Tree supports falling over when not on build plate

Flagship K Series General Discussions
1

I have a print that needs supports which can not be on the build plate. They keep falling over before they actually support anything. Could anyone suggest a setting(s) that might help this without sticking to the print so bad they hurt it?

2

Maybe you want to share the model so we can have a look at it. Or make a screenshot after slicing the model to see how the support looks like…

I always try to design the model the way is can be printed easily, less support needed the better…

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3

I’ve had the same thing happen to me when a support is needed on a top layer of the part. They never stick no matter what I’ve tried. I had to reorient the part to print it upright which messes with the bottom part of the print. Any suggestions for getting them to stick on top layer of a part? I’ll upload a picture of the part I’m printing when I get home and don’t get too involved with the Starfield update that drops today.

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4

This has been an ongoing issue. It is not just one model. Here is a pic of the latest model with problems.

20260406_173427
20260406_1734272469Ă—1791 468 KB

I know it just looks like a self watering flower pot, but there is a little more going on inside. As such, there isn’t much opportunity for changes, even in orientation. The issue for this model is on the blue lip just above the water entrance.
As I mentioned earlier, this isn’t just one model, it comes up from time to time. I have been experimenting with “Tree support Branch Diameter” and “Minimum Support Contact Area”. It makes far more support than needed, but I can make the bottom of the support large enough that it merges with other supports and becomes more stable. i dont’ really quite have it working reliably yet.

I am thinking something like “Tree support Branch Diameter”, but only at the base. When supporting from the print bed, you can gain extra stability by increasing “First Layer Expansion”. something like that, but for internal supports would be ideal.

5

For as far as I can see on the photos there is no need for support if you make little changes to the design.

For example… the first object needs support, the second one supports itself…

Support_NoSupport_with_45degree_angle
Support_NoSupport_with_45degree_angle318Ă—247 5.16 KB

What software do you use to design or did you just download the file?

6

I did it in tinkercad. I understand your premise, but I do not see how to get that shape onto an area that is supposed to allow water flow. The support issue is not on the outside. It is on the inside. I suppose I could insert permanent “struts” and leave gaps between them for the water flow. A moot point for this design. I only needed one of them. Even though the print was rough, it works.

Truth be told, sometimes supports are needed. I’m trying to figure out how to deal with them when that occurs.

7

… why ask for a solution is you are already satisfied in the outcome and are not going to print another one?

Like a said earlier, with a few small changes this object should be printable without support, but you need to think a little out of the box…

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I’m not looking for a one-off solution. This happens all the time in all kinds of functional designs. I was just using this as an example because it is a functional design and can not be altered easily (or at all?). to be specific, I’m not trying to dodge supports. Sometimes they are useful, sometimes they can be avoided. The issue is support stability when the support can not rest on the build plate.