PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports  

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

I wouldn't expect it to affect supports, but a worn nozzle can account for stringing. I suppose stringing between supports and the print can add up to make removal more difficult. Try a nozzle swap and PID tune perhaps?

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

Tip number 2: Check Bed and Nozzle Temperature

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@bobstro

I've replaced the nozzle with a new one as well last week. That didn't help either :/

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@bobstro

I am having some trouble removing PETG supports even with your settimgs.  Any suggestions on how to adjust them for PETG?

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

Posted by: @cwbullet

[...] I am having some trouble removing PETG supports even with your settimgs.  Any suggestions on how to adjust them for PETG?

I don't do a lot of PETG printing with supports, so I'm afraid I can't offer up much more than trying a bit more z distance. The best solution is probably to design parts with built-in support or sacrificial layers where needed or orient the part to minimize the need for support.

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@bobstro

I will try and post the results.  

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@bobstro

Thank you for sharing your settings. Sounds like it worked very well for most people. I recently struggled to remove supports from a model using the default support settings with a 0.6mm nozzle. The layers underneath the model are in particular challenging. The bottom part ended up looking pretty rough after support removal.

With regards to your settings, is there any reason why increasing interface layers (default is 2) and decreasing interface layer spacing (default 0.3mm) would help with support removal? Wouldn't that make removing the interface layers from the model itself even harder?

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

Posted by: @hxnduke

[...] With regards to your settings, is there any reason why increasing interface layers (default is 2) and decreasing interface layer spacing (default 0.3mm) would help with support removal? Wouldn't that make removing the interface layers from the model itself even harder?

I found that having denser layers immediately below the supported features along with the increased Z-gap helped with removal. Without those dense layers, the normal support seemed to be more "grabby", I think because the supported extrusions were more likely to sag and bond to them. Those dense support layers are strong. You do have to spend some time strategically snipping apart the more robust supports and remove it in smaller chunks, IME. I always study the print and make cuts to weaken the strength of support before I remove anything. Essentially, break the areas of strongest support and avoid pulling any supports through features (e.g., arms & legs).

I haven't done much testing with a larger nozzle, so not sure how much of this still applies with your 0.6mm nozzle.

That said, ideaMaker does a much nicer job with flat support areas, and Cura's tree supports are great for miniatures. PrusaSlicer needs to get some upgrades in terms of supports. I suspect it's on their development timeline.

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@bobstro

Thank you for your explanation. So if I understand correctly, making the interface thicker and denser allows easier removal of the support materials underneath it. But is the removal of the interface itself quite difficult since it's quite strong and dense? Or would increasing the Z-gap already take care of that? 

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

I increased your settings to 100% spacing and that make the PETG supports easier to remove.  

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@hxnduke

Making the interface thicker actually aids in removal I've found as it comes off more as one piece rather than breaking up and bits of it sticking.  Basically removing the sparse supports first part way down then allows you to push the interface layer away from the surface which 'usually' detaches easily.  

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@neophyl

How thick do you make it with PETG?

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

I just usually use 4 layers on everything (well pla and petg as I dont print a lot of exotics)

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

Once I realized removing supports is NOT going to give many of those satisfying moments where everything just peels away revealing a pristine print, life got better. Break up support strength first, THEN start removing it. Break support apart where it intertwines with things like arms and legs or any opening.

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

Reading the commits on GitHub it looks like the next version of PrusaSlicer will have "snug" supports that seem to be easier to remove.  They only put supports where they are 100% needed.  Take a look and also look at the "Issues" it links to for examples.  Looks interesting.

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@3delight

I hope that comes out soon.  

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

@cwbullet

Me too as it apparently fixes a problem that's plagued me for 3 years since I reported it!  It's in Alpha at the moment so fingers crossed a public better will appear very soon.

RE: PrusaSlicer hard to remove supports

I did get good results with 125% distancing.  

support generator improvements in PrusaSlicer 2.4.0-alpha1

You are most welcome to try the updated support generator in PrusaSlicer 2.4.0-alpha1.

https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/releases/tag/version_2.4.0-alpha1

see

PrusaSlicer 2.4.0 alpha1 full change log · prusa3d/PrusaSlicer Wiki (github.com)

and

PrusaSlicer 2.4.0 alpha1 full change log · prusa3d/PrusaSlicer Wiki (github.com)

Supports

I tried this today and would like to tank the DEV team.  So far, this is a great improvement.  It even works better on my Predator.  

Posted by: @vojtech-bubnik

You are most welcome to try the updated support generator in PrusaSlicer 2.4.0-alpha1.

https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/releases/tag/version_2.4.0-alpha1

see

PrusaSlicer 2.4.0 alpha1 full change log · prusa3d/PrusaSlicer Wiki (github.com)

and

PrusaSlicer 2.4.0 alpha1 full change log · prusa3d/PrusaSlicer Wiki (github.com)