Z Distance Support Examples

Had a random idea to make a plate of test models to feel the difference in removal and see the effects of different levels of support Z distance, both top and bottom. So I drew up a shape that includes some extra geometry as compared to some of the others out there, including rounded edges, thin floating parts, as well as a square and round hole.

The intent is to pull these off the plate then sit and try to pull the supports off. Use this as a means to judge how difficult they are to remove and the quality of the supported area that they leave behind.

There's nine on each plate, one with a 0.0 distance and then eight with values ranging from 0.10 to 0.24 in 0.02 increments.

Plate 1 “Normal Supports” generates classic boxy supports, Plate 2 “Tree Supports” generates tree supports.

Each model has only three values forced to it, the type of support and then top and bottom Z distance as it's labelled.

You can change global values if you'd like, like normal supports using either grid or snug style, interface density or orientation, etc. These values should carry through to the test models so long as the support type (normal vs tree) matches their forced values.

You can enable or disable any of them that you'd like by clicking the check box on the right of the object name. It's probably safe to say that 0.0 won't work and 0.10 and 0.24 are not going to work the best, but you don't know until you try, every type of filament behaves differently!

If you've already got a pretty good idea what distance you want to use, perhaps doing that one and one on each side of it then playing with things like the orientation of the interface layer could help you really dial in the best supports for you next big print.

Take a careful look at the Preview tab to further understand what went right and wrong with your tests. Sometimes little changes make a big difference!

The solid infill and walls running along the X axis look great but the walls running along the Y axis don't.

But changing the interface angle to 45° gives them much more even support!