Supports Assessment
In this example part, we will go through the following steps to determine the best way to support this part.
Follow this link to review the orientation and supports factors that affect print success, design, and cost.
Chosen Part Orientation
This assessment will utilize the minimize footprint orientation of this bracket part.
Analyze the support needs for the part in each of the four support conditions:
Overhangs
- Overhang Detection
- Look for red overhang areas
- Measure overhangs
- Compare to resin's maximum recommended overhang
This orientation does not require supports for overhangs.
Adhesion
- Simulate printing with clip plane
- Note the portion of part to support for adhesion
This orientation requires adhesion support in the flagged area.
Island
- Simulate printing with clip plane
- Note the island to support
This orientation requires island support in the flagged area.
Stability
Aside from adhesion and the island, most supports for this part are needed for stability.
The part will be both pulled away from and pushed towards the platform during printing. The best strategy for assessing where stability supports should go is to imagine the part falling to the platform from its orientation as if the platform is the surface of a table, as shown in this animation.
- Support the center of gravity
- Use supports as bracing
Reference DLS Printer Dynamics for more information about the forces of printing.
Print Success Summary This part needs supports as follows:
- Overhangs - not required
- Adhesion
- Island
- Stability
Supports primarily influence the cost per part by
- Material cost (quantity of supports)
- Parts per build
- Post-processing labor
In this example, a side leaning feature warrants stability supports. Created via patch, the bar supports expand the overall footprint of the supported part. This has a cost impact by limiting the total quantity of parts that fit on the platform.
Editing the supports reduces the footprint from 8 with the wider footprint, to 10 with a narrow footprint.
Support decisions are often guided by the function of the part and how it will be used.
Fence Supports for Adhesion
This bracket is meant to be attached to other components as shown here.
The purple highlighted surface will be in direct contact with another component and will therefore function better with minimal (or no) support nubs left behind on the part.
Using fence supports only on the highlighted surface will better suit the functional design considerations of this part.
Fence supports leave behind minimal support nubs that will not negatively affect the installation of the bracket.
Design Change for Adhesion
As noted in the adhesion example above, the bracket will function best if the highlighted surface has minimal or no support nubs. When possible, a design change to the part can be a better solution by eliminating the need for certain supports.
The bracket can be redesigned to eliminate adhesion supports by adding a triangular prism that can adhere the part directly to the platform without affecting the function of the installed bracket.
This also saves cost by eliminating supports.
