Advanced Support Generation Tips for Simplify3D - 3D Printing Masterclass Video Lecture | What is 3D Printing: Basic Knowledge - IT & Software

if you've spent some time 3d printing
complex objects you'll know how powerful
support structures can be it really
frees up your imagination and ability to
3d print almost any object even on a
low-end SDM 3d printer but sometimes
you'll come across the 3d print you need
to create that seems almost impossible
but don't despair because in this video
I'm going to share with you my 5 super
user tips for generating awesome support
material let's get started
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tip number one support pillar resolution
have you ever wondered just how support
pillar resolution actually works we'll
imagine the slicer is overlaying a grid
of points for a given model it then
detect overhangs of that model within
that grid and create supports to hold
them in place as the object is 3d
printed while the default of four
millimeters is sufficient for most
prints it can actually sometimes miss
details on more complicated parts
because of this I can change my support
pillar resolution down to one millimeter
to ensure all based details are caught
however I discovered that many people
think by doing this you're affecting the
density of your support structures and
that's actually not true at all
instead changing this setting simply
offers the resolution of the grid that
simplifies regenerates as you can see in
this example the support structure
created is the same set C with a one
millimeter pillar resolution versus a
four millimeter pillar resolution it
simply allows me to capture additional
details by changing it to one millimeter
now there is a catch you can run into
some issues changing your pillar
resolution down to one millimeter for
example when you do automatic support
generation it may not create a pillar
that standalone and only one millimetre
across which is obviously a very bad
idea as it's more than likely going to
fall over during the printing process so
if you do end up with something like
this it's always wise to go back in and
use a larger support size and you can
even do this manually yes you can
actually use multiple pillar sizes
within the same print and the same
support structure simplifies duty
doesn't mind at all and ELLs become a
homogeneous 3d print support structure
tip number two beds only supports this
setting can be accessed from the support
type drop-down which is either in the
support settings window in your process
or if you have defining manual supports
you can find it here
this setting will prevent supports being
generated which build on the print
itself instead only allowing supports
that originate from the print bed up to
the model this is really handy if you're
working with a model that seems
specifically designed for 3d printing on
an SDN printer and it may have details
that might look like they need support
on the model itself but at
please don't for example this screw
thread here while some parts of the
model do need support from the bed up
the screw drill itself should not have
support otherwise it's not going to work
very well so in this case selecting bed
only support for automatic support
generation saves you a lot of time tip
number three use dense top layers in my
opinion this setting is the secret to
getting good-looking underside curves
and supporting small details on your 3d
printed model without dense layers
turned on the print comes into contact
with coarse of support lines leading to
a rougher finish in that area then
layers formed what I like to call an
interface layer between the course of
support infill and the surface of your
part you can set any layer amount you
like for the dense layers however I
generally go at 2 or 4 layers thick for
a good result one word of warning about
using dense top layers it can make
support material harder to remove from
print in some cases and because it tends
to remove in a sheet rather than line by
line you can accidentally damage small
details or a print which might be
encased in dense support just because of
how its generated so keep that in mind
and always use gqo preview to see is by
using dense supports it will help your
model or possibly mean some details may
be damaged tip number 4 creates stronger
support structures by alternating layer
direction on occasion you'll need to use
some really tool support structures and
sometimes due to print movement these
can wobble or even topple over if they
created using default support settings
instead you can actually alternate the
support infill direction much like the
infill inside a 3d print would be this
creates far stronger support structures
and in my experience these support
structures are incredibly rigid even on
a fast moving print bed to prove it I
printed it's not involve hovering in
midair with this type of support
structure building up to meet it regular
support structures would have had
significant wobble at this height
however by alternating my infill between
minus 45 and 45 degrees which is a 90
degree difference between each layer the
supports are rock-solid and I think I
could have even done it twice or more
the height that any sufferings of print
quality or my 3d printed piece something
to watch out for when you're doing this
kind of support structure however is
it's far far stronger which is good in
some case
but in other cases with internal
cavities that need support structures it
can make it really really difficult to
break away I always try to ensure that
there's a path behind the support to
punch it through or pull it off rather
than trying to pull it out of an
internal cavity it's also handy to allow
space for a pair of pliers or that kind
of thing to reach into support
structures and crack them out in one go
which works really really well just keep
that in mind if you do fill a cavity
with this kind of support you're
probably never going to get it out and
tip number five our final tip for this
lineup extra inflation distance this
will increase the size of your supports
in the X and y directions essentially
extending them out beyond the parts of
their supporting now why would you want
to do this well it makes the support
materials far easier to remove a small
increase of even point five millimeters
can make support material easier to grab
onto and remove from the part and
doesn't add much print time or material
use and as a palliative you can also
combine this with manual support to
create your own support removal points
essentially this just gives you a tab
you can grab onto with a pair of pliers
or your finger even and break away the
support structure and with clever
planning you can make support removal
far easier and safer by doing this kind
of approach rather than trying to get in
with sharp tools to break it away from a
part where it's flush with the surface
so there you have it five additional
methods you can add to your support
structure toolbox
to help you in your awesome 3d printing
projects and if you found this video
useful guys don't forget to subscribe
today with any future 3d dream tips
tricks or reviews on makers news and if
you're a little bit new to support
structures and this video seems a little
bit over your head don't forget to check
out our 3d putting one on one video on
support structures to clarify all the
basics a big thanks to simplify to
release for sponsoring this video here
on maker's news I look forward to seeing
you again very shortly
catch you later guys bye
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