MeshMixer Automatic Supports
Difficulty: Intermediate
Objective: Use the software, Autodesk Meshmixer, to automatically apply better supports for printing.
What are Supports?
Supports are extra printed material that are separated from the model after printing. Their purpose is to keep the model stable and give the printer something to print on since a printer can't print on air. Supports are what makes a 3D printing affordable and what will drive you mad. Being able to do good supports is the most valued skill in consumer 3D printing in my opinion.
For more information on supports see this post:
http://3dprintingninja.blogspot.com/2014/10/supports.html
For more information on supports see this post:
http://3dprintingninja.blogspot.com/2014/10/supports.html
Steps Before Adding the Supports:
- Create your model, check for non-manifolds (this can be done in Autodesk Meshmixer- >Analysis-->Inspector). See: http://3dprintingninja.blogspot.com/2014/07/non-manifolds-your-worst-nightmare.html
- Scale and Orient your object (Autodesk Meshmixer-->Edit-->Transform). If possible it would be wise to import your model already properly scaled into Meshmixer. Otherwise the supports will be disproportional to your model upon adding them.
Supports via Meshmixer?
- Autodesk Meshmixer-->Analysis-->Overhangs)
- Select your printer - This will default many of the values for you
- This determines where to put the support. 45 is a normal value, I would not suggest going over 60
- This is how easy the support will be to break off the model. I recommend .4mm. The smaller the value the easier it will be to break off, but also the less likely it will print correctly.
- This is basically how many supports
- This is how thick the support will be. This depends on how high your support is. The higher or more angled a support the bigger thickness required. See the post on the Wiggle Theorem...
- This is what will be printed onto the bed for the support. I think the bigger the better on this option if material cost isn't an issue.
- There are controls which I skipped because they aren't that important. To learn more about them follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFTyTV3wwsE Otherwise push generate support.
- If you are happy with it then push convert to a solid.
- Export your file to be printed. (Both steps 9 and 10 can take a long, long time. It may appear as if the program is frozen. I recommend minimizing the window and working on something else or taking a break and come back to it)
- If you are not happy then you can push remove support, and repeat the above steps by tweaking the settings.
Most Likely at Step 8,
You will find that the supports generated are not quite right. Luckily, Meshmixer allows you to add and delete your choice of supports. I rarely do not delete and add a few of my own supports to the model.
- To add a support, click and drag the mouse. I recommend starting in a blue are or at a previous support. While adding the support you will notice that the color of the support will change from green to yellow to red. Green is go, stay in the green. Otherwise if it is red it probably won't print.
- To delete a support, ctrl+click
- You can also have multiple sizes of supports. For example you can start by adding a thicker supports. And then redo the process but with smaller supports
Conclusion
Although this process may seem difficult, it will save you frustration of taking off the supports. It is not a perfect method, however it is constantly improving and in my opinion the best method of adding supports without fully customizing each support yourself.
When Adding Supports...
- Make sure that there is open space between the model and the support, otherwise your model will fuse with the support. It is not a huge deal, only that you will need to cut off the support.
- If you make the supports too small it will jam the printer, depending on the printer.
Examples of the need to use Meshmixer
This was a Cathedral that was being printed by floors. As you can seen the 2nd floor failed to print as the angle at the tops of the window was too steep to print. Therefore supports need to be added. If this was done with the printer's automatic supports, it would be a mess of supports. With Meshmixer, you can nicely add a few supports.
Let me know your thoughts:
And as always thanks for visiting,
The 3D Printing Ninja
3DNinjaneer@gmail.com
Category: 3D Printing Preparation, Autodesk MeshMixer, Basics, Intermediate, Supports, Tricks & Tips
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