I have a curved part where one visible section needs support. The print is functional, but the supported surface looks rough enough that sanding changes the curve.
I am testing three things separately instead of changing everything at once: slightly different orientation, a larger support Z gap, and interface layers. Rotating the model about 25 degrees already moves most of the ugly area to a less visible edge.
This may be one of those problems where model orientation matters more than slicer magic.
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I think you’re right that model orientation matters more than people want to admit. Support settings are useful, but they’re still working a...
I think you’re right that model orientation matters more than people want to admit. Support settings are useful, but they’re still working against the part’s geometry.
If a 25-degree rotation fixes most of it, that’s a strong sign the geometry is doing the heavy lifting.
That matches what I’ve seen too. Sometimes the best support setting is just a different pose.
It’s annoying, but less annoying than sanding a curved face into the wrong shape.
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I’d test the support Z gap separately from interface layers like you said. Those two can change the underside a lot, but not always in the s...
I’d test the support Z gap separately from interface layers like you said. Those two can change the underside a lot, but not always in the same direction.
Sometimes a bigger gap gives you less scar and worse sag, so it’s worth keeping the tests separate.
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Orientation usually wins here, yeah. If you can move the support contact to a less visible face, that does more than fiddling with the slice...
Orientation usually wins here, yeah. If you can move the support contact to a less visible face, that does more than fiddling with the slicer forever.
Interface layers help, but they can’t always make a supported curve look truly clean.
I’d probably rank the changes the same way: orientation first, then support settings. If the ugly area moves to an edge, that is already a win.
Once the geometry is helping you, the slicer tweaks have a better chance.