STL to G-Code Settings for Ender 3, Prusa, and Bambu Lab (Cheat Sheet)
The ultimate reference sheet of printer settings for three of the most popular 3D printer platforms. Configure your temperatures, speeds, and retraction parameters.
Configuring your slicer settings can feel like a balancing act. Set the temperature too low, and you get extruder clicks (clogging); set it too high, and your prints suffer from unsightly stringing. Speed, retraction distance, and cooling settings also vary dramatically depending on the specific mechanics of your 3D printer.
To make slicing simpler, we have compiled the ultimate STL to G-code settings cheat sheet for three of the most popular 3D printing families: the budget champion Creality Ender 3, the open-source icon Prusa i3 series, and the modern speed king Bambu Lab series.
1. Creality Ender 3 / Pro / V2 / Neo (The Bowden Benchmark)
The Ender 3 family utilizes a Bowden extruder, where the filament feeder is mounted on the frame and pushes filament through a long PTFE tube to the hotend. This reduces the weight of the print head, but requires longer retraction values to prevent stringing.
Movement Style: Cartesian (Bed-Slinger). The heavy print bed moves back and forth on the Y-axis. Because of this, keep acceleration and travel speeds low to prevent print wobbling and layer shifts.
Ender 3 Profile Settings (PLA / PETG)
| Parameter | PLA Target Value | PETG Target Value |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temperature | 200°C | 235°C |
| Bed Temperature | 60°C | 75°C |
| Print Speed | 50–60 mm/s | 40–45 mm/s |
| Travel Speed | 120 mm/s | 100 mm/s |
| Retraction Distance | 5.0 mm | 6.0 mm |
| Retraction Speed | 45 mm/s | 40 mm/s |
| Cooling Fan | 100% (after layer 2) | 30%–50% |
2. Prusa i3 MK3S+ / MK4 (The Direct Drive Standard)
Prusa printers use a direct drive extruder, meaning the motor is located directly on the print head right above the nozzle. This provides extremely reliable extrusion and retraction control, virtually eliminating stringing when calibrated correctly.
Movement Style: Cartesian (Bed-Slinger). Although it is a bed-slinger, high-quality linear rods and frame rigidity allow higher print speeds than the Ender family.
Prusa i3 Profile Settings (PLA / PETG / ABS)
| Parameter | PLA | PETG | ABS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temp | 215°C | 240°C | 255°C |
| Bed Temp | 60°C | 85°C | 100°C |
| Print Speed | 80–100 mm/s | 60 mm/s | 60–80 mm/s |
| Retraction Dist | 0.8 mm | 1.0 mm | 0.8 mm |
| Retraction Speed | 35 mm/s | 30 mm/s | 35 mm/s |
3. Bambu Lab X1C / P1S / A1 (The CoreXY Speed King)
Bambu Lab printers utilize a CoreXY mechanics system (on X1C and P1S), where the print head moves along both X and Y axes using a coordinate belt system, and the print bed only moves vertically (Z-axis). This configuration allows extreme speeds and accelerations without shaking the print off the bed.
Important Note: Because Bambu Lab printers feed filament extremely fast, you must set nozzle temperatures 10-15°C higher than standard Cartesian printers to allow the filament to melt quickly enough inside the hotend.
Bambu Lab Profile Settings (PLA / PETG)
| Parameter | PLA (Generic) | PETG (Generic) |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temperature | 220°C | 255°C |
| Bed Temperature | 55°C (PEI Plate) | 80°C |
| Print Speed (Outer Wall) | 150–200 mm/s | 100–120 mm/s |
| Print Speed (Infill) | 250–300 mm/s | 150–180 mm/s |
| Travel Speed | 500 mm/s | 400 mm/s |
| Retraction Distance | 0.8 mm | 1.2 mm |
Tying Slicing Settings Back to G-Code Generation
Every setting on these tables is translated into a specific parameter within your G-code file. Nozzle temperature changes output as M104 (set temp) and M109 (set temp and wait) instructions. Bed heating command outputs as M140 and M190. Travel speeds are parsed into F parameter suffixes on linear movement lines (for example, G1 X100 Y50 F3600 sets the feedrate to 3600mm/min, which is 60mm/s).
Configure these exact settings inside our online STL to G-code converter! Select your filament material, insert your specific printer speed and layer height, and click 'Convert' to obtain high-performance G-code optimized for your machine.
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Convert your STL file to G-code now →Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Bambu Lab print speeds so much higher than Ender 3 speeds?
Bambu Lab printers utilize a CoreXY motion system, high-acceleration vibration compensation (input shaping), and state-of-the-art hotends capable of melting plastic at a very high volumetric rate. A standard Cartesian printer like the Ender 3 (bed-slinger) is physically limited by the weight of its heavy bed moving along the Y-axis, which causes ghosting or layer shifts if speeds exceed 60-80mm/s.
What is retraction, and why does direct drive require less of it?
Retraction pulls the filament back slightly when the nozzle moves between printing zones to prevent oozing and stringing. Direct drive extruders (like Prusa and Bambu Lab) sit directly on top of the hotend, meaning there is minimal gap or flex. They only need 0.5mm to 1.2mm retraction. Bowden extruders (like the stock Ender 3) push filament through a long PTFE tube, requiring 5mm to 6mm retraction to overcome the slack in the tube.
Do I need to change my settings when switching from PLA to PETG?
Yes! PETG requires a higher hotend temperature (230°C - 245°C) and bed temperature (70°C - 80°C) compared to PLA (200°C - 215°C nozzle, 60°C bed). You also need to reduce print speeds by 20% to 30% and set the cooling fan to 30% - 50% instead of 100% to ensure good layer bonding.
What is first layer squish, and how do I get it right?
First layer squish is the slight flattening of the extruded filament against the build plate to ensure good adhesion. Getting it right depends on having a perfectly leveled bed and a correct Z-offset. If the nozzle is too close, it will scrape the bed; if too far, the print will detach.