Support Structures

Most prints can be done with zero support material. There is often a way to design any object so that it can be done without support. However, some tricky shapes can be made far easier with supports.

With the Solidoodle printer, supports usually manifest as columns of ABS built up around the print. Our software makes it easy to create and remove such supports.

Support Structures are handled differently in Skeinforge and Slic3r. Support material on the Solidoodle is easily applied, and is generally easy to remove.
Go here for official documentation on the subject:
http://fabmetheus.crsndoo.com/wiki/index.php/Skeinforge_Raft#Support
To add supports in Skeinforge, follow these steps:

1) Open Skeinforge
2) Go to raft.
3) Click on Enable support cross hatch.
4) Under support material, choose "everywhere" - this will generate support material for overhangs, the most common situation.

Support material in Slic3r is described here:
https://github.com/alexrj/Slic3r/wiki/Online-Help#wiki-support_material_section_label
Nominally, all one must do is check the "Generate Support Material" square under support material.

slic3r.png
Option Description Default
overhang threshold: Threshold for overhangs in degrees* 45
enforce support for the first: Enforce support material on the specified number of layers from bottom, regardless of —support-material and threshold (0+)** 0
raft layers: Number of layers to raise the printed objects by (range: 0+) 0
pattern: Selects the spacing between instances of the pattern in mm* Rectilinear
pattern spacing: Selects the spacing between instances of the pattern in mm* 2.5 mm
pattern angle: Angle at which the pattern is drawn* 0
interface layers: Number of perpendicular layers between support material and object** 3
interface pattern spacing: Spacing between interface pattern lines (mm, set 0 to get a solid layer)** 0

*Taken from Slic3r's overview of its support material options on its online help.
** https://github.com/alexrj/Slic3r

In the situation shown above, once the toggle is switched, then the print should have support material in all situations where there is a 45o overhang. However, some users have given reports that the support material works inconsistently. You may have to experiment with the settings here a bit yourself to get things working properly.

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