Tree support settings for small objects (contour)

[brad421 0]

Hi, I am just wanting to know if there is a way to get tree supports to contour/wrap around small objects like this to keep them from wobbling/moving? It seems when it comes to this point it just cannot lay down the first layer without shifting or having it wobble part way up. I went through the support settings and could not see anything that would do this. Maybe I am missing something? What does everyone else do in cases like these?

thanks

 

 

[Slashee_the_Cow 410]

If you could share your Cura project file (.3mf, get it set up then go to File > Save Project) that would really help as it means we could play with support settings on your project to find a nice balance.

 

Looking at the picture... what do you have Support > Support Interface Horizontal Expansion set to? It looks like that's set really high and making it harder for branches to reach upper areas. Or maybe you have Support > Branch Diameter or Support > Trunk Diameter set pretty high?

Other than that your best bet is just to lower Support > Support Overhang Angle so that more areas are considered as needing support (like the whole... arm?)

You could also try making sure Support > Rest Preference is set to On model if required (I usually suggest the opposite since setting it to this makes touch the model in more places) and Support > Support Interface Priority to Support preferred (though that's a fairly new setting so I don't know if it applies to trees or not).

[brad421 0]

Yes I have trunk diameter set high because I sometimes had issues before with support adhesion or them coming loose. Right now I am just having issues with small or pointed objects missing/not printing due to the fact that it has nothing holding it. Thank you for your advice. Here is the project file.

CE3V3SE_Death.3mf

[Slashee_the_Cow 410]

You should probably turn down Support > Tip Diameter so it doesn't create huge blobs to support tiny areas like in your screenshot.

 

The best way to create a support "cocoon", per se, is to create a support blocker, scale, rotate and move it into position, then use the Per Model Settings tool  and set it to Print as support 

Getting it into position could be a might fiddly

The main problem with this approach is that it will create regular support, not trees:

Which follow the rules for regular support, including, in this case, that Support > Support Placement is to to Touching buildplate, which means it won't generate support for the bit that's above the cloak. For that, you'd need to set Support Placement to Everywhere, which will create a whole ton of support on top of his cloak to support the... whatever it is he's got sheathed there:

I've included the project file as an example. If you don't want to resort to this, then basically the only approach I can think of is to decrease your Support Overhang Angle, which will generate more support everywhere.

CE3V3SE_Death_blocker.3mf

[Dadkitess 19]

Sometimes, using the conical support option helps to keep the "touching buildplate" while avoiding the rest of the object, but it's very situational. 

[Slashee_the_Cow 410]

3 hours ago, Dadkitess said:

Sometimes, using the conical support option helps to keep the "touching buildplate" while avoiding the rest of the object, but it's very situational. 

The conical supports option only applies to regular supports, not trees (it only appears if support is turned on and Support > Support Structure is set to Normal, set it to Tree and the setting disappears).

[Dadkitess 19]

Yep, i'm saying that sometime I rely more on regular support using the conical than the tree support, and it's able to avoid the model as well, in very specific situation though

[Slashee_the_Cow 410]

44 minutes ago, Dadkitess said:

Yep, i'm saying that sometime I rely more on regular support using the conical than the tree support, and it's able to avoid the model as well, in very specific situation though

That only really applies to geometrical objects, like things from CAD software - nothing at all like modelled figures like this one.

I appreciate your offering advice, I just want to make it clear for others that this particular tip isn't relevant to this situation.