Got my Zortrax yesterday and I LOVE it :)
Just wondering, will there ever be an option to have raft-less printing and a glass build plate ?
Thanks
Here is my opinion about this:
The raft improves adhesion to the perforated build plate. As the printer is not enclosed (in though you can enclose the sides but not the top) the temperature fluctuation would make ABS pop off the glass print platform. Using different materials it could work (like PLA). When you take a look at Stratasys uPrint SE you'll see an unperformed platform and it uses ABS material, but the big difference is the fully enclosed and heated "cabin". That makes sure the print is not morphing as a result of cooling.
Maybe in the future there will be better plastics available. Time will tell. :)
Here is my opinion about this:
The raft improves adhesion to the perforated build plate. As the printer is not enclosed (in though you can enclose the sides but not the top) the temperature fluctuation would make ABS pop off the glass print platform. Using different materials it could work (like PLA). When you take a look at Stratasys uPrint SE you'll see an unperformed platform and it uses ABS material, but the big difference is the fully enclosed and heated "cabin". That makes sure the print is not morphing as a result of cooling.
Maybe in the future there will be better plastics available. Time will tell. :)
The raft may well improve adhesion, depending on part geometry, but more importantly it provides tolerance for build surface levelness, flatness, and tram issues. The platform can be slightly off level, bumpy, or not trammed up to as much as 0.5mm and the raft will "fix" it; by the end of raft building the top surface of the raft is perfectly trammed to the printhead for the building of the part itself. Without a raft your bed needs to be trammed perfectly.