Line width in 3D printing (often referred to as extrusion width) is the actual physical width of the bead of molten plastic deposited by the nozzle.
Line width in 3D printing (often referred to as extrusion width) is the actual physical width of the bead of molten plastic deposited by the nozzle. While it is fundamentally constrained by the physical size of the nozzle orifice, it is a highly adjustable setting in Ultimaker Cura that dictates the overall density, dimensional precision, strength, and print speed of a part.
A common misconception is that the extruded plastic exits the nozzle as a cylinder and remains cylindrical on the build plate. In reality, the slicer models the extrusion bead as a flattened, rectangular prism with semi-circular rounded edges: a shape mathematically known as a stadium or obround cross-section.
To calculate the exact volume of filament required to print a line of a specific length, the slicer uses the cross-sectional area of this stadium shape:
| Category | Ultimaker Cura |
|---|---|
| Library | CAM library |
Engineer, author of The Big Book of 3D Printing and additive manufacturing expert