Raft layers
How many layers of a throwaway base are printed under the whole part. At 0 (the default), the part goes straight onto the plate.
How it works
The raft is a plastic mattress printed first, a little wider than the part, that the part rests on as if it were support. When the print is done, you peel it off. It keeps the part from feeling an uneven, very sticky or cold plate, and gives a footing to parts that barely touch the plate.
Each extra layer makes the raft thicker and more stable, but also slower and more wasteful of plastic.
When to change it
- A PLA part on a clean, level plate: 0. The first layer sticks without help and the base looks nicer.
- Materials that shrink as they cool (ABS, ASA, nylon), or parts with very little base, like a figure standing on its tiptoes: 2 or 3 layers.
- Tall, narrow parts that tip over (a tower or a lighthouse): a raft of 3 or more layers gives them a wide base.
Typical values
| Value | What for |
|---|---|
| 0 | Default; clean platedefault |
| 2–3 | Tricky materials, parts with little base |
| 4–6 | Very large or very unstable bases |
Watch out for
- The raft changes the underside of the part: it comes out as if printed on support and loses the smooth or textured finish of the plate.
- With the raft on, “Raft contact Z distance”, “Initial layer density” and “Initial layer expansion” appear.
- For parts that lift at the corners, a brim (a thin ring of plastic around the base) is usually enough and doesn't mess up the base.
Goes well with
What Bambu Studio saysits help card, quoted
What Bambu Studio says
Object will be raised by this number of support layers. Use this function to avoid warping when print ABS
Bambu Studio tooltip for this setting · AGPL-3.0
Read more at the official source
In your profile0.20mm Standard @BBL A1 · 0 layers
In Bambu Studio, the profile 0.20mm Standard @BBL A1 sets it to0 layers
In other slicers
- Orca Slicer
- Raft layersSupport › Raft
- PrusaSlicer
- Raft layersSupport material › Raft
- Cura
- No clear equivalent.
Names taken from each program's code (Orca Slicer 2.4.2, PrusaSlicer 2.9.6, Cura 5.13.0). Credits