3D Printing Support: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners and Experts

Here is the outline of the article: # Everything You Wanted To Know About 3D Printing Support But Were Afraid To Ask ## Introduction - What is 3D printing support and why is it needed? - What are the challenges and benefits of using 3D printing support? - What are the main types of 3D printing support and how do they differ? ## Step 1: When to Use Supports - How to identify overhangs and bridges that require support - How to use overhang angle and bridge distance settings to determine support placement - How to minimize supports through design and reorientation ## Step 2: Picking a Support Type - How to choose between breakaway and dissolvable supports - How to choose between lattice and tree-like supports - How to choose between different support patterns and densities ## Step 3: Setting the Support Density - How to adjust support density and spacing for optimal strength and removal - How to use support interface layers and roofs for better surface quality - How to use support blockers and modifiers for more control ## Above & Beyond: Advanced Support Settings - How to use adaptive supports for more efficiency and accuracy - How to use dual extrusion for more versatility and convenience - How to use custom supports for more creativity and flexibility ## Conclusion - Summarize the main points of the article - Emphasize the importance of choosing the right support settings for each print - Provide some tips and resources for further learning ## FAQs - Q: What is the best support pattern for 3D printing? - A: The best support pattern depends on the shape and size of your model, but generally zigzag and lines patterns are good choices for their balance of speed, strength, and ease of removal. - Q: How can I remove supports without damaging my print? - A: The best way to remove supports is to use a pair of pliers or tweezers to gently pull them away from the print. You can also use a hobby knife or a sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges or marks left by the supports. - Q: How can I prevent supports from sticking too much to my print? - A: You can prevent supports from sticking too much by using a lower support density, a larger support gap, or a different support material that dissolves in water or solvent. - Q: How can I print without supports? - A: You can print without supports by designing your model with minimal overhangs and bridges, or by orienting your model in a way that reduces the need for supports. You can also use techniques such as bridging, cantilevering, or self-supporting angles to create support-free structures. - Q: What are some examples of models that need supports? - A: Some examples of models that need supports are figurines with complex poses or details, mechanical parts with holes or gaps, or organic shapes with curves or angles. Here is the article: # Everything You Wanted To Know About 3D Printing Support But Were Afraid To Ask Have you ever wondered how 3D printers can create amazing objects with intricate shapes and details? Have you ever been frustrated by prints that fail or look ugly because of poor support settings? Have you ever been curious about how to optimize your support settings for different types of models? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this article is for you. In this article, we will explain everything you wanted to know about 3D printing support but were afraid to ask. We will cover what 3D printing support is, why it is needed, what are the challenges and benefits of using it, what are the main types of 3D printing support and how they differ, and how to choose the best support settings for your prints. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of 3D printing support and how to use it effectively. You will also learn some tips and tricks to improve your print quality and save time and material. So, let's get started! ## Introduction ### What is 3D printing support and why is it needed? 3D printing support is the added part that supports the overhanging structure or bridge structure when slicing the model, which needs to be removed after printing. The principle of the FDM printer is to melt and overlay the filament layer by layer. However, not all shapes can be printed without support. Some shapes have overhangs or bridges that are too steep or too long for the printer to print without sagging or collapsing. These parts need support to hold them up during printing. For example, if you want to print a model of a human head, you will need support for the chin, nose, ears, and hair. Without support, these parts will either droop down or break off during printing. Support helps to create a stable base for these parts to print on top of. ### What are the challenges and benefits of using 3D printing support? Using 3D printing support has both challenges and benefits. Some of the challenges are: - Support uses extra material and time, which increases the cost and duration of printing. - Support can be difficult to remove without damaging the print or leaving marks or scars on the surface. - Support can affect the print quality and accuracy, especially if it is too dense or too sparse. Some of the benefits are: - Support enables you to print complex shapes and details that would otherwise be impossible or very difficult to print. - Support improves the strength and stability of your print, especially for parts that are thin or fragile. - Support can enhance the appearance and functionality of your print, especially if you use dissolvable or dual extrusion supports. ### What are the main types of 3D printing support and how do they differ? There are two main types of 3D printing support: breakaway and dissolvable. Breakaway supports are made of the same material as your print and can be removed by breaking them off manually. Dissolvable supports are made of a different material than your print and can be removed by dissolving them in water or solvent. There are also different types of support structures that can be used for different models. The most common ones are lattice and tree-like supports. Lattice supports are grid-like structures that cover the entire area under the overhang or bridge. Tree-like supports are branch-like structures that only touch the points where support is needed. There are also different types of support patterns and densities that can be used for different models. The most common ones are zigzag, lines, concentric, triangles, grid, gyroid, etc. These patterns affect how the support layers are arranged and how much material is used. The density affects how thick or thin the support layers are and how much gap there is between them. ## Step 1: When to Use Supports The first step in using 3D printing support is to decide when to use it. Not all models need support, and using too much or too little support can cause problems. So, how do you know when to use support? ### How to identify overhangs and bridges that require support The main reason to use support is to deal with overhangs and bridges. Overhangs are parts of the model that extend beyond the previous layer without any direct support from below. Bridges are parts of the model that span across a gap without any direct support from below. To identify overhangs and bridges that require support, you need to look at two factors: overhang angle and bridge distance. Overhang angle is the angle between the horizontal plane and the overhanging part. Bridge distance is the length of the gap that the bridge spans across. The general rule of thumb is that overhangs with an angle greater than 45 degrees and bridges with a distance longer than 5 mm need support. However, this rule can vary depending on your printer settings, filament type, cooling system, etc. You can use a test model like this one to find out the optimal overhang angle and bridge distance for your printer. ### How to use overhang angle and bridge distance settings to determine support placement Most slicers have settings that allow you to adjust the overhang angle and bridge distance thresholds for generating supports. These settings help you control where and how much support is placed on your model. Angle" and "Support > Generate Support > Support Horizontal Expansion". You can use these settings to specify the minimum overhang angle and bridge distance that will trigger support generation. For example, if you set the overhang angle to 60 degrees and the bridge distance to 10 mm, then only parts of your model that have an overhang angle greater than 60 degrees or a bridge distance longer than 10 mm will have support. You can also use the "Support > Generate Support > Support Placement" setting to choose whether you want to generate support everywhere or only touching the build plate. This setting affects whether support is placed on or inside your model or only below it. ### How to minimize supports through design and reorientation One way to reduce the need for supports is to design your model with minimal overhangs and bridges, or to reorient your model in a way that reduces the need for supports. This can save you material, time, and hassle. For example, if you want to print a model of a pyramid, you can design it with a hollow base and a hole on the top. This way, you can print it upside down without any support. Alternatively, you can reorient it sideways and print it with minimal support. You can also use techniques such as bridging, cantilevering, or self-supporting angles to create support-free structures. Bridging is when you print a horizontal part across a gap without any support below it. Cantilevering is when you print a part that extends beyond the previous layer without any support below it. Self-supporting angles are angles that are shallow enough to print without support. For example, if you want to print a model of a cube with a hole on one side, you can use bridging to print the hole without any support. If you want to print a model of a shelf with brackets, you can use cantilevering to print the brackets without any support. If you want to print a model of a cone, you can use self-supporting angles to print the sides without any support. ## Step 2: Picking a Support Type The second step in using 3D printing support is to pick a support type. There are many types of support available, and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. You need to choose the best type of support for your model based on factors such as shape, size, material, quality, etc. ### How to choose between breakaway and dissolvable supports The first choice you need to make is whether you want to use breakaway or dissolvable supports. Breakaway supports are made of the same material as your print and can be removed by breaking them off manually. Dissolvable supports are made of a different material than your print and can be removed by dissolving them in water or solvent. Breakaway supports are cheaper and easier to use than dissolvable supports. You don't need a second extruder or nozzle, and you don't need to wait for the supports to dissolve. However, breakaway supports can be harder to remove without damaging the print or leaving marks or scars on the surface. They can also affect the print quality and accuracy if they are too dense or too sparse. Dissolvable supports are more expensive and complex than breakaway supports. You need a second extruder or nozzle, and you need to wait for the supports to dissolve. However, dissolvable supports can be easier to remove without damaging the print or leaving marks or scars on the surface. They can also improve the print quality and accuracy if they are well calibrated and optimized. The best type of support for your model depends on your budget, time, and quality requirements. Generally speaking, breakaway supports are better for simple or large models that don't have too many details or overhangs. Dissolvable supports are better for complex or small models that have many details or overhangs. Some examples of breakaway and dissolvable supports are: - PLA: Breakaway support made of PLA or dissolvable support made of PVA - ABS: Breakaway support made of ABS or dissolvable support made of HIPS - PETG: Breakaway support made of PETG or dissolvable support made of PVA - Nylon: Breakaway support made of nylon or dissolvable support made of PVA ### How to choose between lattice and tree-like supports The second choice you need to make is whether you want to use lattice or tree-like supports. Lattice supports are grid-like structures that cover the entire area under the overhang or bridge. Tree-like supports are branch-like structures that only touch the points where support is needed. Lattice supports are more stable and reliable than tree-like supports. They can support any shape or size of model, and they can prevent warping or curling. However, lattice supports use more material and time than tree-like supports. They can also be harder to remove without damaging the print or leaving marks or scars on the surface. Tree-like supports are more efficient and accurate than lattice supports. They use less material and time than lattice supports, and they can follow different angles and curves. However, tree-like supports are less stable and reliable than lattice supports. They can fail or break during printing, and they can cause sagging or drooping. The best type of support for your model depends on your shape, size, and quality requirements. Generally speaking, lattice supports are better for large or flat models that need a lot of support. Tree-like supports are better for small or curved models that need minimal support. Some examples of lattice and tree-like supports are: - Lattice support: A model of a human head with complex features and overhangs - Tree-like support: A model of a flower with delicate petals and curves ### How to choose between different support patterns and densities The third choice you need to make is what kind of support pattern and density you want to use. Support pattern is how the support layers are arranged, and support density is how thick or thin the support layers are. These settings affect how much material is used, how strong the support is, and how easy it is to remove. There are many types of support patterns available, such as zigzag, lines, concentric, triangles, grid, gyroid, etc. Each pattern has its own pros and cons, depending on the shape and size of your model. You need to choose the best pattern for your model based on factors such as speed, strength, removal, etc. Support density is usually expressed as a percentage of how much of the area under the overhang or bridge is filled with support material. The higher the percentage, the denser the support is. You need to choose the best density for your model based on factors such as stability, quality, removal, etc. The best type of support pattern and density for your model depends on your speed, strength, and quality requirements. Generally speaking, zigzag and lines patterns are good choices for their balance of speed, strength, and ease of removal. The optimal support density varies depending on your model, but a range of 10% to 20% is usually recommended. Some examples of different support patterns and densities are: - Zigzag pattern with 15% density: A good default option for most models - Lines pattern with 10% density: A fast and easy option for simple models - Grid pattern with 20% density: A strong and stable option for complex models ## Step 3: Setting the Support Density The third step in using 3D printing support is to set the support density. Support density is how thick or thin the support layers are, and how much gap there is between them. Support density affects how much material is used, how strong the support is, and how easy it is to remove. ### How to adjust support density and spacing for optimal strength and removal To adjust support density and spacing for optimal strength and removal, you need to use two settings: "Support Density" and "Support Z Distance". These settings allow you to control how much of the area under the overhang or bridge is filled with support material, and how much gap there is between the top layer of the support and the bottom layer of the print. "Support Density" is usually expressed as a percentage of how much of the area under the overhang or bridge is filled with support material. The higher the percentage, the denser the support is. A higher density means more material usage, more print time, more strength, but also more difficulty in removal. "Support Z Distance" is usually expressed as a multiple of the layer height of how much gap there is between the top layer of the support and the bottom layer of the print. The higher the multiple, the larger the gap is. A larger gap means less material usage, less print time, less strength, but also less difficulty in removal. The best values for these settings depend on your model shape, size, material, quality, etc. However, a general rule of thumb is to use a low to medium support density (10% to 20%) and a small to medium support Z distance (0.1 mm to 0.3 mm). This way, you can achieve a good balance between strength and removal. ### How to use support interface layers and roofs for better surface quality , you need to use two settings: "Support Interface Thickness" and "Enable Support Roof". These settings allow you to add extra layers of dense support material between the support and the print, forming a smooth and solid surface that improves the print quality and makes the support removal easier. "Support Interface Thickness" is the thickness of the extra layers of support material that are added on top and bottom of the support structure. The higher the thickness, the more interface layers are added. A higher thickness means more material usage, more print time, more surface quality, but also more difficulty in removal. "Enable Support Roof" is a setting that allows you to enable or disable the interface layers on top of the support structure. If enabled, the interface layers will cover the entire area under the overhang or bridge. If disabled, the interface layers will only cover the points where the support touches the print. The best values for these settings depend on your model shape, size, material, quality, etc. However, a general rule of thumb is to use a medium to high support interface thickness (0.8 mm to 1.2 mm) and enable support roof for most models. This way, you can achieve a smooth and solid surface that improves the print quality and makes the support removal easier. ### How to use support blockers and modifiers for more control To use support blockers and modifiers for more control, you need to use two tools: "Support Blocker" and "Per Model Settings". These tools allow you to customize the support placement and settings for specific parts of your model or for different models on the same build plate. "Support Blocker" is a tool that allows you to add cubes to your model that block the generation of support in that area. You can use this tool to prevent support from being generated where you don't want it or where it is not needed. For example, you can use this tool to block support from being generated inside a hollow model or under a self-supporting angle. "Per Model Settings" is a tool that allows you to change the settings for individual models or parts of models on the same build plate. You can use this tool to modify the support settings for specific areas or models that require different settings than the rest. For example, you can use this tool to change the support density or pattern for a part of your model that needs more or less support than the rest. The best way to use these tools is to experiment with different combinations and see what works best for your model. You can use these tools to fine-tune your support placement and settings and achieve better results. ## Above & Beyond: Advanced Support Settings The fourth step in using 3D