Vase mode: printing a single wall in a spiral

How vase mode works

Instead of finishing a layer and then stepping up to the next one, the nozzle rises steadily in a spiral. The result is a single wall as thick as the nozzle's line width, so about 0.4 mm, with a solid base. The look is smooth, with no vertical seam. It is described on the OrcaSlicer wiki.

Limitations

• One wall only. No infill and no internal ribs, so the part is thin and light.
• One outline. The model has to be a single continuous object without separate pieces.
• Watertightness is not guaranteed. A thin wall can seep. It is not suitable for water or food, see food safety.
• Overhangs are limited. The shape should grow smoothly, without sharp overhangs.

The alternative: normal printing

The same shape can also be printed normally, with a thicker wall and base. The part is then stronger but heavier, and the print takes longer. If you are designing your own model, make the wall several nozzle widths thick, see wall thickness.

What vase mode cannot do. In vase mode you cannot make parts with cavities, stacked protrusions, solid threads or anything else that needs infill. It is a specialist mode for single-wall containers and decorations. For parts that are meant to last, normal printing with walls and infill is used instead, see infill.

Vase mode on your order

Vase mode is not an option in the calculator. We prepare the uploaded model in the standard way, with walls and infill according to the strength you pick. If you want a thin vase, model the wall at a realistic thickness, at least two nozzle widths. We do not promise vase mode as a special service, but you can ask at jakub.novak@boostello.com.