Orca Slicer temperature tower calibration
A temperature tower finds the best nozzle temperature for a filament by printing one tall model in blocks, each at a different temperature, so you can see which one prints cleanest. The right temperature gives strong layers, smooth surfaces and the least stringing, and it is different for every filament and even every brand. Orca Slicer builds the tower and changes the temperature for you at each block, and you read the result and save the winner. It is the first calibration worth running for a new filament, because everything else depends on the plastic flowing right.
What the temperature tower does
Print temperature decides how the plastic melts, flows and sticks. Too cool, and layers do not bond, so the print is weak and under-extruded. Too hot, and it oozes, strings, and sags on overhangs. The tower prints the same shape at a range of temperatures, one per block. You compare them side by side and pick the temperature that gives the best mix of strength, surface finish and clean overhangs. That value then becomes the nozzle temperature you save to the filament.
Before you start
Run the temperature tower first, before the other calibrations, since flow rate, pressure advance and retraction all assume the plastic is melting correctly. Pick the exact printer, filament and process you will use. Check the range printed on the filament spool and set the tower to cover it. A PLA range is far lower than a PETG or ABS one. Keep the rest of your normal settings, so you are testing temperature and not something else. It is worth watching the printer’s display during the print to confirm the target temperature actually steps down as the tower grows.
How to run it
- Open the Calibration menu at the top and choose Temperature.
- Pick your material, then set the start and end temperature, or leave the defaults for that material. The tower steps by 5 degrees per block, and that step is fixed.
- Slice and print the tower. It inserts the temperature change at each block automatically.
- Let it finish, then inspect each block.
Reading the result
Look at every block and judge them against each other. The best temperature is the block with the fewest problems: good layer adhesion, a smooth surface, clean overhangs and bridges, and the least stringing or oozing. Watch for under-extrusion and weak layers at the cooler blocks, and stringing, oozing or sagging at the hotter ones. When two blocks look close, favour the cooler one, since a lower temperature usually strings less. Note the temperature of the block you chose.
Saving your temperature
Enter the winning temperature as the nozzle temperature in the filament settings and save the profile. Temperature is filament-specific. Each material, and even each brand or colour, can need its own value, so it is worth running the tower for every new spool. After saving, start a new project to leave calibration mode before you slice a real model. With the temperature dialled in, move on to flow rate, then pressure advance, then retraction, which is the order that keeps each test valid. Note that this is the nozzle temperature, which is separate from the enclosure heat covered on the chamber temperature control page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a temperature tower in Orca Slicer?
It is a calibration print that prints one model in blocks, each at a different nozzle temperature, so you can compare them and pick the temperature that prints cleanest for your filament. The slicer generates the tower and changes the temperature at each block for you.
What temperature should I set for the tower?
Use the range printed on the filament spool as your start and end points, or leave Orca Slicer’s default range for the material you pick. PLA sits far lower than PETG, ABS or nylon, so the wrong range wastes the test. The tower steps by 5 degrees per block.
How do I pick the best block?
Choose the block with the best overall quality: strong, well-bonded layers, a smooth surface, clean overhangs and bridges, and the least stringing. Compare the blocks against each other rather than judging one alone. When two are close, the cooler one usually strings less.
Do I calibrate temperature for every filament?
Yes, ideally. The best temperature changes with material and often with brand and colour, and it is saved per filament, so running the tower for each new spool builds a library of profiles that print cleanly. It is also the first test to run, since the others depend on it.
Why does my whole tower print at one temperature?
That means the temperature change did not take effect, usually a G-code or firmware issue rather than a fault in the test. Watch the printer’s display during the print to confirm the target temperature steps down block by block, and reslice from the Calibration menu so the changes are inserted.