Support Settings

What are Supports?

Supports are temporary structures printed beneath overhanging parts of your model. They provide a foundation for the printer to build upon, then are removed after printing. Without supports, overhanging geometry would droop or fail to print correctly.

Support Types

Normal Support

Traditional grid or line-based supports that grow from the build plate or model surfaces.

Tree Support

Organic branch-like supports that grow from the build plate and reach overhangs efficiently.

Raft

A horizontal platform printed beneath the entire model for better adhesion.

When to Use Supports

Overhang Angle	Support Needed?	Notes
0-45°	Usually no	Most printers handle this well
45-60°	Maybe	Depends on cooling and material
60-90°	Usually yes	Without support, severe drooping
Bridges	Depends	Short bridges (<50mm) often work without

Support Comparison

Type	Best For	Pros	Cons
Normal	Simple overhangs, mechanical parts	Reliable, fast to generate	Uses more material, harder to remove
Tree	Organic models, figurines	Easy removal, less scarring	Slower to slice, may be less stable
Organic	Complex organic shapes	Minimal support material	Requires careful settings

Support Interface

Support interface layers are dense layers between the support structure and the model surface. They provide a smooth surface for the model to print on while still being removable.

Top interface: Layers between support and model (most important)
Bottom interface: Layers between model and support on top
Interface pattern: Usually rectilinear or concentric for smooth surface

Pro Tip: Use OrcaSlicer's support painting tools to manually add or remove supports in specific areas. This gives you precise control over where supports are placed.