Skirt vs Brim vs Raft: Differences and Similarities
When using 3D printing, the success of the print depends on the initial layer. Typically, we add an adhesion helper before this first layer to ensure the print stays on the build plate. Skirt, brim, and raft are the three varieties of these adhesion aids. The key to successful 3D printing is recognizing the differences between each type, which is critical to successful 3D printing, as they each have unique qualities and benefits. This article will review each one, explaining what it is, when to use it, the pros and cons, and the appropriate settings for the slicer. Let’s go!
Skirt: What Is It and How Does It Work?
A skirt is the most basic example of an adhesive aid. In its simplest form, it is a narrow border that will encircle the print area without touching the model itself. Depending on your slicer settings, it can be a few lines broad and always one layer tall. While a skirt won't actually stick to the print, it will prime the nozzle and tell you early on if the bed is level and the printer's extrusion is functioning properly.
When you're sure your model will stay put on the build plate without any assistance, use a skirt. This is typically the case when the model's surface area makes extensive contact with the substrate, minimizing the chances of warping or detachment. Skirts are an excellent way to reduce printing time and material usage. It is a low-cost type of print insurance because it detects extrusion and leveling problems quickly with minimal filament usage.
A skirt has two primary benefits: minimal material use and increased print time. It aids in checking the extruder's functionality, the print bed's levelness, and the nozzle's clarity without wasting much filament. However, it doesn't help with warping or detachment prevention because it doesn't actually adhere to the initial layer.
Settings:
You have the ability to modify the following skirt parameters in Cura:
Skirt Line Count: The number of lines that make up the skirt determines its width. Skirts with more lines will be broader.
Skirt distance: This parameter specifies how far the model's skirt extends from the body. To avoid taking up too much build plate space, adjust this if you have a larger print.
Skirt Minimum Length: The skirt must be at least this length before printing can begin. If the calculated skirt length is less than this value, printing will not occur.
Brim: What Is It and How Does It Work?
A brim is like a skirt, except it attaches to the model's base layer, which is a major distinction. By increasing the initial layer's surface area, this link improves the print's adherence to the build plate. With a height of one layer and a width of several lines, brims encircle the top layer of the model to improve bed adhesion.
Prints with big, flat surfaces or sharp, warping-prone edges are good candidates for brims since they reduce bed-adhesion issues. They strike a nice balance between efficient use of materials and enhanced adherence. The brim is the way to go if you require greater adhesion than what a skirt can give, but you're looking to save on material and print time compared to a raft.
With a brim, you can get better bed adhesion with less effort and material than with a skirt or raft. It does, however, necessitate post-processing in order to remove the brim from the printed product. In cases where absolute accuracy is of the utmost importance, this may compromise the model's dimensional correctness.
Settings:
Among Cura's primary brim options are:
Brim Minimum Length: The brim can print at this shortest distance, which is comparable to the skirt's minimum length.
Brim Width: The millimeter value here determines the brim width. While a larger brim enhances adhesion, it also increases filament consumption.
Brim Line Count: This property overrides the brim width; it specifies the total number of lines that will make up the brim.
Choose "Brim Only on Outside" to restrict printing of the brim to the model's outside edges.
Brim Distance: This parameter determines the distance between the brim and the model's first layer. The default setting of 0 ensures the attachment of the brim to the print.
Raft: What Is It and How Does It Work?
A raft is one of the most effective adhesion aids. A dense grid of filament is fabricated underneath the complete model. The print will have great bed adherence because the raft acts as a firm base. This base typically consists of multiple layers and goes beyond the print's borders to provide the build plate with as much surface area as possible.
Models with few build plate contact points or materials like ABS, which can warp during printing, are good examples of situations where rafts are useful for improving bed adhesion. They work wonders for models with pointy edges or those who have tried and failed to adhere skirts or brims in the past.
Rafts are able to resist even the most severe cases of warping and provide the greatest adhesion to beds. They do, however, significantly increase print time and use the most material. The bottom surface of the model might not be as flat or accurately sized, and removing the raft from the final print might be a real pain.
Settings:
The following are some of the settings offered by Cura:
Raft Print Speed: You may adjust the raft's printing speed here. Adhesion is usually better at slower speeds.
Raft Extra Margin: You can adjust the raft's size relative to the print's first layer by setting the raft's extra margin.
Raft Air Gap: This setting determines the print's height relative to the raft, which in turn affects its adhesion to the raft.
Raft Top Layers: Control the height of the raft, which affects filament consumption and adhesion quality in general.
Skirt vs Brim vs Raft in 3D Printing
Skirt
An outline that encircles the portion without actually touching it is what a 3D-printed skirt looks like. Its primary function is to serve as a preliminary step rather than an adhesive aid. Before printing starts, the skirt primes the extruder to ensure a steady flow of filament. As a result, there is less likelihood of poor print quality due to missing early layers or uneven extrusion. If you're having trouble with bed leveling or filament feeding, you can use the skirts to catch it before the main print starts and fix it without ruining the print. Skirts usually only cover the model's legs and don't offer any structural support.
Brim
The main distinction between a brim and a skirt is the connection between the two at the model's base. More surface area is available for initial layer adhesion due to the brim's extension from the part's edges. The larger surface area makes the part more stable on the build plate and experiences less warping. If your model has a tiny footprint or sharp corners, it may not adhere well to the first few layers of printing without a brim. Improving print quality is as simple as adding a brim, which drastically decreases the chances of the print lifting or coming loose from the bed. Because of its thin construction, the brim can be easily peeled off after the print is finished.
Raft
Alternatively, a raft is a larger printed construction that lies behind the real model. Its several layers come together to create a level surface on which the model rests. In cases where warping is a major problem, the main function of a raft is to offer a sturdy base for the entire print and to guarantee the best possible bed adherence. Large, complex, or elaborate prints that are prone to separation or distortion are ideal candidates for rafts. When printing with materials that are prone to shrinkage or when the build plate surface is not exactly level, the raft can be of great assistance. However, printing with a raft can lengthen the print duration and increase material consumption. Furthermore, unlike skirts and brims, raft removal after printing can be more painful, necessitating extra cleanup to make the model's foundation smooth.
Best 3D Printing Software
SelfCAD is a powerful 3D modeling software that you can use in the entire 3D printing process. The software works on both Windows and MacOS, and there is also a browser-based version that ensures that you can work anywhere, anytime. You can import files created in other programs and modify them in the software. For example, you can import an STL file and color it in the software, as shown in the video below.
You don’t need previous experience in 3D modeling to use the software to get started much more quickly. There are also many interactive tutorials and the SelfCAD academy that you can use to learn how the software works. When you are done 3D modeling, you can use the online slicer of SelfCAD to slice it and generate the G-code to send to your 3D printer without switching to a different software.
Smarter Choices, Stronger Prints
Your 3D printing results will be much better if you know when and how to employ rafts, skirts, and brims. For minimal material use, skirts are a terrific way to have your printer ready to go. Brims are a great choice for prints that don't require extreme levels of adhesion but still want to maximize material efficiency. Rafts offer unparalleled adhesion, but they come with a price: more material consumption and longer print times. You can fine-tune these adhesion helpers to meet your own printing requirements by modifying the appropriate slicer settings.
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
Need to learn 3D modeling? Get started with interactive tutorials.