• Fusion

Additive FFF support structures

Generate solid volume supports and solid bar supports for FFF (fused filament fabrication) 3D printing.


00:04

In most slices,

00:05

the support structure is generated on slicing

00:08

and the user has little control on the placement and structure itself.

00:13

Fusion's workflow

00:15

offers users more freedom

00:17

in both support placement

00:19

and support structure.

00:22

In this example, supports will be generated for this foosball player

00:28

having created a setup, selected a printer and print setting.

00:33

The next step is to generate support,

00:36

navigate to the support group in the toolbar.

00:40

Here

00:40

there are two support options,

00:43

solid volume

00:44

and solid bar support,

00:47

solid volume support is best for supporting large overhanging areas.

00:52

Whereas solid bar support is ideal for

00:54

bodies with small specific overhanging areas,

00:58

select the solid volume support

01:00

and this opens the volume support dialogue

01:04

here,

01:04

select the individual faces that require support.

01:08

Alternatively,

01:09

the whole model can be selected and supports will be generated for

01:12

the faces whose areas fall below the angle defined by the overhang angle

01:18

click. OK, will create a preview of that support structure.

01:22

This looks good

01:23

but those horizontal holes will also need to be supported

01:27

for these features. Navigate back to the supports toolbar group

01:31

and select solid bar support.

01:35

This opens the bar support dialogue and

01:37

from here select those horizontal holes

01:40

leave the rest of the settings as default and click. OK.

01:46

The bars have been generated,

01:48

make sure to notice how the bars generate at an angle down

01:51

from the feature onto the print bed to avoid the body.

01:56

Great. Now the part is fully supported.

01:59

The final stage is to check the print settings,

02:03

right? Click on the print setting and the setup and click, edit

02:08

the print setting. Editor dialogue will open

02:11

navigate to the support tab of the strong body preset.

02:16

Note

02:17

these support settings have been optimized for the volume support.

02:20

So a few edits will be needed to accommodate the bar supports in the print

02:25

here. Set the number of support perimeters to one

02:29

and the number of support bottom layers to three.

02:33

Finally,

02:34

right, click on the strong body preset

02:36

and make this the default.

02:39

This will mean any bodies on the print bed will use the strong body preset.

02:44

Click OK.

02:46

Generate the tall path

02:50

and then simulate

02:53

using the drag arrow,

02:55

check both the body and support tool paths.

03:04

And once happy select post process to generate the print file.

Video transcript

00:04

In most slices,

00:05

the support structure is generated on slicing

00:08

and the user has little control on the placement and structure itself.

00:13

Fusion's workflow

00:15

offers users more freedom

00:17

in both support placement

00:19

and support structure.

00:22

In this example, supports will be generated for this foosball player

00:28

having created a setup, selected a printer and print setting.

00:33

The next step is to generate support,

00:36

navigate to the support group in the toolbar.

00:40

Here

00:40

there are two support options,

00:43

solid volume

00:44

and solid bar support,

00:47

solid volume support is best for supporting large overhanging areas.

00:52

Whereas solid bar support is ideal for

00:54

bodies with small specific overhanging areas,

00:58

select the solid volume support

01:00

and this opens the volume support dialogue

01:04

here,

01:04

select the individual faces that require support.

01:08

Alternatively,

01:09

the whole model can be selected and supports will be generated for

01:12

the faces whose areas fall below the angle defined by the overhang angle

01:18

click. OK, will create a preview of that support structure.

01:22

This looks good

01:23

but those horizontal holes will also need to be supported

01:27

for these features. Navigate back to the supports toolbar group

01:31

and select solid bar support.

01:35

This opens the bar support dialogue and

01:37

from here select those horizontal holes

01:40

leave the rest of the settings as default and click. OK.

01:46

The bars have been generated,

01:48

make sure to notice how the bars generate at an angle down

01:51

from the feature onto the print bed to avoid the body.

01:56

Great. Now the part is fully supported.

01:59

The final stage is to check the print settings,

02:03

right? Click on the print setting and the setup and click, edit

02:08

the print setting. Editor dialogue will open

02:11

navigate to the support tab of the strong body preset.

02:16

Note

02:17

these support settings have been optimized for the volume support.

02:20

So a few edits will be needed to accommodate the bar supports in the print

02:25

here. Set the number of support perimeters to one

02:29

and the number of support bottom layers to three.

02:33

Finally,

02:34

right, click on the strong body preset

02:36

and make this the default.

02:39

This will mean any bodies on the print bed will use the strong body preset.

02:44

Click OK.

02:46

Generate the tall path

02:50

and then simulate

02:53

using the drag arrow,

02:55

check both the body and support tool paths.

03:04

And once happy select post process to generate the print file.

Note: Additional additive capabilities are available as a Fusion extension.
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