Bar support properties reference

Bar supports connect two points, one on the part, and the other one either somewhere else on the same or a different part or on the platform. As such, bars only support single points. Bars may be created as volume-less single-path entities or solid voluminous ones. Bars may also be connected into bouquets that merge multiple bars into tree-like structures which terminate in single trunks at their bottom end.

Bar contour		Notes
Bar contour	The type of cross-section the bar support should have.	Cross Solid Bar Solid Cross Hatch
Polygon corner	Determines the number of corners for the solid bar. The more corners, the more rounded the bar's cross section becomes.	3-15 Applies to Solid Bar only
Angle at top	When set beyond 0, a pointy end is added to the normally blunt end that terminates evenly in the part surface. Note: This point intrudes into the part mesh, so you may want to also work with Distance to part to reduce or avoid unwanted duplication of toolpath at the intersection.	0-60 ° Applies to Cross and Hatch only
Crosswidth	Determines the thickness of the contours for the solid cross.	0.01-20.00 mm
Radial type	Used to create solid bars with oval cross-sections. It aligns the oval cross section by the semi-major axis with either X or Y axis, or radially away from the supported object's outbox's center:	X, Y, Outbox center Applies to Solid Bar only
Radial factor	Used to create solid bars with oval cross-sections. Makes the semi-major axis as long as the semi-minor axis times this factor.	100-200 % Applies to Solid Bar only
Hatch angle	Determines the direction of hatch-type bar support. A direction of 0 ° aligns the ribbon-like bars parallel to the Y axis, and higher values rotate this direction clockwise.	0-360 ° Applies to Hatch and Cross only
Distance to part	Defines the distance between part and support. A negative value makes supports intrude into the part mesh. You can use this in conjunction with Angle at top to achieve a calculated contact patch, for instance. To calculate the appropriate value, use this simple trigonometry formula: Distance to part (negative) = (desired spot diameter - Width on end) * (Breaking point width - Width on end) / Height on end
Width on part	Determines the contour width for bar ends that terminate on a part surface.
Width on bottom part	Determines the contour width for bar ends that terminate on a part surface at their lower end.	This is optional. To disable defining a separate width for the lower end of a bar, set this to -1.
Width on platform	Determines the contour width for bar ends that terminate on the build platform surface.
Breaking point	Generates a section where the bar narrows and expands to create a defined breaking point near the part surface, making it easier to remove supports from the part later on.	Notes
Breaking point	Toggles creation of breaking points.
Breaking point width	Defines the diameter of the bar at the breaking point.
Width on end	Determines the diameter of the bar past the breaking point where it attaches to the part surface.
Breaking point height	Determines the length of the breaking point itself.
Height on start	Determines the length over which the breaking point reduces to its narrowest point.
Height on end	Determines the length over which the bar should narrow towards the breaking point, as seen from the part surface.
Right angle on part	Determines whether bars should have a small curve to terminate in a right angle at the supported surface, rather than terminating at whatever angle they would otherwise do.
Distance to right angle	Determines the distance away from the supported surface after which the bar should start to curve towards the other end.
Smoothing distance	Determines the length of subdivisions that form the curve. The shorter the section, the finer the curve is resolved, resulting in a smoother transition but also increased triangle count.
Pad on platform	A pad is a widened cross section at the platform end of a bar support to reinforce adhesion to the platform surface	Notes
Pad on platform	Toggles pad creation.
Pad width	Determines the width of the created pad.
Pad height	Determines the height of the created pad.
Use density map	Applies information provided by a 3D heatmap to lighten or strengthen structures locally.