Mastering Bed Adhesion in 3D Printing: Uncovering Edges and Skirts
The moment before 3D printing begins is filled with excitement and anticipation. But any experienced user knows that bonding issues, such as warping, shifting or failed layers, can quickly derail a project. At GreatLight, as experts in industrial-grade metal 3D printing using selective laser melting (SLM) technology, we know firsthand the importance of bed adhesion, especially when printing expensive aerospace alloys or complex prototypes. One of the simplest yet most effective tools to solve these problems is the Structure add-on called skirt and edge. While they may seem insignificant, using them correctly can mean the difference between success and a mess of spaghetti. Let’s take a deeper look at what these features are, why they’re important, and how to deploy them strategically.
Bed Adhesion Challenge: Why Support Structure Matters
From standard PLA to specialty Inconel, every material expands when heated and contracts when cooled. This thermal cycle creates internal stresses that pull the corners away from the print bed ("Warp"), detachable support for printing intermediate or shifted layers. This risk rises dramatically in metal printing due to extreme processing temperatures and metallurgical shrinkage mechanisms. At GreatLight, our SLM printers often operate at temperatures in excess of 1,000°C, making foolproof bonding techniques hard to ignore. Skirt and edges – low material "Stabilizer" Configure in the slicer software to secure the print without adding excessive bulk.
What is a skirt?
one skirt Consists of 1-5 non-connected concentric printed contours About your object (without touching it). Think of it as a nozzle "Warm up lap."
Purpose and benefits:
- Infusion extruder: Make sure the filament flows smoothly before the actual printing begins.
- Bed and calibration checks: Visually confirm that the nozzle height is uniform across the board.
- Material removal: Remove any residue or degraded filament left on the hot end.
- No adhesion: Crucially, skirts don’t stick to body parts – they just prepare the environment.
Big light tips: Our SLM operators systematically use skirts, especially when switching metals, to confirm laser alignment and material deposition uniformity. In high-value prototyping, it’s better to waste materials than waste build boards!
What is a hat brim?
one edge It is a flat disc-like extension that grows outward from the base of the object to form a wider contact surface with the build plate.
Purpose and benefits:
- Enhance adhesion: Increases bonding surface area to the bed, counteracting warping forces.
- Anchor angle: Particularly stable on narrow features such as towers or sharp corners that are easily lifted.
- Stress distribution: Reduces tendency to warp by dissipating thermal shrinkage stress over a wider area.
shortcoming:
- Removal: Requires post-printing cleanup.
- Surface Marking: Marking lines may be left on the guide layer.
Great Light Insight: In metal SLM printing, the edges typically extend 8-20 mm from the edge of the part. For titanium or aluminum prototypes, we sometimes pasteurize the edges to thermally stabilize the initial layer during the fusion process, thus minimizing distortion. The post-processing team then removes the edges mechanically – a service we provide in-house.
Skirts vs. Hat Brims: Summary of Key Differences
| scope | skirt | edge |
|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | No contact with objects | Glued to the base of the object |
| Function | Nozzle preparation, bed leveling | Enhance adhesion |
| Materials used | Minimal (1-5 cycles) | Medium (depends on width) |
| move | No need to clean up | Manual or machine removal |
| most suitable | All printed materials and materials tested | Easy to deform design, small feet |
When should you consider using them?
Choose a skirt if:
- Your print has a large footprint (e.g. >50mm² base).
- You are confident in bed adhesion (PETG, a textured PEI board).
- Run quick test prints or prototype iterations.
Choose a brim if:
- Print tall, thin geometries or parts with sharp corners.
- Use challenging filaments that curl easily (ABS, Nylon, PC) or expensive metals.
- Printed on an unheated/untextured bed (glass/carbon steel SLM sheet).
Metal printed border: SLM inherently requires edges of topology-dependent components (e.g., cantilever structures) to manage thermal gradients. As China’s leading rapid prototyping integrator, we rely heavily on edge on nickel alloy projects to ensure a success rate of over 99%.
Practical Tips from GreatLight Workshops
- Brim width calibration: Start with an edge of 5-8mm for plastic; for metal, 8–15mm will minimize warping. Wider edges improve grip but complicate removal.
- Floor height: Set the edge/skirt to the initial layer height, not too thin to prevent the nozzle from dragging.
- SLM angle control: Place sharp corners (<20°) away from dense edge segments to allow for seamless CNC removal later.
- Software settings: Use slicer specific parameters such as edge separation gap (0.1–0.2mm) plastic material, easy to disassemble and separate. The metallic print is fully integrated with the integrated edge.
Conclusion: Precision Balance Preparation
Skirts and hat brims illustrate how simple design tweaks can tame complex physics. The skirt provides a base for your printing environment, while the edge actively combats the ghost of distortion found in high-temperature materials like metal or composites. At GreatLight, decades of rapid prototyping experience—backed by industrial SLM printers and integrated finishing services—reinforce this fact: effective adhesion is not an add-on; it’s an add-on. This is basic diligence. Whether you’re printing a PLA statue or an aircraft turbine blade, mastering these tools can significantly reduce waste, cost, and frustration. Remember, hat brims don’t just stick on a print—they also embody reliability.
FAQ: Answers to your hat and skirt questions
Q1: Can I print without skirt or hat brim?
A: Of course you can, but only if your piece has a wide, stable base and your bed is perfectly flat. Skip them for easy, low-risk PLA printing. Metal parts? Never skip edges – the cost of twisting is higher than the wasted material.
Q2: Which one is better at preventing warping, skirt or hat brim?
A: Brims totally win when it comes to adhesion – they provide a physical lock to prevent lifting. The skirt helps indirectly by ensuring nozzle flow consistency, but does not prevent itself from lifting.
Q3: How to remove the brim neatly?
A: For plastic: lightly score with a deburring tool, then peel crosswise from the model. Metal edges require milling or wire-cut machining – trusted post-processing experts, like GreatLight’s ISO-certified team, can achieve pristine results.
Q4: Does hat brim width affect warping?
Answer: Yes. Wider edges disperse pressure better but make cleanup more complicated. We recommend trying 5-15mm depending on the material’s thermal sensitivity – metals have more margin.
Q5: Yes "raft" Skirt/edge alternatives?
A: Raft builds a movable platform below the whole section. They solve serious adhesion problems but use 10 times more filament or powder. Use them only as a last resort on warped materials or beds with poor surfaces.
Q6: Can the skirt detect horizontal problems?
Answer: Of course. Skirt preprint signal bed not level or uneven extrusion gap in Z offset error – Adjust forward Committed to printing.
Instantly expand your prototyping accuracy
At GreatLight, we blend German-designed SLM 3D printers with agile Chinese manufacturing to deliver metal prototypes (whether it’s aluminum turbine blades or titanium lattice implants) faster than traditional machining. Take advantage of our one-stop solution: parametric CAD optimization, material sourcing, SLM printing, HIP processing and CNC post-processing. Don’t let distortion undermine innovation. Submit your project files at GreatLightPrototyping.com and experience why customers rate us as one of China’s top rapid prototyping experts for accuracy and speed. Custom alloys, fast quotes, zero set-up fees – designed to
