Hello @geert_2, thank you for your advice! And sorry for my late response.)
Your sugestion and example are very cool, but I'm not sure that I can create a good support construction in CAD program the way you've described due to my CAD expirience, or I might spend couple of weeks to complete it ))
Thank you,
Oleg
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mnis 11
Hello too ?
You have to create two individual models and later reassemble them into one unit in Cura, so that it can be differentiated in Dual Extruder which extruder has to fulfill which task.
Alternatively, you can integrate single-extruder support material into a single model. Then each piece of support material requires a break mark at each contact area.
It is also possible to create support material as a model in the model. Cura recognizes such models in the model and prints them exactly at the desired position. In this case distances to the main model work well if they have 0.10 to 0.15mm area spacing.
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geert_2 560
I have no experience with dual-nozzle printers using dedicated support material, so I won't comment on that.
But in single-nozzle printers like the UM2 you can design the support as part of the model in your CAD program. Theoretically it doesn't matter if the pieces are connected or not. Both will slice and print. However, if totally unconnected, the support pieces might fall down of course, or they might sag too much. So it is best to design-in tiny connection strands, which you cut off later. Also, tiny gaps between supports and real model will cause occasional hairs and strings, which you also need to post process later.
Before doing this on the whole vase, thoroughly try and refine the concept on a simple test piece that doesn't waste too much time and material. It might take a few iterations. Steep overhangs may sag down, or may curl up.
For example: if I want to print this table below without supports all the way down to the floor (which would destroy the text), then I need a sort of "hanging supports" for the overhangs. This was just a quick test to try the effect on my printers. The great idea came from user smartavionics, who is developing an automated method for bridges. You might consider a similar concept to stabilise the vertical bars.
This is a small model: the walls are 1mm thick, and the table is ca 15mm high. Printed in PLA, 0.1mm layer height, 0.4mm nozzle, probably at 210°C and 50mm/s. The connection strands are 0.5mm wide and 0.2mm high. If I remember all this well...
The concept: table with overhangs. The hanging parts with the ribs are the supports.
Raw print. In the center piece of the bridge, the supports tend to sag down. At the outward edges, the support tends to curl up. The staircase in the design minimises this effect, compared to a triangular shape, but still.
Print after removal of the supports. Text characters are 3.5mm cap height.
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Nett 0
Hello @mnis, thank you for your pieces of advice! And sorry for my late reaction.)
You've mentioned that "It is also possible to create support material as a model in the model", could you please tell me what tool should I use, to make cura recognise support model inside a model? I created my model in Fusion 360, and I didn't find any features in there to set a part of model as a support. And single extrusion is preferable for me, it will build needed model faster.
Thank you,
Oleg
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