Prusa 2.6 3D Slicer demonstrates the power of open source contributions - tree supports

Prusa Slicer is another fantastic example of the strength of open-source software.  The Prusa Slicer 2.6 release showed out-of-the-box thinking that can significantly impact 3D print times and simplify trimming and post-processing. My favorite new feature is tree supports where the program takes an intelligent approach to building supports for overhangs and spans that are too big to be printed over nothing but air.

Video

3D Model Used

Supports

Prusa Slicer 2.5 supported the printing of removable supports when rendering longer spans over open spaces.  The molten filament will droop as it crosses from one support to another. The best practice guidance is to use supports for any angle over 45 degrees.

The green zig-zag is the removable support material. They are dense and can be difficult to remove. The end result is that the final print can have a lot of places that may need minor touchups. The zig-zag ends can have a bit more filament as it moves in one direction and then moves over and back in the opposite direction.

This is the same party using Prusa Slicer 2.6 tree supports. The support layout algorithm minimizes the amount of contact  on the bottom edge and fans out at the top to touch as many overhanging wedges as needed. Some of the support bases are outside of the box area. These supports are very easy to remove and do not affect the bottom surface or the quality of the side.

This is the same part with tree supports enabled. You can see that large portions of the bottom surface are not touched which reduces cleanup.

Here we have an inverted view with the bottom sliced off.  You can see how the tree supports branch out at the top to touch as many places as required on the overhang while minimizing the number of touchpoints on the bottom surface.

Video


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Created 2023 06

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