Improving slicer support settings for Ultimaker S5, getting a grid between support and model?

[r111122223333 0]

We have an Ultimaker S5, very nice machine, but the support strut from it comes outs worse than from a cheap no-brand machine that a team member has at home. This is clearly a slicer issue. He uses cura as his slicer too and we can't work out the difference in profiles.

 

This is in regards, primarily, to printing with just a single material in the Ultimaker, not using the dual extruder with a dissolvable PVA support as that often snaps in the bowden tube and is inconvenient for simple jobs when one just wants to break the support strut off.

 

The main point is, when his setup produces gcode for his cheap machine, after the support strut and before the first layer of actual model to come above it, the printer outputs a sort of criss-cross grid for a few layers, that appears to be the default in profiles set up for cheap machines like Ender 3 clones and such. On the Ultimaker S5 the default print settings try to start printing model either directly on the support strut or an empty layer or so above it. This ends up with horribly ugly overhangs, with lots of hanging half torn threads of filament making up the underside layers above overhangs.

 

What do we need to do in Cura's settings to have support strut printed for the S5 so it produces that kind of 45 degree diagonal grid pattern right below where the model starts printing above it?

Thank you

[r111122223333 0]

P.S. for further detail, he at home and we at work both use support in "zig zag" patterns and both set the support wall line count to 0, both of these make support much easier to remove without risking tearing with one's side cutters in to the actual model.

[gr5 2,172]

It's called a raft.  It's in the dropdown for "build plate adhesion type".

 

I don't recommend it though - there are even better options.  Is the bottom of your object not flat?  Maybe it's just floating in the air - click on the object and click on the move tool on the left and make sure Z is set to zero.  Or maybe consider setting it to a negative value to get all of your print firmly onto the bed.  This happens when the bottom of the part is ever so slightly tilted or irregular.

 

Anyway, raft works great but it makes the bottom of the part ugly and wastes some time and filament obviously.

 

It was a great feature 10 years ago - before heated beds.  But not used as much nowadays with newer technologies like heated bed, PEI beds, magigoo, and more.

[Nosybottle 9]

I believe they might be talking about support interface. Take a look at the options Enable Support Interface, Support Interface Density and Support Interface Pattern, that might be what you're after

[r111122223333 0]

Thank you. It is definitely not a raft which is lacking, we tend to use those anyway. Helps with bed adhesion as the printer ages. This is for stuff at height above the very bottom anyway, the raft leaves some "ugliness" to the very bottom surface, but nowhere near so bad as the ugliness we've had on the underside of overhangs above support.

 

Nosybottle, thanks for suggesting those tips. We'll see if those can fix it. Thank you.

 

 

[gr5 2,172]

9 hours ago, Nosybottle said:

I believe they might be talking about support interface.

Oh!  I'm a dope.  I thought the "support strut" must be the print bed!  A photo/screenshot is always so much more helpful than words.