Temperature tower

A temperature tower is a single test print, usually shaped like a tall tower with a label on each section, where the slicer changes the nozzle temperature every few layers instead of keeping it constant. Printing one gives a direct, visual comparison of how the same filament behaves across a range of temperatures on one specific printer.

This matters because the temperature printed on a filament spool is only a starting guide. Different printers, nozzles, ambient room temperatures and even different batches of the same filament can each print best a few degrees higher or lower than the label suggests, and guessing wastes filament on full prints that fail for avoidable reasons.

After printing a tower, look for the section with the cleanest surface, least stringing between sections, and best layer bonding when gently flexed, then use that temperature going forward for that specific filament and printer. A common mistake is running a tower once and never repeating it for a new spool of the same filament from a different color or batch, which can print differently.