Calibration & Motion MODULE

Pressure Advance (Klipper) & Linear Advance (Marlin) Calculator

Calculate exact advance values from calibration test towers and generate copy-paste SET_PRESSURE_ADVANCE and M900 K-factor commands.

Target Firmware

Extruder Hardware Preset

Start Value

Factor / mm

Measured Height

Klipper Smooth Time (smooth_time)Default: 0.040s

Values between 0.020s and 0.040s prevent extruder motor chatter while maintaining crisp corners.

How to measure your test tower:

Inspect the corners of the printed tower or tuning line from bottom to top. Find the height where the corners look sharpest with zero bulging and zero under-extruded gaps. Measure from the bed to that level with digital calipers in millimeters.

Pressure AdvanceCalibrated

0.1125s

Live Console Command:

SET_PRESSURE_ADVANCE ADVANCE=0.1125

Permanent Config Snippet:

[extruder]
pressure_advance: 0.1125
pressure_advance_smooth_time: 0.040

Formula: Advance = Start + (Height × Factor)

01 / PROTOCOL

Measurement & Operating Instructions

STEP 01

1. Select Firmware

Choose Klipper (Pressure Advance) or Marlin (Linear Advance K-factor).

STEP 02

2. Print Tuning Tower

Run the pressure advance calibration tower test from OrcaSlicer or Klipper documentation.

STEP 03

3. Measure Best Height

Measure with calipers where the corner transitions from bulging to sharpest without gaps.

02 / MATHEMATICS

Pressure Advance & Linear Advance Tuning

Compensates for the fluid dynamics and elastic compression of molten filament inside the nozzle during acceleration and deceleration.

Advance Value = Start Value + (Measured Height on Tower × Factor)

Real-World Worked Benchmark:

On a direct-drive calibration tower with Factor = 0.005/mm and Start = 0.0, the sharpest corner is at 22.5mm height. Advance = 0.0 + (22.5 × 0.005) = 0.1125 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Pressure Advance (Linear Advance) do?

Molten filament in a hotend acts like a pressurized spring. When the print head slows down for corners, excess plastic oozes out, creating bloated corners. Pressure advance compensates by predicting nozzle pressure and pulling back early.

What are typical Pressure Advance values for direct drive vs Bowden?

Direct drive extruders typically require small values between 0.015 and 0.060. Long Bowden tube setups have more filament spring elasticity and require values between 0.30 and 1.20.

How do I convert Marlin Linear Advance K-factor to Klipper Pressure Advance?

In Marlin 2.0 with 1.75mm filament, Linear Advance K and Klipper PA values operate on similar time constants, but due to differing step-generation math, printing a dedicated calibration tower or pattern is always recommended.

Does pressure advance vary between different filament materials?

Yes. Softer filaments like TPU have much higher elasticity and require higher pressure advance, while rigid materials like PLA or Carbon Fiber nylon require significantly lower compensation.

Can too high Pressure Advance cause extruder clicking or under-extruded seams?

Yes. Setting pressure advance too high causes aggressive rapid retractions and forward primes on every corner and speed transition, which can grind filament, overheat extruder motors, and cause thin gaps at corners.

CALCULATOR SUITE