The topic of first layer adhesion comes up often in 3d printing. Sometimes, the footprint of the part itself is not enough to keep the print stuck to the bed. I’ll go through some of the bed adhesion options below.
Priming Line: One of the main reasons for making an extrusion before you start on the part is to make sure that there is filament in the nozzle. A priming does this and nothing else. I don’t use this option much, but using a 50mm priming line accomplishes the purpose of filling up the nozzle.
Skirt: Your printer will create a quick circle all the way around the perimeter of the part. I use this option frequently. It accomplishes a couple of things for you.
- A skirt fills the nozzle with filament
- A skirt goes all the way around the perimeter of the part, confirming that your part will fit on the bed
- By going all the way around the part, you also ensure that your bed level is accurate, just in case you have doubts about it
Brim: I use this option for tall, skinny parts. A brim is actually attached to the part, whereas a priming line or skirt are not. A brim provides more of a base for your part that is pretty easy to remove when you are done printing.
Raft: Every option is a compromise between robustness and printability. A raft leans heavily towards the robust side of the scale, but the cost is a longer print time and the fact that you will have to remove the raft from the print later. A raft creates a base for your print to build off of, rather than printing directly on the bed.