Cura Support Settings: Overhang Angle - To Support or Not to Support

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How do the Cura support settings even work?! When do I need to add supports to my 3D prints? How can I tell what my support overhang angle is?

In this video, I'll answer the above questions and more as we start the the first step to understanding how supports in cura work. Cura slicer settings for supports can be frustrating and confusing at times. Especially when you're not quite sure what setting to change and how it will affect the print. Since this is such a loaded topic I’m going to break this into a few videos and talk all things 3D print supports.

This particular video will help you understand the first thing you need to know before you even add supports - how to figure out how much of an angle your printer can print before needing cura supports.

So the first step is to print an overhang test to see what our magic number is. You can download the overhang test here on Thingiverse

Once we know our number we then know what our support overhang angle is.

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Want to Skip ahead? Here are the chapters to help you:
00:00 - Introduction
1:20 - Support Overhang Angle
2:30 - Reviewing Overhang Test Print
3:51 - Getting Settings to Display
4:38 - Understanding your Support Overhang Angle
5:30 - Setting your Support Overhang Angle
6:30 - End
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3D print Slicer I use:

My Cura Slicer Setting Video:

3D Printers I own and recommend:

FDM Printers I Own
Creality Ender 3:
Creality Ender 3 Pro:
Creality CR-10s:

SLA Printer
EPAX E10 8K 10.1" Screen Resin Printer:

The Epax Hard Resin I use:

Wash and Cure Station:

Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro Upgrades:
Glass Bed:
Capricorn Bowden Tube:
Ender 3 Pro Silent Motherboard:

Tools I use for 3D Printing:
Get Perfect Bed Level:
Glue Sticks for Adhesion:
Small Pliers Set to Remove Supports:

DISCLAIMER: This video is not sponsored. Some of the links are affiliate links in which I will receive a small commission.

[ProgramerGeek]

Underrated channel. Just finished my custom profile for my Ender3Max and now I need to work on supports and tuning those in so they turn out great. Really look forward to your future videos and I’m glad this popped up on my YouTube recommendation list.

[larryfroot]

Great video, excellent content, perfectly pitched at my newbie to intermediate level. I'll be sure to start at the beginning of your Cura series and go through them, one by one. I have a fair idea of what's happening but you really help me understand important settings and details I would otherwise have missed. Thank you, you are a natural educator.

[stevenhyde]

Hi Chris, I`m Steve, watched a few of your Cura vids, utterly brilliant, very very informative, please keep it up mate, thank you....

[toddavedtube]

best explanation of support angle, thank you!

[cbobka]

Thank you for your time and info. You have helped me out alot as Im very new to 3d priinting and looking at Cura and trying to use and learn it was looking overwhelming but now I have watched your first three videos and I have learned a great deal. I thank you and will continue to watch your content. My printer (Longer lk5 Pro) came with an sd card with some prints on them as now that I'm learning what to look for and adjust, I think my prints will be even better with the assurance of testing one at a time like you suggested. Thank You for your tremendous help. I wish you health, wealth, and happiness.

[emilcost]

I am a little confused. It looks like angles way past 50 print really well. I'll have to try that calibration print on my FLSun SR. The last time I printed that was on my Ender S1, and it didn't go to well past 50. I love your channel. You have a natural talent for teaching. Great work!

[MalevolenceX]

Would I need to test the overhead angle supports with different types of filaments? I'm still a beginner, but I've learned that different types of filament, even different colors of PLA require different temps (thanks to your previous video and researching transparent prints). Would I just need to learn the angle for the printer itself and the temps for the different filaments?

[jbreezy]

I stumbled across your channel just wanted to say two things great content first and foremost. The second thing I wanted to say is I am not sure if it's the editing or the actual camera that you are using but even at 2k there's a noticeable amount of noise in the videos like soft grain.

[FredBohle]

I watched all your support videos, and have a problem still. When I try to remove my supports, the model I am printing comes apart. Please help. Talk about settings to make a strong model that will hold together.

[maxortega]

my brother just got a 3D printer and printed the overhang test with full supports and was bragging his printer was better than mine and I was laughing so hard.

[RandalTurnerMKULTRA]

I wish Qidi and Cura had all the same settings! still not sure how to use Cura with Qidi as it doesn't have an option for the printer :-/

[ShinesMonkey]

Great video! Question, does infill density make a difference? One of the downloads for this test recommends choosing 100% infill, which, of course, I would not normally be using on a model. Thanks.

[Andyroo]

Does it add the supports automatically?

[Select-Start]

ok two questions but first great video, thanks.
I am printing the thing now but I know my angle is going to be way bad like maybe 20 degrees if I am lucky, Printer prints good but soon as I introduce an angle I get garbage!
Is there something I can tweak in Cura? or is this cause my printer is sh.. I mean cheap?

[lucasscott]

I use cura. My tree supports are not printing high enough for my prints. I used them once and they printed fine then my next print it printed near it but not touching it. Even in cura preview it shows it not touching the actual print. Anyone know why and how to fix?

[izwanmohd]

my ender 3 v2 can handle overhang well in-front, side (Left/Right) but not at the back side with it is very puzzling for me :D

[Kaiokikaider]

So I just got a v400 and i did this test and all except 60 were good. Even my 70 was good. Any idea why that is? 15, 30, 45, 75 all solid, but 60 is brittle?

[GurkenkoenigZ]

At 0:40 i have a tip for you. Dont stick them in ;)

[stevemiller]

@4:12 "ALL you have to do is check the ones you want in the side panel." HOW DO I KNOW which ones I want in the side panel?
-- Where is the class on learning the things the other viewers apparently knew before they started this video? Please.