Retraction is a slicer setting that pulls filament backward in the nozzle during travel moves, preventing molten plastic from oozing out and leaving strings.

Starting points

  • Direct drive: 0.5–1.5 mm retraction distance
  • Bowden: 3–6 mm (longer tube = longer pull)
  • Speed: 25–45 mm/s retraction speed

Tuning order

  1. Dry the filament first — wet material oozes no matter the retraction
  2. Lower nozzle temperature to the material's low end
  3. Increase retraction in 0.5 mm steps until strings disappear
  4. Watch for under-extrusion at restart — back off 0.2–0.3 mm

Material-specific behavior matters: silk PLA is stringier, PETG needs drier conditions, TPU needs minimal retraction (1 mm or less). Full guidance on every VOXFIL material page.