Is it possible to print support inside a "hollow" object ? (Using the minimum infill for supporting overhanging parts )

[shiansu 1]

Hello,

I would like to save a lot of time and material when I print complex molds by printing them hollow, but I usually can't because of the shape.

So I would like to know if it's possible to print support inside a "hollow"(not completly, cause we will need some support inside) object ?

 

It's not very easy to explain so I prepared an exemple :

I would like to print the object "etat1", juste a cylinder with 2 paraboloid facing each others.

If I try to print it that way, the upper paraboloid will be printed "in the air" and that won't work obviously...(remember infill is set to 0%)

So what I really want to know is how to say to Cura (5.1 by the way) to print just a support beetween the 2 paraboloids inside the object like in the picture "etat2" (where that part is very roughly represented by a red box)

 

I think the MAKERBOT MINFILL functiun is about what I'm looking for, but I don't own one of their printers...(and Cura is certainly better 😅)

 

Thank you

[GregValiant 1,489]

Being able to use water soluble PVA supports is a primary reason to go to a dual extruder machine.

You have considered a split mold?  You have to get the part out somehow.

[Nosybottle 9]

Have a look at Lightning infill, it might be close to what you want. Alternatively instead of using 0% infill you could hollow out the model and use regular supports. Or create an overlap modifier in Cura and set infill only inside that modifier

 

[shiansu 1]

Thank you for your answers.

 

Nosybottle, I think that might be the solution but it will take me some time to understand and try this settings. I will post later to tell you if that worked.

 

[shiansu 1]

Ok, done. Lightning infill was what I was looking for. Thank you