Add a Solid Bar Support structure

  1. Ensure that you have an additive setup with an FFF additive machine selected.

  2. In the Manufacture workspace, click Additive > Supports > Solid Bar Support solid bar support icon.

    The Solid Bar Support dialog opens.

  3. With Supported Model active, on the canvas, click the solid bodies, the faces of solid bodies, or the mesh face groups that you want supported.

    Tip: To prevent supports generating at certain areas, select the Avoid checkbox, ensure Avoided Model is active, and then, on the canvas, click the solid bodies, the faces of solid bodies, or the mesh face groups.
  4. Enter a Support Overhang Angle between 0 degrees and 90 degrees to specify the angle from the horizontal plane at which supports are needed.

    support overhang angle example

  5. In the General tab, choose an Anchor Density to specify the compactness of the bar supports.

    anchor density example

    Example of Sparse (left) and Dense (right) anchor densities.

  6. Choose a Tree Structure to specify the size of the branching for bouquets.

    tree structure example

    Example of None (left) and Medium (right).

  7. In the Bar Properties tab, choose options for Bar Size, Bar Shape, and Breakpoint to specify how thick the supports are, determine the cross-sectional shape of the supports, and decide where the supports should break off from the part.

  8. Optional steps:

    • To enforce a distance between these supports and any other existing supports so that they do not overlap, in the Geometry tab, select the Distance to Other Support checkbox, and then enter a Distance.
    • To decide where supports should or should not be generated, in the General tab, in the Bars on Supported Model group, select or deselect the checkboxes.
    • To force the bar supports to project vertically down, rather than allow them to project at an angle, in the General tab, deselect the Project Bar to Platform checkbox. Note: This reduces the number of bar supports that contact the print bed.
    • To allow bars to form tapered groups, in the General tab, select the Groups checkbox. Adjust the number of bars per group and the group taper.
    • To provide braces for the bars to limit buckling, in the General tab, select the Braces checkbox.
    • To prevent a thickening of the supports at the print bed, in the Bar Properties tab, deselect the Pad on Platform checkbox.
  9. Click OK.

    The supports are generated and, in the Browser, under the Supports node, a Solid Bar Support child item is added.

    Tip: To reuse these support settings in the future, right-click the child item and choose Store as Template to add it to the Template Library.

You can now generate, and then simulate, the additive toolpath. Parameters describing how the supports get built are located in the Print Setting Editor.

Note: This feature is available only when you select a machine with additive FFF capabilities.