What affects bed adhesion the most?

The biggest factors are first layer squish (Z offset), bed temperature, bed surface cleanliness, and the contact area of the part footprint. A clean PEI sheet with correct Z offset gives excellent results for most materials.

Why do tall thin parts lift?

As material cools it shrinks, creating internal stresses that try to pull the edges up (warping). Taller parts have more material shrinking, generating more lift force relative to the small footprint area.

When should I use a brim vs a raft?

A brim adds area around the base and uses minimal extra material. A raft prints a full platform under the part and is better for very warpy materials like ABS or Nylon, or parts with tiny footprints.

3DPrintCalcs

Adhesion Calculator — Contact Area & Force

Estimate the contact area and adhesion force for your print footprint.

Footprint Area

Base contact area of your part

Part Height

Height measurement

Material

Select the material type

Bed Surface

Select an option for bed surface

How We Calculate This

Formula

Adhesion force = Footprint area x Surface adhesion strength (N/mm²)
Lift force = Footprint area x Shrinkage factor x Part height
Safety ratio = Adhesion force / Lift force

A safety ratio above 2 indicates good adhesion. Below 1 means the shrinkage forces are likely to overcome adhesion and cause warping or detachment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Bed Levelling Calculator

Calculate mesh bed levelling points and spacing for your build plate size.

Build Plate Calculator

Work out how many copies of a part fit on your build plate with spacing.

Brim Width Calculator

Calculate optimal brim width based on part footprint and material shrinkage.

Raft Calculator

Estimate extra material and time for raft adhesion layers.

Bed Temperature Calculator

Find recommended bed temperatures for different materials and surfaces.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify settings with test prints before committing to final prints.