Brim vs Raft vs Skirt in 3D Printing: Key Differences Explained

In 3D printing, a skirt is a line printed around the object to prime the nozzle without touching the print, a brim adds extra lines attached to the base to improve bed adhesion, and a raft is a thick grid under the object that helps with adhesion and leveling but uses more material and time.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick table comparing brim, raft, and skirt based on key factors in 3D printing.

Feature	Skirt	Brim	Raft
Purpose	Priming nozzle, no contact with print	Increase bed adhesion, attached to print base	Strong adhesion and leveling base under print
Contact with print	No	Yes, at base edges	Yes, full base layer
Material usage	Low	Moderate	High
Print time impact	Minimal	Slightly increased	Significantly increased
Removal after print	No removal needed	Easy to remove	May require careful removal
Helps with warping	No	Yes	Yes, very effective

Key Differences

Skirt is a simple outline printed around the object but not touching it. Its main job is to get the printer nozzle flowing smoothly and check bed leveling before the actual print starts. It does not help with adhesion or warping.

Brim adds extra lines connected to the edges of the first layer of the print. This increases the surface area touching the bed, which helps the print stick better and reduces warping, especially for small or thin parts. It is easy to remove after printing.

Raft is a thick grid of multiple layers printed under the entire object. It creates a strong base that compensates for uneven beds and improves adhesion for difficult materials. However, it uses more filament and increases print time. Removing a raft can be more challenging and may leave marks on the print bottom.

Skirt Example Code

gcode

; Example G-code snippet to print a skirt around the object
G28 ; Home all axes
G1 Z0.2 F3000 ; Move to first layer height
G92 E0 ; Reset extruder
G1 X10 Y10 F1500 ; Move to skirt start
G1 E5 F500 ; Prime nozzle
G1 X90 Y10 E15 F1200 ; Print skirt line
G1 X90 Y90 E25 F1200 ; Continue skirt
G1 X10 Y90 E35 F1200 ; Continue skirt
G1 X10 Y10 E45 F1200 ; Complete skirt
; Start main print

Output

Prints a single loop around the object without touching it to prime the nozzle.

Brim Equivalent Code

gcode

; Example G-code snippet to print a brim attached to the object base
G28 ; Home all axes
G1 Z0.2 F3000 ; Move to first layer height
G92 E0 ; Reset extruder
; Print brim lines around object base
G1 X5 Y5 F1500 ; Move to brim start
G1 E5 F500 ; Prime nozzle
G1 X95 Y5 E20 F1200 ; Print brim line
G1 X95 Y95 E35 F1200 ; Continue brim
G1 X5 Y95 E50 F1200 ; Continue brim
G1 X5 Y5 E65 F1200 ; Complete brim
; Start main print attached to brim

Output

Prints multiple lines attached to the base edges of the object to improve adhesion.

When to Use Which

Choose skirt when you want to prime the nozzle and check bed leveling without using extra material or affecting the print base. It is ideal for well-adhering prints and quick setups.

Choose brim when printing small or thin parts that need better bed adhesion and warping prevention but you want to keep material use and cleanup easy.

Choose raft when printing with materials prone to warping or on uneven beds where strong adhesion and leveling are critical, accepting longer print times and more material use.

Key Takeaways

Skirt primes the nozzle and checks bed leveling without touching the print.

Brim adds extra lines attached to the print base to improve adhesion and reduce warping.

Raft creates a thick base under the print for strong adhesion and bed leveling but uses more material and time.

Use skirt for quick nozzle prep, brim for better adhesion on small parts, and raft for difficult prints needing strong base support.