Dry
Moisture before math
Store opened PETG sealed. If the spool sat open in humidity, dry it per brand guidance, then re-test on a small travel model—not after changing five fields at once.
OrcaSlicer · PETG stringing & first layers
Clean PETG without another download page
Starting settings for stringing and first layers—dry filament, temperature, retraction, and Z-hop before you chase exotic seams.
If you need how to stop PETG stringing in OrcaSlicer, begin with a dry spool, apply conservative retraction and temperature moves, confirm the first layer, then open a matching guide.
Four-row starting table
Select a row to highlight the matching card. Values are starting points for PETG travel cleanliness—not defaults for every printer.
CheckStarting pointWhy it matters
Temp
Temperature ladder
Use the spool range, not a generic “always 250 °C” tip. Prefer OrcaSlicer’s Temperature Tower on the same spool. If whiskers remain after drying and mild retraction, step slightly cooler and keep bed temp separate.
Retraction
One axis per print
Note direct-drive vs Bowden, nudge one control, print a short stringing test, and back off if filament grinds. Use built-in Retraction calibration when guesswork stalls.
Z-hop
Lift only what you need
Enable a short Z-hop when hairs drag across tops. Keep hop small; if edge blobs appear, reduce hop or revisit temperature.
Five jobs OrcaSlicer handles next
Pick the job that matches the failure on the plate. Each card routes to a verified orcaslicer.net guide.
First layer
When the skirt won’t stick, clean the plate, confirm probe or level, then adjust Z-offset and first-layer speed before raising nozzle heat to mask a high live-Z.
Open first-layer helpPETG stringing
After drying, pair retraction with modest Z-hop and a calm temperature ladder. Change one variable per test.
Open stringing helpCalibration
Use OrcaSlicer’s built-in Temperature Tower, Retraction, Flow Ratio, and related tools—then save kept values to the correct profile layer.
Browse calibration guidesPrinter profiles
Keep machine limits on the printer profile; keep PETG temperatures and retraction bias on the filament profile.
Open profile guidanceAMS caveats
Multi-material paths add drying, purge, and slot complexity. Treat AMS stringing as filament condition plus purge strategy—not only one retraction number.
Open multi-material notesTrust, kept short
Settings library
Guides on orcaslicer.net collect practical setup paths for stringing, first layers, and calibration—so you leave with a checklist.
Downloads stay on the download page
Installers live on the download page. This homepage focuses on PETG starting settings and guide routes.
Starting points, labeled
Numbers here are conservative starting points. Results vary by kinematics, hotend, filament lot, and enclosure.
FAQ
Wet PETG often strings and pops no matter how polished the retract chart looks. Dry first so each OrcaSlicer change means something.
Start from a PETG preset matched to direct-drive or Bowden, change one field per print, and use Retraction calibration for a structured sweep. Back off if filament grinds.
No. Modest Z-hop helps on long travels, but excess hop adds time and edge artifacts. Pair it with drying and temperature discipline.
Separate the problems. Revisit plate cleanliness, probe or level, first-layer height/speed, and Z-offset—not endless nozzle heat to mask a high offset.
On the OrcaSlicer download page. Use this page for PETG starting settings and guide entry points.
Open the guide that matches your plate
Take the starting table into a full OrcaSlicer settings guide—troubleshooting, profile ownership, and calibration paths.