Differences Between Skirt, Brim, and Raft [Explained]

In this quick 3D printing guide, let's discuss the difference between skirt, raft, and brim. They are methods used for improving build bed adhesion, and each method has its time and place based on the design.

What is a skirt

3d printing skirt

The skirt is the outline of the first layer of the part, and its main purpose is to prime the extruder by unifying the flow of the filament from the nozzle and prevent any unwanted extrusion in order to improve the build plate adhesion.

The skirt method can also help detect if the bed isn't leveled.

What is a brim

3d printing brim

The brim is a special type of skirt adhesion method.

Its main use is to draw the outline of the first layer to hold down the edges of the part to prevent warping.

Typically it's printed with an increased number of outlines to increase the surface area to the bottom of the part, in order to better build parts that start with many details. The skirt method only builds a couple of thin layers.

What is an raft

3d printing raft

The raft is a much more popular option over the brim, and its main purpose is to build a uniform layer under the part instead of just outlines to significantly increase the bed adhesion. When using a raft, the printer builds the part on top of the raft instead of directly on the bed.

Major differences

 Bed Surface Build AreaAdhesionTime
BrimThicker around the partGoodLong
RaftLargeVery strong foundationMedium
SkirtVery smallFor small partShort

Brim

Pros

  • Prints faster
  • Like the shirt method
  • Use brim for parts that are generally look have small bed surface area
  • Separate part from the main part easily
  • Add brim to every print the designers think should have to ensure bed adhesion
  • Use for narrow base

Cons

  • Requires sanding after (Not too bad)
  • Removing brim may break the main part attached

Raft

Pros

  • Good for ABS material to prevent warping
  • Stabilizes models with small prints before the upper layers
  • Good for building parts with a large surface area
  • Much higher chance of successful prints

Cons

  • Uses more filament for the raft layer depend on the object size
  • Takes more time

Skirt

Pros

  • Primes the nozzle, basically warming up the print first before working on the main part
  • Use this technique before committing a large amount of material for the rest of the part
  • Detect uneven print bed

Cons

  • Poor layer adhesion for serious projects
  • Takes up space if printing multiple parts on the same printer, and the print bed is small.

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