# How do I calibrate flow rate and pressure advance for a new filament?

Calibrate each new spool in order: a temperature tower inside that spool’s nozzle range, then flow rate, then pressure advance or linear advance, then a maximum volumetric speed. The consensus names OrcaSlicer’s calibration tools for that sequence. Do not reuse another filament’s advance value.

A new spool does not inherit the last spool’s flow ratio or pressure advance. The consensus calibrates four things, in this order, and it names OrcaSlicer’s calibration tools as the place people run them.

## Temperature tower

Stay inside the nozzle range on the row. [PolyLite PLA](/brand/polymaker/polylite-pla) and [PLA Basic](/brand/bambu-lab/pla-basic) store 190–230 °C (374–446 °F). [Prusament PLA](/brand/prusament/pla) stores 205–225 °C (401–437 °F). [PolyLite PETG](/brand/polymaker/polylite-petg) stores 220–250 °C (428–482 °F). A tower step outside the range is not a result. It is the cold-nozzle case on the [clog page](/answers/clog).

Dry first if the spool has been open. Wet filament changes flow and looks like a bad ratio. Temperatures are on [drying](/answers/drying).

## Flow, then advance

Set flow rate after the temperature is chosen. Then set pressure advance or linear advance. They are not substitutes. A corner blob with an even wall thickness is advance, covered on [blobs and zits](/answers/blobs). Strings between parts are retraction and temperature, covered on [ooze](/answers/ooze).

This batch does not include a sample K factor, a flow percentage, or an OrcaSlicer screenshot. Those would be invented.

## Volumetric speed

Maximum volumetric speed is the last calibration, and it is the limit behind [how fast PLA and PETG can go](/answers/speed). PLA Basic’s sheet lists a print speed under 300 mm/s. That is not a stored mm³/s figure, and the other three rows do not store one either. If the hotend cannot melt the volume, the flow ratio you just found will not hold at a higher speed.

Updated 2026-10-15. Sources accessed 2026-10-15. Use case: Troubleshooting.

## Ranked filaments

| Rank | Filament | Nozzle | Bed | Price per kg |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Polymaker Polylite PLA | 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) | 25–60 °C (77–140 °F) | — |
| 2 | Prusament PLA | 205–225 °C (401–437 °F) | 40–60 °C (104–140 °F) | — |
| 3 | Polymaker Polylite PETG | 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) | 70–90 °C (158–194 °F) | — |
| 4 | Bambu Lab PLA Basic | 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) | 35–45 °C (95–113 °F) | — |

## What the community says

The consensus is to calibrate per filament: a temperature tower, flow rate, pressure advance or linear advance, and maximum volumetric speed. OrcaSlicer calibration is the tool named for that work.

## Sources

- [PolyLite PLA technical data sheet](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_PLA_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf) (datasheet)
- [PolyLite PETG technical data sheet](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_PETG_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf) (datasheet)
- [Bambu PLA Basic technical data sheet V3.0](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0584/7236/6216/files/Bambu_PLA_Basic_Technical_Data_Sheet_bf3411ce-be39-4db7-9669-1b4671d2196b.pdf?v=1734060943) (datasheet)
- [Community source, r/FixMyPrint xco8l7](https://www.reddit.com/r/FixMyPrint/comments/xco8l7/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/BambuLab 15gsovs](https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/15gsovs/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/FixMyPrint 1613uzc](https://www.reddit.com/r/FixMyPrint/comments/1613uzc/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/FixMyPrint 1hvl2f1](https://www.reddit.com/r/FixMyPrint/comments/1hvl2f1/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/BambuLab 16n0nja](https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/16n0nja/) (reddit)

HTML: https://filamentfacts.com/answers/flow