<p>PrusaSlicer has <strong>support enforcers</strong> you can place on areas that need support.</p>
<p>See this video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMXfvWA-aY" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Prusa Slicer Support Enforcers</a>.</p>
<h3>Automatic supports</h3>
<p>There are automatic supports, in the <strong>Supports</strong> dropdown menu, select <strong>Everywhere</strong>:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/09AEt.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Supports menu - Everywhere is selected"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/09AEt.png" alt="Supports menu - Everywhere is selected" title="Supports menu - Everywhere is selected" /></a></p>
<p>Click <strong>Yes</strong> in the resulting dialog:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Xvlso.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Click Yes in the dialog"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Xvlso.png" alt="Click Yes in the dialog" title="Click Yes in the dialog" /></a></p>
<p>Click on the <strong>Slice</strong> icon in the bottom left:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/fervx.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Click the Slice icon"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fervx.png" alt="Click the Slice icon" title="Click the Slice icon" /></a></p>
<p>You will end up with a <em>lot</em> of supports:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XWT28.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Resulting print with supports"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XWT28.png" alt="Resulting print with supports" title="Resulting print with supports" /></a></p>
<p>However, this method generally results in too much support...</p>
<h3>Custom Suport Enforcers</h3>
<p>So turn off <strong>Supports</strong> in the drop down menu, select <strong>None</strong>:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ag82L.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Supports menu - None is selected"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ag82L.png" alt="Supports menu - None is selected" title="Supports menu - None is selected" /></a></p>
<p>Now, in the <strong>Print Settings</strong> tab, under <strong>Support Material</strong>, disable <strong>Auto Generated Supports</strong> and enable <strong>Generate Support Material</strong>:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EDA09.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Print Settings - Support Material"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EDA09.png" alt="Print Settings - Support Material settings" title="Print Settings - Support Material" /></a></p>
<p>Then right click on the model and select <strong>Box</strong> from the <strong>Add Support Enforcer</strong> menu item:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/90MJS.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Add Support Enforcer menu"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/90MJS.png" alt="Add Support Enforcer - Box menu" title="Add Support Enforcer menu" /></a></p>
<p>You can move by clicking the <strong>Move</strong> button in the left hand palette,</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MbJWh.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Move button"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MbJWh.png" alt="Move button" title="Move button" /></a></p>
<p>resize by clicking the <strong>Resize</strong> button</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Dtu7r.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Resize button"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Dtu7r.png" alt="Resize button" title="Resize button" /></a></p>
<p>and re-shape the <strong>Box</strong> as necessary, to support the difficult overhanging parts parts only. Here we can see three boxes have been added - pale blue for the previously added boxes and green for the current box:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Rfp9h.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Three Support Enforcer Boxes added"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Rfp9h.png" alt="Three Support Enforcer Boxes added" title="Three Support Enforcer Boxes added" /></a></p>
<p>And a fourth final <strong>Box</strong> for the tail:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mDB4I.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Fourth Support Enforcer Boxes added"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mDB4I.png" alt="Fourth Support Enforcer Boxes added" title="Fourth Support Enforcer Boxes added" /></a></p>
<p>Now, when you hit the <strong>Slice</strong> button, there will be much less support structure than when using Automatic supports:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/oc4sE.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Reduced amount of support structure"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/oc4sE.png" alt="Reduced amount of support structure" title="Reduced amount of support structure" /></a></p>
<p>Parts of the model that the slicer thinks still needs support will be highlighted in dark blue (such as the elbow and back of the head):</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kUqpg.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Unsupported parts highlighted in dark blue"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kUqpg.png" alt="Unsupported parts highlighted in dark blue" title="Unsupported parts highlighted in dark blue" /></a></p>
<p>Add a cylinder support enforcer:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6kUih.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Add Support Enforcer - Cylinder menu"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6kUih.png" alt="Add Support Enforcer - Cylinder menu" title="Add Support Enforcer - Cylinder menu" /></a></p>
<p>Resize and re-shape as before and move into position below the elbow:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7rhWo.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Putting cylinder support enforcer in place"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7rhWo.png" alt="Putting cylinder support enforcer in place" title="Putting cylinder support enforcer in place" /></a></p>
<p>Adding a second cylinder as a support enforcer</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4hZvV.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Putting second cylinder support enforcer in place"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4hZvV.png" alt="Putting second cylinder support enforcer in place" title="Putting second cylinder support enforcer in place" /></a></p>
<p>Upon hitting <strong>Slice</strong>:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/K1Qrp.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Final supports"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/K1Qrp.png" alt="Final supports" title="Final supports" /></a></p>
<p>Now in <strong>Print Settings</strong> - <strong>Support Material</strong> - <strong>Pattern</strong> change it from <strong>Rectilinear</strong> to <strong>Rectilinear Grid</strong>:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/1zJOr.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Print Settings - Support Material - Pattern settings"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1zJOr.png" alt="Print Settings - Support Material - Pattern settings" title="Print Settings - Support Material - Pattern settings" /></a></p>
<p>For prints with curves and details <strong>Rectilinear Grid</strong> works better, than <strong>Rectilinear</strong> (which is fine for supporting a plain cube in the air). It is easier to break the support off the print.</p>
<p>Now save your hard work as an AMF file:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/3pFls.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Save the enforcers as AMF"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/3pFls.png" alt="Save the enforcers as AMF" title="Save the enforcers as AMF" /></a></p>
<p>This file maintains all of the support enforcers so that they can be modified if the actual print needs some adjustments - without having to re-add all of the support enforcers all over again.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-04T07:57:39.147Z
I've updated your answer for you :-)
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-04T08:05:01.983Z
@Greenonline You've been busy! Nice addition to the answer.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-04T08:07:56.243Z
@Greenonline Perhaps it's better to make your own answer when editing that much though...
Jeroen3
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-04T08:13:22.893Z
@Jeroen3, Yes, sorry about that but you found the video and I didn't want to take credit for that... :-) I must admit that when I started adding info I didn't realise that there would be so much of it! I expected only one or two screenshots. Lol. But yes, you are right, for such extensive edits, it would have been better for me to refer to your answer and add the process as my own answer. Ah well, next time I will. Thanks for finding the link anyway... it was a useful learning experience :-)
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-03T06:01:57.700Z
2019-06-04T07:56:24.947Z
2020-06-18T08:29:41.667Z
Jeroen3
<p>Do you have any specific process recommendations to achieve support for the parts hanging above 45 degrees, using open source software?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-03T08:32:40.500Z
Hi VampishWolf, welcome to 3D Printing.SE! Sorry, but this question cannot be answered as SE is not about product recommendation please read [help] and take the [tour]. All slicer software applications are able to do this for you, some are free (e.g. Ultimaker Cura, Slic3r, etc.). It will be a setting in the huge pile of settings to set the support angle. Alternatively you can create the supports in the program you designed the object in or open the model in a program that can add or change the design.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-03T13:34:57.203Z
As it stands your question is a bit broad so could you clarify your question with a specific example, using a model, images, diagram? We can't really recommend software brands, but process recommendation is permitted. BTW, don't any of the other [support structure](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structures) questions answer your question?
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-03T16:30:39.763Z
I thought the slicer software like Cura or Slic3r did that for you, either automatically or with a minimum of effort. There are plenty of youtube videos to walk you thru using either too. In my famity, we (i.e. my wife) are using Cura at the moment. We've only printed 1 part that needed supports so far, it was a file we found on thingiverse and I don't know if it includede the supports or not in the file that she downloaded.
CrossRoads
<3d-design><diy-3d-printer><support-structures><open-source>
How to create supports for the parts hanging above 45 degrees?
VampishWolf
# How to create supports for the parts hanging above 45 degrees?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-03)

Do you have any specific process recommendations to achieve support for the parts hanging above 45 degrees, using open source software?

**Tags:** 3d-design, diy-3d-printer, support-structures, open-source
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi VampishWolf, welcome to 3D Printing.SE! Sorry, but this question cannot be answered as SE is not about product recommendation please read [help] and take the [tour]. All slicer software applications are able to do this for you, some are free (e.g. Ultimaker Cura, Slic3r, etc.). It will be a setting in the huge pile of settings to set the support angle. Alternatively you can create the supports in the program you designed the object in or open the model in a program that can add or change the design.  
> **username_2**: As it stands your question is a bit broad so could you clarify your question with a specific example, using a model, images, diagram? We can't really recommend software brands, but process recommendation is permitted. BTW, don't any of the other [support structure](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structures) questions answer your question?  
> **username_3**: I thought the slicer software like Cura or Slic3r did that for you, either automatically or with a minimum of effort. There are plenty of youtube videos to walk you thru using either too. In my famity, we (i.e. my wife) are using Cura at the moment. We've only printed 1 part that needed supports so far, it was a file we found on thingiverse and I don't know if it includede the supports or not in the file that she downloaded.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-06-03. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

PrusaSlicer has **support enforcers** you can place on areas that need support.

See this video: [Prusa Slicer Support Enforcers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMXfvWA-aY).

### Automatic supports

There are automatic supports, in the **Supports** dropdown menu, select **Everywhere**:

[![Supports menu - Everywhere is selected](https://i.sstatic.net/09AEt.png "Supports menu - Everywhere is selected")](https://i.sstatic.net/09AEt.png "Supports menu - Everywhere is selected")

Click **Yes** in the resulting dialog:

[![Click Yes in the dialog](https://i.sstatic.net/Xvlso.png "Click Yes in the dialog")](https://i.sstatic.net/Xvlso.png "Click Yes in the dialog")

Click on the **Slice** icon in the bottom left:

[![Click the Slice icon](https://i.sstatic.net/fervx.png "Click the Slice icon")](https://i.sstatic.net/fervx.png "Click the Slice icon")

You will end up with a *lot* of supports:

[![Resulting print with supports](https://i.sstatic.net/XWT28.png "Resulting print with supports")](https://i.sstatic.net/XWT28.png "Resulting print with supports")

However, this method generally results in too much support...

### Custom Suport Enforcers

So turn off **Supports** in the drop down menu, select **None**:

[![Supports menu - None is selected](https://i.sstatic.net/ag82L.png "Supports menu - None is selected")](https://i.sstatic.net/ag82L.png "Supports menu - None is selected")

Now, in the **Print Settings** tab, under **Support Material**, disable **Auto Generated Supports** and enable **Generate Support Material**:

[![Print Settings - Support Material settings](https://i.sstatic.net/EDA09.png "Print Settings - Support Material")](https://i.sstatic.net/EDA09.png "Print Settings - Support Material")

Then right click on the model and select **Box** from the **Add Support Enforcer** menu item:

[![Add Support Enforcer - Box menu](https://i.sstatic.net/90MJS.png "Add Support Enforcer menu")](https://i.sstatic.net/90MJS.png "Add Support Enforcer menu")

You can move by clicking the **Move** button in the left hand palette,

[![Move button](https://i.sstatic.net/MbJWh.png "Move button")](https://i.sstatic.net/MbJWh.png "Move button")

resize by clicking the **Resize** button

[![Resize button](https://i.sstatic.net/Dtu7r.png "Resize button")](https://i.sstatic.net/Dtu7r.png "Resize button")

and re-shape the **Box** as necessary, to support the difficult overhanging parts parts only. Here we can see three boxes have been added - pale blue for the previously added boxes and green for the current box:

[![Three Support Enforcer Boxes added](https://i.sstatic.net/Rfp9h.png "Three Support Enforcer Boxes added")](https://i.sstatic.net/Rfp9h.png "Three Support Enforcer Boxes added")

And a fourth final **Box** for the tail:

[![Fourth Support Enforcer Boxes added](https://i.sstatic.net/mDB4I.png "Fourth Support Enforcer Boxes added")](https://i.sstatic.net/mDB4I.png "Fourth Support Enforcer Boxes added")

Now, when you hit the **Slice** button, there will be much less support structure than when using Automatic supports:

[![Reduced amount of support structure](https://i.sstatic.net/oc4sE.png "Reduced amount of support structure")](https://i.sstatic.net/oc4sE.png "Reduced amount of support structure")

Parts of the model that the slicer thinks still needs support will be highlighted in dark blue (such as the elbow and back of the head):

[![Unsupported parts highlighted in dark blue](https://i.sstatic.net/kUqpg.png "Unsupported parts highlighted in dark blue")](https://i.sstatic.net/kUqpg.png "Unsupported parts highlighted in dark blue")

Add a cylinder support enforcer:

[![Add Support Enforcer - Cylinder menu](https://i.sstatic.net/6kUih.png "Add Support Enforcer - Cylinder menu")](https://i.sstatic.net/6kUih.png "Add Support Enforcer - Cylinder menu")

Resize and re-shape as before and move into position below the elbow:

[![Putting cylinder support enforcer in place](https://i.sstatic.net/7rhWo.png "Putting cylinder support enforcer in place")](https://i.sstatic.net/7rhWo.png "Putting cylinder support enforcer in place")

Adding a second cylinder as a support enforcer

[![Putting second cylinder support enforcer in place](https://i.sstatic.net/4hZvV.png "Putting second cylinder support enforcer in place")](https://i.sstatic.net/4hZvV.png "Putting second cylinder support enforcer in place")

Upon hitting **Slice**:

[![Final supports](https://i.sstatic.net/K1Qrp.png "Final supports")](https://i.sstatic.net/K1Qrp.png "Final supports")

Now in **Print Settings** - **Support Material** - **Pattern** change it from **Rectilinear** to **Rectilinear Grid**:

[![Print Settings - Support Material - Pattern settings](https://i.sstatic.net/1zJOr.png "Print Settings - Support Material - Pattern settings")](https://i.sstatic.net/1zJOr.png "Print Settings - Support Material - Pattern settings")

For prints with curves and details **Rectilinear Grid** works better, than **Rectilinear** (which is fine for supporting a plain cube in the air). It is easier to break the support off the print.

Now save your hard work as an AMF file:

[![Save the enforcers as AMF](https://i.sstatic.net/3pFls.png "Save the enforcers as AMF")](https://i.sstatic.net/3pFls.png "Save the enforcers as AMF")

This file maintains all of the support enforcers so that they can be modified if the actual print needs some adjustments - without having to re-add all of the support enforcers all over again.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I've updated your answer for you :-)  
> **username_1**: @Greenonline You've been busy! Nice addition to the answer.  
> **username_4**: @Greenonline Perhaps it's better to make your own answer when editing that much though...  
> **username_2**: @Jeroen3, Yes, sorry about that but you found the video and I didn't want to take credit for that... :-) I must admit that when I started adding info I didn't realise that there would be so much of it! I expected only one or two screenshots. Lol. But yes, you are right, for such extensive edits, it would have been better for me to refer to your answer and add the process as my own answer. Ah well, next time I will. Thanks for finding the link anyway... it was a useful learning experience :-)  

---

