Vase mode in the Bambu Studio application is an easy way to create seamless, artistic 3D prints. Keep reading to learn how to use it and how to resolve potential problems.

Bambu Studio is a sophisticated 3D printing slicing software tool developed by 3D printer manufacturer Bambu Lab, the manufacturer of popular printers such as the P1P and X1 Carbon, as well as its own range of filaments. The software is based on PrusaSlicer, which Bambu Lab modified to work seamlessly with its range of printers.

Despite being a relatively new player on the market, Bambu Studio stands out with its project-based approach, which makes managing and organizing 3D printing projects easier. This also makes it easy to work with complex, multicolor prints thanks to its AMS technology.

This slicer is also praised for its ease of use, although its user interface may seem somewhat confusing to beginners. However, its comprehensive features are highly appreciated by more experienced users. It contains many specialized functions that can also be found in other popular slicers, including vase mode.

In this article, we will take a closer look at vase mode, also called “Spiral Vase” in Bambu Studio. Before we begin, we need to understand vase mode’s approach to printing and the advantages and disadvantages of this method. We will then look at how to activate this mode in Bambu Studio and which print settings need to be adjusted to ensure success, including several troubleshooting tips. Let’s get started!

Bambu Studio Vase Mode (Spiral Vase)
Understanding Vase Mode

Vase mode is great for printing lampshades.

Vase mode, also known as “spiral vase,” changes the way objects are printed in three key ways:

SINGLE-WALL CONSTRUCTION

In conventional 3D printing, object walls are built with multiple layers, with the extruder stopping, retracting, and extruding again whenever the layer changes, which can lead to visible seams where each layer begins and ends. Vase mode, by contrast, prints a single, continuous outer wall without interruption, similar to the structure of a spring. This produces objects without seams. The surface is smooth to the touch and pleasing to the eye.

CONTINUOUS Z-AXIS MOVEMENT

Continuous movement along the Z-axis is a characteristic feature of vase mode, distinguishing it from standard layer-by-layer printing methods. The printer nozzle moves upward in a smooth, gradual spiral, laying down filament in a continuous stream. This movement requires sophisticated coordination between the printer’s motors and the slicing software to maintain a consistent extrusion rate and gradually increase the height.

NO INFILL, SUPPORTS, OR TOP LAYERS

By eliminating infill, supports, and top layers in vase mode, print time and material usage are significantly reduced. However, this means that objects printed in this mode are not designed to bear loads or withstand significant forces. They are best suited for decorative purposes, where aesthetics outweigh structural integrity.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Vase mode is not limited to boring designs.

ADVANTAGES:

• Speed: Vase mode significantly speeds up the printing process thanks to continuous printing, which eliminates stops for individual layers, infill, or top layers.
• Aesthetics: Vase mode produces objects with smooth surfaces and seamless curves that can resemble glass when used with a suitable filament. This approach is ideal for decorative pieces.
• Material efficiency: By printing only a single wall, vase mode minimizes filament consumption, reduces the weight of the final product, and increases print throughput.

DISADVANTAGES:

• Strength: Objects printed in vase mode have lower structural integrity due to their single-wall construction. This makes them prone to cracking or breaking under load, limiting their use to non-structural applications.
• Design limitations: Vase mode is limited to simple hollow shapes, usually with an open top. Surface patterns can create interesting effects, but significant overhangs present a challenge for vase mode prints. Internal structures or variable wall thicknesses are not possible.
• Compatibility issues: Vase mode may not be supported by all 3D printers, but in any case it requires a well-calibrated printer. Troubleshooting can be difficult, especially for beginners, because there are many potential causes.

How to Use It

You will receive a warning message when enabling “Spiral Vase” mode.

Using vase mode in Bambu Slicer requires only a few steps. However, you must first choose suitable settings and prepare your sliced model before printing.

To enable vase mode:

1. Launch Bambu Studio on your computer.
2. Use “File > Import” to add your 3D model to the workspace.
3. Go to the print settings tab on the left and open the “Others” tab within these settings.
4. In the “Special mode” subsection, find the “Spiral vase” option and check it to enable vase mode.
5. A warning message will appear informing you about additional slicer settings that will be changed to allow printing in vase mode. Click “Yes” to continue.

Optimizing Print Settings for Quality Output

When using vase mode, you can expect thin walls.

After activating vase mode, the next step is to fine-tune various parameters to optimize print quality. Although all the most important print settings, such as temperature, still apply, there are several key parameters that can help ensure success with vase mode:

• Layer height: Layer height affects print resolution, with a lower layer height producing finer details and smoother surfaces. As with regular prints, you can increase this value to shorten print time or decrease it to improve model details.
• Wall thickness: Although vase mode inherently prints with a single wall, the thickness of this wall can be adjusted to some extent. Wall thickness affects model strength as well as material consumption and requires slower print speeds. “Line width” can be set to up to twice the nozzle width. For a 0.4 mm nozzle, try a line width of 0.6 mm with a slight reduction in layer height.
• Speed: Vase mode printing generally benefits from slower print speeds, as this gives the layers sufficient time to cool before the next layer is deposited. There is somewhat more ibility with larger parts, but the filament material can also play a role.
• Fan: As with print speed, proper cooling is essential for success with vase mode. Smaller parts especially benefit from increasing the fan speed in vase mode.

Slicing and Printing

Check overhangs in Bambu Studio.

After enabling vase mode and adjusting the print settings, it is time to slice. Once finished, it is important to check your sliced file before starting the print to identify potential problems.

As mentioned above, vase mode has difficulty printing overhangs because there are no surrounding walls or supports to prevent them from failing. Bambu Studio highlights overhangs in the Preview tab, so keep this in mind when identifying these features and consider your printer’s capabilities.

In the Preview tab, you can also inspect the nozzle movement. When using vase mode, nozzle movement should be limited to the initial layers and absent from the main part of the model. If you see nozzle movement where it was not expected, your model may not be suitable for vase mode printing.

Additional Considerations

Vase mode is great for creating transparent containers.

Checking the box to enable Spiral Vase mode is easy, but achieving a successful print is not always so simple. While we will cover troubleshooting tips in the next section, first let’s make sure you are properly equipped and have a suitable 3D model.

Nozzle Size

The nozzle diameter you choose can help you create interesting effects when printing in vase mode. With a larger nozzle diameter, you can increase the line width to obtain thicker wall sections, which also improves layer adhesion and the ability to handle overhangs.

You can also increase the layer thickness, which creates a unique print surface (which may help with transparency, if that is what you want) and reduces the overall print time. However, it is important to remember that while larger nozzles can speed up the printing process, they can compromise fine details in your model.

Model

When designing for vase mode or trying to determine whether a model you found in a repository is suitable for vase mode, there are several things to consider. If the model is not already hollowed out, it is easiest to start with a solid shape, as Bambu Studio can remove all internal material simply by enabling Spiral Vase mode. Most importantly, the model must not have any internal geometry or separate parts, like this model, because vase mode is a continuous filament output.

The model should have a flat bottom to promote good adhesion to the build plate. Wall angles should be oriented nearly vertically, as excessive overhangs or bridges often lead to failure due to a lack of structural support. This also means that closed designs, such as a sphere, are not suitable for vase mode.

Deformation problems can be common in vase mode, especially when the walls are completely flat, as with a box. However, adding texture and patterns to the shell improves the model’s structural integrity through increased surface area and therefore makes it less prone to deformation.

Troubleshooting

Vase mode problems are often related to the model’s geometry.

Troubleshooting common problems when printing in vase mode can be complicated because many factors are involved. Here are the key problems and their potential solutions:

• Poor layer adhesion: Poor layer adhesion can occur for several reasons, such as incorrect temperature settings, printing too quickly, or insufficient cooling. If you are using a larger nozzle, you may need to increase the temperature slightly to compensate for the additional material used.

• Deformation: In addition to common causes of deformation, including incorrect print bed leveling, insufficient adhesion, and changing ambient conditions, deformation in vase mode can also occur because of an incompatible model. If you are not already printing in an enclosure, you should consider doing so to maintain a stable temperature in the print chamber. If the model walls themselves deform or look wavy, adding ridges and texture to the surface will improve the print’s structural integrity.

• Holes or gaps: Holes in parts printed in vase mode, similar to the image above, are likely caused by a model that is unsuitable for this type of printing because of overhangs. Vase mode is particularly unsuitable for printing overhanging surfaces, so it is important to design with this in mind or check overhangs in Bambu Studio’s preview mode. Some users report that using a larger nozzle size and line width can help handle difficult areas.

• Surface artifacts: Surface defects such as roughness or under-extrusion are often caused by a print temperature that is too low, printing too quickly, using filament that has not been properly dried, or poor filament quality. If you have already adjusted the print settings without success, you may want to make sure your filament is dry.