I was wondering if anybody had a fix for a problem I have been having when a layer is printing on top of support layers (you can from the image the layers in the red circles. Every time the first layer is printed on op of the support layers the layer is very stringy and not solid. I've tried adding extra solid layers on top and bottom and also tried the desne settings, but still getting the same result. Any help would be really appreciated
Thanks.
If you really want a nice layer on top of the the support, then the best thing to do is print the support structures using a different material. For example, using PVA supports for a PLA print. That's the ultimate way to get them looking really nice, and I think S3D actually has a video about doing exactly that and why it works so well
When printing on top of support S3D will use bridging (as in printing in mid-air). When bridging, the solid infill above the support is subject to bridging overrides (under Other, Bridging in Process Settings) - these enable alteration of speed and extrusion in order to best print above nothing or support.
To clean up messy bridging (as indicated in the photos), slower speeds and lower extrusion generally yield the best results (in my experience). Try starting with 65% extrusion and 60% speed and see how that works. This setting works very well for me with ABS, PLA, and PETG. You want to stretch the filament so that it doesn't sag during bridging (lower extrusion volume), but you don't want it to fail to stick to the perimeters on either side, thus the lower speed.
As to why you'd want to bridge over support, support below an object is typically printed with a 1-layer gap. This is so that the support can be removed. If there's no gap between the support and the object itself then removal becomes quite difficult.
Bridging is always thin, but it shouldn't be a saggy, curly , non-uniform mess, if done right.
Thanks for the replies was hoping it wasn't just a case of buying dissolvable filament, but I shall have a look at the bridging settings and see if that improves the print. I did reset the whole of simplify3d and started with default settings and it is quite a lot better than before (from the pictures) but still not as good as it could be. My support used to stick to my prints too, like it was part of the actual print, but again, since resetting S3D they do come away nice and clean. Moral of the story I think, is try not to play god when it comes to S3D, default is good enough
