Removing supports
this model has quite a few flat surfaces raised off the print bed. I’ve tried regular and organic supports but they’re hard to get off and they leave a mess. Would re-orienting it at 45° or something help?
Printing with pla at standard settings.
RE: Removing supports
An STL or 3MF file would help and make the analysis easier. Simply upload via "Add Media".
wbr,
Karl
Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.
RE: Removing supports
I wish you had saved your prusa project (the 3mf created when you use File>save as). With that we get not only the model but more importantly all the settings you are using as well as placement, modifiers etc. Its a complete snapshot.
What doesn't help is that when I load that stl in and slice it warns that there's an object first layer with no extrusion due to that VERY thin wedge shape sticking out the bottom. It means the rest of the part is floating in mid air so is going to need ALOT of support. Did you do anything like trim or sink the part ? or ? See what I mean. With the project we don't have to guess or ask 20 questions to find out what you were slicing with.
To me that part looks like a model error as its really too thin to print anyway and if it was gone the part would sit flat to the bed and require much much less support.
I've attached an example project of how I would slice it. Its been done for a basic MK3 with generic PLA as I don't know what your machine is or your filament. The model has been sunk into the bed slightly and has support areas defined by painting on with Support for Enforcers selected. I've also used my default support settings which generally work quite well with PLA.
You should be able to change the printer definition and filament profile to your normal ones without losing the print settings.
RE: Removing supports
thanks very much. I can import the 3mf as a project and the supports look much neater. when i change the printer dropdown to my octoprint mini profile and re-slice the supports look much worse. I can try to print it and see if the results are any better or is there something i could check to see if the settings carried over ok.
the attachment has screenshots before and after changing the printer and a "save as" 3mf after changing it.
RE: Removing supports
To be able to achieve a reasonable result with an FDM printer, you have to separate the part by making several cuts, print it separately and then glue it.
I would use a 0.25 nozzle so that the details come out better.
wbr,
Karl
Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.
RE: Removing supports
That’s quite a bit better. Thanks very much. I’ll look at your support related settings and adjust my normal ones.
RE: Removing supports
Almost there. Main difference is you are using grid support and I had set snug. Snug was the successor to grid and so far since it was added I haven't found a single case where grid was better to use than snug. Organic supports have their place, especially for sculptural type models but snug is still my go to for hard surface type objects.
Looking at your print the painted area could do with expanding under that curved section a bit. So I've attached an updated version with your printer and filament profiles untouched but made a few changes to the print settings for support and a couple of other things.
RE: Removing supports
RE: Removing supports
This is great. thanks very much for the settings. i'll make myself a cheat sheet.
RE: Removing supports
I had a go at printing it on my MK3 myself a bit earlier. Photo makes it look worse than it looks in person. This one was in Polyterra Candy PLA.
Just peeled the support right off, once the base of the support was removed the interface layer just peeled right off. You are never going to get the undersides of flat areas like that looking like the tops unless you have soluble support to squish the layer against but its ok and given its on the 'inside' of the motorbike its probably not even worth clean up like a bit of filing or sanding that I would normally do.
The one difference between my print and yours I notice is that you have a perimeter on the mudguard that didn't adhere to the curve. You might want to experiment with upping the temperature a tad for that filament and it will probably stick to the others a bit more.
I haven't found a single case where grid was better to use than snug.
When the support must be very tall and free standing - to support a high overhang for eg, grid stands up better but otherwise snug is first go-to.
Cheerio,
RE: Removing supports
yes, i'm really pleased with how it turned out. as you note the bottom is rough but it's inside and not visible. My problem before was not being able to remove the support at all cleanly and therefore not having room for the wheel inside the mudguard.
RE: Removing supports
hi: if i want to switch to a .25 nozzle and scale it down to 50%, what settings do i need to adapt?