, which result in different print times. This happens with typical filament materials and even with varying colours of the same material and brand. These differences can be even higher if you account for the novel derivatives and composite filaments.

  3. I think that you meant the highest melt index. If so, and only referring to my filaments, BL PLA. I always look for this info, yet many filament suppliers do not supply this technical specification, so it is hard to establish a fair comparison.
    The comparison is even more challenging for the maximum volumetric speed, as besides the filament, you need to account for the printer’s ability to extrude and cool down material, for which high-end extruders, hotends, nozzles, etc., exist and users mods and tunning have a significant effect.
    A way to find out would be by a contest.

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Yeah, I agree. The upper limit on speed is the flow rate of the plastic through the nozzle. To go fast, the plastic has to flow fast. Viscosity goes down as temp goes up, so that means it has to be hotter. You’d want a plastic that had a low melt temp but a high burn temp and then you could crank the temp up and maximize flow and achieve the highest speed possible (assuming the printer’s mechanics don’t run out of steam before the extruder does).

But flow rate is a function of both the plastic and the material of the nozzle. Steel isn’t all that great, “friction” wise. So the upper limit might not be a function of how high a temp you can reach. The nozzle just might not flow well above some certain rate.

For one of my older printers, I had a nozzle that was actually made with a Ruby for the tip. It flowed plastic much faster than my clunky old printer could run. Ruby is “slippery” material that molten plastic doesn’t like to stick too. It could have probably squirted out an extrusion like it was a can of Silly String. Thing was great with everything. It could support very high temps. But it was wicked expensive.

Someone makes one for the X1C and I will buy it regardless of cost (within reason :slight_smile:).

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I was not aware of the flow rate advantage of the ruby nozzle. I always thought that the primary use regards the abrasive filaments.

If you want higher flow rates and like tinkering, you may want to check the CNC kitchen video regarding using a well-known third-party nozzle. I adhere to BL printers to avoid this, and for now, I will stick with the stock components and use my S1 Pro for the tuning tests.

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