Suggestions on best supports for this print?
I have an .STL file that I'm preparing in PrusaSlicer to print on my Prusa Mk 4.
I first did a test print using PrusaSlicer v2.8.0. This seemed to be the best orientation to minimize overhanging material:
To provide support for the sloping area at the left, and the overhanging bar at the top right, in PrusaSlicer I selected Supports: Everywhere, and left infill at the default of 15%. When the print was done, I found the supports difficult to remove cleanly.
Now I'd like to try again. First I updated PrusaSlicer to v2.9.0. Any suggestions to refinements of support settings I can try that might serve adequately but still be easy to remove?
Best Answer by Neophyl:
Agree with Diem. That curve is not going to be supportable at the current orientation. Redesign to make it easier to print would be the best thing.
If you absolutely had to print it with the current design you could try the attached project. More support required than I normally would print at (hence the redesign suggestion) but it is possible.
RE: Suggestions on best supports for this print?
If you have an MMU, you can try the PLA support for PETG/PETG support for PLA technique...
From the MMU loading fork: https://www.printables.com/model/829946-mmu-loading-fork
I tried the multi-material support that is detailed here, and it works very well! Very smooth (horizontal) surfaces with easy-to-remove supports.
https://www.printables.com/model/879206-how-to-support-pla-and-petg-with-each-other-multim
If you don't have an MMU then this isn't for you (unless you have a single horizontal layer to support, then manual filament changes would be an option).
Prusa MK4 since Jan 2024, Printables: @MikeB_1505898
RE: Suggestions on best supports for this print?
Please attach your prusa slicer project file. File>Save Project As from Prusa Slicer. That will save a 3mf file that contains the part but more importantly all the settings you are using. To attach it you MUST zip it up. The forum only accepts a very limited selection of file types, if its not one of them it just silently drops the file and doesn't attach it.
With a project we can tweak it and post back a modified version for you to examine and try.
RE: Suggestions on best supports for this print?
Thanks for the suggestions. Neophyl, hopefully my file Grill_Top_cover.3mf.zip is attached. Any feedback would be terrific.
Mike B, sounds like a good idea, but unfortunately I don't have an MMU.
Let me guess: You had no trouble with the overhanging bar support but had a messy band at the base of the curve...
This isn't a support issue, it's the part's geometry.
Curves rising off the base never print well (while they make removing *injection moulded* parts from their moulds easier) as there is no room to insert supports at the point of steepest overhang.
If you change the base of the curve to a chamfer and only resume the curve as it approaches 45° the part will print cleanly with support only under the bar.
Cheerio,
RE: Suggestions on best supports for this print?
Agree with Diem. That curve is not going to be supportable at the current orientation. Redesign to make it easier to print would be the best thing.
If you absolutely had to print it with the current design you could try the attached project. More support required than I normally would print at (hence the redesign suggestion) but it is possible.
RE: Suggestions on best supports for this print?
Thanks for the project file, that's an interesting approach. I see that supports are set to "For support enforcers only," and there is an entry for Paint-On Supports, but I'm not seeing any enabled. Are they there somewhere, or would I need to add them?
It does sound like redesign would be the best option, but in this case I only have the .stl file -- I'm printing it for a friend from a file posted online.
I emailed the original designer to ask how they handled it. I don't yet know what printer they were using.
RE: Suggestions on best supports for this print?
Yes For support enforcers only and then then painting the areas you want gives you far more control. It's my normal method when it comes to supports. Once you get used to the paint tools you can easily mark areas. The smart fill brush combined with high lighting areas by angle and then using highlighted areas only allow quite a flexible approach. And you can always take full control and paint wherever freehand if required.
I assure you that areas are painted, you need to select the object and then select the paint tool to see where they are currently defined.
RE: Suggestions on best supports for this print?
Thanks. After clicking around a bit, the supports did become visible. So I've started a print job with your markup. Looks like it will take about 22 hours to complete.
I also heard back from the part's designer. He said the curved area and the bar needed support, which makes it sound like he used the orientation I started out with. As to any details on the supports, he said he used default "zig zag" supports offered by his non-Prusa slicer and printer, and he mentioned it was important to keep them thin. But I'll see how it goes with your version.
RE: Suggestions on best supports for this print?
The print just finished, and I have to say this appears to be the best possible outcome without redesigning the part. All of the externally visible surfaces are smooth, and the only area that's slightly rougher is the interior of the curved section, which is not normally visible. Thanks very much for the help! I'll have to look at your project file in more detail to understand the approach.