Support Generation Settings Glossary

In NexaX 2.8 and later, there are two separate sets of custom support settings: Pillar and Scaffold support. For an overview of the support generation tool in general, take a look at our Generating Supports article.

Pillar Custom Support Settings

Screenshot__20_.png

General

Overhang Angle (°) - Dictates the maximum angle between the surface and the build plate.

Support in Shell - If toggled on, supports will generate inside of hollowed parts

Distance to Build Plate (mm) - Dictates the height between the lowest point of the model and the build plate

Cross-Section Shape - This dropdown allows the user to choose the shape of the support tips, pillars and bases (Circle, Square or Octagon)

Density

Tip Distance (mm) - Dictates the minimum horizontal distance between each contact tip

Pillar Distance (mm) - Changes the minimum horizontal distance between each pillar

Contact Tip Settings

Screenshot__6__copy.png

Contact Tip Diameter (mm) - Determines the diameter at the end of the contact tip

Contact Tip Length (mm)- Dictates the maximum length of the contact tip

Max Angle from Pillar (°) - Dictates the maximum angle between the contact tip and its respective pillar

Enable Ball Point - When toggled on, adds a spherical tip to the end of the contact tip, which can help prevent pits left in touch points during post-processing.

Ball Point Diameter (mm) - If the ball point is enabled, this slider dictates the size of the diameter of the ball point tip.

Contact Tip Depth (mm) - This slider changes the depth that the tip will penetrate into the part.

Pillar Settings

Screenshot__7_.png

Top Diameter (mm) - Determines the diameter at the top of the pillar where it meets the base of the contact tip

Bottom Diameter (mm) - Changes the diameter at the bottom of the pillar

Minimum Space from Model (mm) - Adjusts the minimum horizontal distance between the pillar and the body of the model itself

Maximum Distance from Contact Tip (mm) - Changes the maximum distance away that the pillar can generate from the contact point

Enable Cross Bracing - This switch toggles on and off cross braces that generate between the pillars to reinforce each other, which can add extra stability but takes slightly more material.

Base Contact Points (Part-to-Part) - "Part-to-Part" support pillars (e.g. supports that connect one section of a printed part to another) can have multiple contact points at the base of the support pillar. This slider changes the amount of contact points.

Raft Settings

Screenshot__9_.png

Enable Raft - This toggle switch enables the software to generate a raft that connects the supports together for better build plate adherence. Rafts create a more stable bond, but can take up more material.

Raft Type - Two types of raft can be generated can be chosen from this dropdown menu: Platform, or Interconnected. Platform creates a full raft with a chamfered edge for a strong bond with easier removal. Interconnected minimizes the raft footprint while trying to maintain a strong bond to the build plate without the chamfered edge.

Raft Area (%) - This dictates the size of the generated raft in comparison to the silhouette of the model on the build plate (which is 100%). It can size down to 50% and up to 150%

Raft Thickness (mm) - This slider adjusts the height of the raft in millimeters

 

Scaffold Custom Support Settings

Screenshot__26_.png

Contact

Contact tip width (mm)- Changes the width of the contact tip that touches the part

Contact width (mm) - Changes the width of the contact where it meets the beam

Inner Point Influence Radius (mm) - Changes the influence radius of the inner (non-edge) support points

Edge point influence radius (mm) - Changes the influence radius of the internal edge support points

Contact Length (mm) - Changes the length of the contact beams (the beams that attach the scaffolding to the part)

Contact Penetration (mm) - Changes the penetration depth of the contact beams into the part

X/Y Offset (mm) - Changes the distance of the final support beam. The supports must be cleared and regenerated in order for this setting to be applied!

 

Middle

Beam thickness (mm) - Adjusts the thickness of the beams in the scaffolding structure

Unit Cell Size (mm) - Changes size of the single unit of of the scaffolding grid

Base

Rim Height (mm) - Changes the height of the footprint plate below the scaffold support structure

Bar Raft Thickness (mm) - Thickening of the bottom part of the bars that are not attached to the rim, measured in fraction of the beam thickness

 

Other

Critical Overhang Angle (degrees) - Changes the critical angle of the area of support. Any surface of the model with an angle lower than the critical angle will be supported.

Build Plate Distance (mm) - Distance between the bottom of the model and the build plate plane

Silhouette Distance (mm) - Adjusts the footprint of the scaffolding grid to be within the set distance of the silhouette of the model.

Maximum Overhang Distance (mm) - Supports will not be generated for overhangs smaller than this distance setting

Minimum Distance to Part (mm) - Scaffolding grid will not be closer to the part than this distance setting

 

Updated

Was this article helpful?

0 out of 0 found this helpful

Have more questions? Submit a request

Comments

0 comments

Article is closed for comments.