Skip to main content
Lookup Meshlab or Netfabb STL Cleanup. There is a free version that Netfabb made on MSDN. It basically cleans up your file, and validates support structure. The 3D slicer is the best bet though when you are working on external supports.
Make sure your build plate is level. The raft should come off really easily.
Do you use blue painter’s tape as a build surface? It’s crucial – PLA sticks like none other to the acrylic build plate; I ended up replacing my first one because it had a bunch of PLA residue stuck to it.
This is a really good scraper tool that I use; just make sure not to scratch the acrylic:
And if you really want to treat yourself, upgrade to a glass or aluminum build plate (hunt around on ebay, amazon etc. for a suitable replacement)
Try to adjust infill and separation of raft layer as high as possible, this makes it easier to break/cut it away
Cool down the model and then heat up the model until the raft is warmer this will make it easier to cut away rafts specially with PLA. ABS is easier
I’m still using the blue stickers that came with the MakerBot Mini and that seems to be fine. The rafts don’t stick to the build plate at all, and actually the raft usually breaks off very easily, it’s the other supports and extra PLA in between pieces that is the hardest to remove.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Thanks Cris. I’m a very ‘new hand’ and not very technical yet…doesn’t the MakerBot Desktop software contain the slicer software? Can I ‘force’ it to use a different slicer software then upload to MakerBot Desktop?
Thanks!
my comment may have gotten lost in the “other stuff”, so here is a reference, flush cutters… http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/415/232-1010-ND/222741 1.0k
These are the ones i use… you can find them for less.
Been at it a few years now and i love and hate support material…
Found the best way to remove it is a needle nose (small one) , I have a flat putty knife that i sharpened the edge of, this makes cleaning flat pieces very easy, and finally a hobby knife and some 150 grit sand paper.
When using sand paper you will find that PLA goes white, but if you are not painting the part you can easily get the color back with some WD40 and a rag 
Happy printing
I use a pallet knife for some things but if you increase the air gap between supports and your object it should be easy to just pull off with your fingers. Stay away from X-acto knives because most likely you will either damage or bleed on your model. Ha ha ha!
I stay away from Makerbot so cannot tell you where to find the air gap setting in their software. I’m sure someone else can step up with that info. Oblique angles also remove the easiest.
Support material is why I bought an Up! Printer. Support just peels off … It made me giggle with giddy delight the first time I did it. So my Mendel90 (not really but I had a design similar idea the same time as nophead) gets the bigger and faster jobs (current Up only has a 140x140mm build plate) and the Up gets the difficult prints. I can print any shape I like and post processing just requires lots of peeling to remove the support. No Dremel, no sharp knives. It does take a quick mod with a resistor to print with normal ABS (eom filament prints 30c hotter) but this is trivial and not warranty impacting. The Zortrax printers do the same though not sure what mods if any are required to print with non oem
No force needed. lol
Put part into your slicer. export the file as a x3g. then print. Dont even open up the makerbot desktop crap.
Ypu mention that it is easier to remove supports, if you increase the ‘air gap’ between supports and the object.
Do you know how to increase the ‘air gap’ (for instance in Cura)?
Is this ‘Distance X/Y’ and ‘Distance Z’?
Which values do you recommend?
In Cura, go to the top bar - Click expert, Open expert settings. On the right hand side under supports you can change your supports from grid to LINES which always remove easier. Then look down to distance z and bump it up to .2 but be aware this may affect your clean edges a bit. If using a raft, you can increase the air gap there as well. It is clearly labeled as Air Gap under the Raft settings. If struggling with raft removal you can also try turning your fan on earlier (say at layer 2 or so).
Here is a great reference for quick trouble shooting using Cura. Some of it is Ultimaker specific but still may be useful.
Also, I am really impressed with the helpful tips from Matter Hackers. I LOVE using Matter Control (under configuration you can choose to use their slicing engine, Cura, or Slic3r so that’s pretty cool). Also, Lars is really knowledgable, responsive and helpful. Printing with a Raft | MatterHackers 106
I hear really great things about Simplify 3D but I like to go the freeware or open source route since mostly I am teaching others and prefer to make things as accessible as possible. Let me know if that is helpful or if you have other questions.
2 years later
1 month later
11 months later
I am extremely new to this, but I tried using a staple remover to break away one direction of the raft material, and the rest came off with just a little push with my thumbnail. Definitely not the easiest or most experienced way, but it’s giving me better results than I’ve had other ways and a lot quicker as well.