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Vase Mode for Functional Parts

You probably know vase mode as a fun setting you can enable to print... well... vases.

But you can do a lot more with vase mode than simple decorative bowls!

prusa ramp printed in vase mode

1. Why use vase mode?​

Many of our functional prints are designed to be printed using vase mode. Printing in vase mode greatly improves print speed and reliability.

Benefits of eliminating retractions​

  • Retractions and travel moves are unproductive because material is not flowing out of the nozzle.
  • Retractions and travel moves can also lead to print defects such as stringing, layer shifts, and nozzle clogs.

Other benefits of vase mode​

  • Much faster print times due to single walls
  • Better looking prints because there's no ugly Z seam

2. Packaging inserts​

5

Last year, our Hardware production intern, Sanford Lee, designed a packaging insert that is completely printed using vase mode. We made a video about it here

The inserts are printed using recyled PLA by 3DPrintLife

Packaging iterations​

1 Packaging with top layers.

2 Packaging with better top layers.

3 First vase mode print. Printed much faster, using much less material. But was extremely floppy.

4 Second vase mode print, using IdeaMaker Slicer built-in textures to add corrugations. This added lots of stiffness, but still wasn't strong enough.

5 Final packaging print, using corrugations designed by hand in CAD. Prints very quickly, and the final product is strong, stiff, and makes efficient use of material.