<p>A raft is used to prevent warping. Instead of printing directly on the build surface, parts are built on top of it. You remove and dispose of a raft post-print. The raft is larger than the part and so has more adhesion. Rafts are primarily used with ABS to help with bed adhesion. Rafts are also used to help stabilize models with small footprints (e.g. a pole), or to create a strong foundation on which to build the upper layers of a model. If your only concern is bed adhesion it is better to use a brim.</p>
<p>A brim is attached to a model and extends outward. Brims typically have several outlines and may be a few layers tall. Brims are often used to stabilize small parts of a model, such as legs of a table, because brims help these areas stay connected to the print bed.</p>
<h3>TL;DR</h3>
<p>The brim is only around a model and attached to its first layer, a raft is also under it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-01-12T21:01:54.937Z
2019-06-24T07:35:21.103Z
2020-06-18T08:29:41.667Z
George Sapkin
<p>A raft helps when the part has few points of contact with the print bed, and doesn't therefore adhere well at points within and without the part.</p>

<p>A brim helps when the part doesn't adhere well around the perimeter of the part.</p>

<p>There are very rare situations where you'll need both, but typically you'll only use one or the other.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-12T20:56:24.540Z
2016-01-12T20:56:24.540Z
Adam Davis
<p>I have been favoring brims recently; I am tired of the rafts becoming an integral part of my print, impossible to remove.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-27T21:34:18.540Z
2021-04-27T21:34:18.540Z
flounder
<p>A raft will allow for better adhesion for the whole print as the raft attaches to the printing surface and the print attaches to the raft. Rafts go all the way under the print and consist of multiple layers, whereas a brim is only 1 layer and on the outside of the print. Rafts are normally harder to remove than brims because of the increased contact with the print.</p>

<p>From my own experiences, the brim does not help a lot with layer adhesion as it is only 1 layer. I normally use a raft when I need a nice looking 1st layer that is not on the bed or when there are not enough contact points.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-10T22:10:26.350Z
I find brims useful when you do have a lot of contact between the bed and the print. If you have a relatively flat object, a raft is not needed but a brim can give you something to use help separate the print from the bed. For example, I recently converted a 2D logo image from a non-profit into a simple stencil they could use for tracing. Very flat, lots of bed adhesion. The brim gave me something to use to pry up the print without damaging it. It's also useful for small boxes or trays. I use a brim whenever I don't need a raft.
Joel Coehoorn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-12T21:00:27.820Z
2017-11-20T13:12:48.660Z
2017-11-20T13:12:48.660Z
Eric Johnson
<p>Taken from the <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/60/47">answer provided by @EricJohnson</a>,</p>

<p>When should I use a raft, and when should I use a brim? What advantages does each have over the other?</p>

<p>Raft
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/rOghM.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rOghM.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Brim
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/9MnlZ.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9MnlZ.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<rafts><brims>
When should I use a raft, when should I use a brim?
Matt Clark
# When should I use a raft, when should I use a brim?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-12)

Taken from the [answer provided by @EricJohnson](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/60/47),

When should I use a raft, and when should I use a brim? What advantages does each have over the other?

Raft
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/rOghM.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/rOghM.jpg)

Brim
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/9MnlZ.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/9MnlZ.jpg)

**Tags:** rafts, brims

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-01-12. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

A raft will allow for better adhesion for the whole print as the raft attaches to the printing surface and the print attaches to the raft. Rafts go all the way under the print and consist of multiple layers, whereas a brim is only 1 layer and on the outside of the print. Rafts are normally harder to remove than brims because of the increased contact with the print.

From my own experiences, the brim does not help a lot with layer adhesion as it is only 1 layer. I normally use a raft when I need a nice looking 1st layer that is not on the bed or when there are not enough contact points.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: I find brims useful when you do have a lot of contact between the bed and the print. If you have a relatively flat object, a raft is not needed but a brim can give you something to use help separate the print from the bed. For example, I recently converted a 2D logo image from a non-profit into a simple stencil they could use for tracing. Very flat, lots of bed adhesion. The brim gave me something to use to pry up the print without damaging it. It's also useful for small boxes or trays. I use a brim whenever I don't need a raft.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2016-01-12. Score: 8

A raft is used to prevent warping. Instead of printing directly on the build surface, parts are built on top of it. You remove and dispose of a raft post-print. The raft is larger than the part and so has more adhesion. Rafts are primarily used with ABS to help with bed adhesion. Rafts are also used to help stabilize models with small footprints (e.g. a pole), or to create a strong foundation on which to build the upper layers of a model. If your only concern is bed adhesion it is better to use a brim.

A brim is attached to a model and extends outward. Brims typically have several outlines and may be a few layers tall. Brims are often used to stabilize small parts of a model, such as legs of a table, because brims help these areas stay connected to the print bed.

### TL;DR

The brim is only around a model and attached to its first layer, a raft is also under it.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-12. Score: 5

A raft helps when the part has few points of contact with the print bed, and doesn't therefore adhere well at points within and without the part.

A brim helps when the part doesn't adhere well around the perimeter of the part.

There are very rare situations where you'll need both, but typically you'll only use one or the other.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-04-27. Score: 0

I have been favoring brims recently; I am tired of the rafts becoming an integral part of my print, impossible to remove.


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