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Acceleration & Distance Calculator

Calculate the distance required for your 3D printer to reach its target speed. Verify if your speed settings are effective based on your acceleration.

Motion Settings

Total Distance

13.3 mm

Required travel to hit top speed and stop.

If the total move distance is greater than the length of the line you are printing, your printer will never reach the target speed on that segment.

The Physics of Printing

3D printers don't jump to their target speed instantly. They obey the laws of physics. The print head must accelerate from a standstill, reach the target velocity (if there's enough room), and then decelerate back to zero for the next corner or stop.

The relationship is governed by the kinematic equation:

d = v² / (2a)
  • d = Distance required (mm)
  • v = Target Velocity (mm/s)
  • a = Acceleration (mm/s²)

Optimization Guide

Chasing Speed?

If you want to print fast, high top speed isn't enough. You need high acceleration. Without it, your printer spends all its time speeding up and slowing down, never reaching the speed you set in the slicer.

Quality First?

High acceleration causes vibrations (ringing/ghosting). For better surface quality, lower your acceleration. This calculator helps you see the trade-off: lower acceleration means you need much longer moves to hit high speeds.

Pro Tip

"Input Shaping" (in Klipper/Marlin) allows you to use much higher acceleration values without the ringing artifacts, letting you hit those top speeds even on smaller prints.

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