Figure 3 Irregular structure
1) The support structure 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. The amount an overhang can support itself depends on the stiffness of the material it is made of. The stiffer the material, the further an overhang can stick out. However, at a certain point, the weight of the overhang will overcome the stiffness of the material, causing the overhang to collapse.
2) According to the 45 degrees principle, if the angle of the overhang structure from the vertical is less than 45 degrees, then you can print without adding support; if the overhang is larger than 45 degrees from the vertical, support structure is required. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the support in time according to the structure and shape of the model to prevent printing failure.
1) When the model structure is complex or the model has an irregular structure, all supports need to be added.
Figure 3 Irregular structure
2) When the model structure is relatively simple, but there is an overhang structure, bridge structure or hollow structure in a certain part, supports should be added to make the model stable.
3) When the overall shape is cylindrical, conical or cuboid, and the lower part is relatively large; when the upper and lower widths of the model are the same without hanging parts; or when the model has a very simple structure, supports are not needed.
4) According to the structure of the model and your needs, you can add or delete the support of the model in appropriate parts.
1) When you select the slice template, in the Edit Template interface, you can select the type of support. There are three types of support:
None: Do not add support to the model.
Touch Platform Only: Only create the supports which will touch the build platform.
ALL: Add supports to all suspended and overhang structures of the model.
Figure 7: Two Support Type
2) Or you can click the „Support“ tool in the Tool Bar, and then you can automatically or manually add support. You can set support-related parameters in the left menu bar.
Adjust the pillar size.
Note: Only when the support type is pillar, the pillar size will take effect.
Figure 9 Support Pillar Size
The minimum overhang angles. If the real overhang angle is smaller than this value, support will not be generated.
Only create the supports which will touch the build platform.
With this function enabled, ideaMaker will automatically detect and preserve smaller details in the model that are not connected to the build surface and produce the appropriate support structure.
With this function enabled, ideaMaker will automatically create travel moves or spurious points when the model is a thin wall structure. If not, ideaMaker will not detect thin wall structures, and won’t generate support structures.
With this function enabled, ideaMaker will automatically create travel moves or spurious points when the model is a thin wall structure. If not, ideaMaker will not detect thin wall structures, and won’t generate support structures.
1) Import the model to ideaMaker and choose to slice the model. Double-click the slice template to enter the settings, and enter the advanced settings in the Edit Template interface.
2) Select the „Support“ tab, where you can set settings such as Support Type, Support Infill Type, Infill Ratio, etc. For more support settings, please refer to ideaMaker User Manual 5.1.3.5. Support.
3) Common support settings are as follows:
“Support Extruder” refers to selecting which extruder to print support.
Figure 15 “Support Extruder”
„Support Type” refers to the structure of support. “Normal” refers to the support which is computed based on locality which may cause random hang. “Pillar” refers to the support which is entirety based on
and computed based only pillars.
“Support Infill Type” refers to the infill pattern for the support structure.
„Max Overhang Angle” defines which parts of the model will have support added. Overhang Angle refers to the angle between the overhang surface and Z axis.
Figure 18 „Max Overhang Angle“
“Horizontal Offset” refers to the distance between the support structure and the model parts in X/Y direction.
Figure 19 „Horizontal Offset“
4. For more support settings, please refer to ideaMaker User Manual 5.1.3.5. Support.