GLOSSARY
Print Speed
Print speed is how fast the toolhead moves while extruding, in millimeters per second. Manufacturer top speeds (500 mm/s) are best-case marketing — actual quality prints run far slower.
Definition
Print speed is split into many sub-settings: outer wall speed (slowest, for surface quality), inner wall speed, infill speed (fastest, hidden inside), top and bottom speed, travel speed (non-extruding moves). The headline number on a printer spec sheet is usually peak infill speed.
Real-world speeds depend on printer kinematics (CoreXY beats bedslinger), input shaping (Klipper/Marlin's vibration compensation), nozzle flow rate, and material. A Bambu X1 hits 250 mm/s on PLA infill in good conditions; a Voron 2.4 with a high-flow hot end goes higher; an Ender 3 caps around 60 mm/s before quality collapses.
Why it matters
Faster prints are nice. But beyond a point, speed forces compromises: lower flow rates make under-extrusion, ringing (echoes around corners), elephant foot at the base, and weaker layer adhesion. Quality prints typically run at 60–120 mm/s on most modern printers, regardless of what the spec sheet says.
Common confusion
Print time is not just print speed. Acceleration, jerk, and travel optimization matter enormously — a printer with high peak speed but sluggish acceleration finishes prints slower than one with moderate speed and snappy moves.
For tall narrow parts, slow down. For tiny details, slow down. For everything else, the printer's default profile is probably fine.