Supporting a model in PreForm

Support structures reinforce overhangs and other delicate features. They should be removed after the print is complete. If a model is entirely self-supporting, then it can be printed directly on the build platform without the need for supports.

Open several files to work on multiple projects in the same job.

Supports can be auto-generated or added manually. Adding more supports increases the likelihood of print success, but also increases the amount of post-processing work.

1. Open models in PreForm.
2. Click Supports. A dialog box opens.
3. If you have no models selected, click Auto-Generate All. Supports are added to all models on the build platform. Otherwise, if you have one or more models selected, click Auto-Generate Selected. Supports are added to the selected models.

For select resins and layer thicknesses on Form 4 and Form 4L generation printers, use alternative support generation presets for more flexibility and control without having to edit advanced parameters.

1. Open models in PreForm.
2. Click Supports. A dialog box opens.
3. Select your desired preset from the dropdown.
• Default (Supports V1 or Supports V2): Recommended preset for most applications.
• Smaller Touchpoints (Supports V1): Generates smaller touchpoints to preserve surface finish and fine details. This requires increasing touchpoint density to fully support the models, also resulting in greater accuracy for supported surfaces.
• Reduced Density (Supports V1): Generates fewer touchpoints for easier support removal.
4. If you have no models selected, click Auto-Generate All. Supports are added to all models on the build platform. Otherwise, if you have one or more models selected, click Auto-Generate Selected. Supports are added to the selected models.
5. Alpha/Beta (Supports V2): Get higher quality, more reliable parts with less work. Supports V2 cuts dimensional inaccuracy in half and uses 50% smaller touchpoints for a smooth finish, ensuring assemblies fit perfectly. A new crushable lattice structure makes support removal fast, easy, and less likely to damage your part.

Alternative support generation presets are available for the following resins and layer thicknesses:

If some parts of a model are highlighted in red as undersupported, add individual supports:

1. Select the model in PreForm. Manipulators are overlaid on the model.
2. Click Supports. A dialog box opens.
3. Click Touchpoints Placements. The panel expands.
4. Click Manual Placement. PreForm switches to manual touchpoint placement mode. The model turns gray, and support touchpoints are shown as green dots.
5. Click on the under-supported areas highlighted in red to add a touchpoint.
6. Add multiple touchpoints by clicking and dragging your cursor across an under-supported area. Green touchpoints appear where clicked. Use Brush Radius and Spacing tools to change the size of the brush and the spacing between touchpoints.
7. Click Generate Geometry. Supports are regenerated and remaining undersupported areas are highlighted in red.
• Click Discard Edits > Discard to revert your changes.
8. Repeat until the model is fully supported.

To delete a touchpoint:

1. Select the model in PreForm. Manipulators are overlaid on the model.
2. Click Supports. A dialog box opens.
3. Click Touchpoints Placements. The panel expands.
4. Click Manual Placement. PreForm switches to manual touchpoint placement mode. The model turns gray, and support touchpoints are shown as green dots.
5. Click Select & Edit. The supports brush switches modes and the red spacing circle disappears.
6. Hover over an existing touchpoint with the pointer. The touchpoint turns red.
7. Click on the red touchpoint. The touchpoint disappears.
8. Click Generate Structure. Supports are regenerated and the selected touchpoint is removed.

Select several touchpoints at a time to apply the same edits to a group. To edit multiple touchpoints:

1. Select the model in PreForm. Manipulators are overlaid on the model.
2. Click Supports. A dialog box opens.
3. Click Touchpoints Placements. The panel expands.
4. Click Manual Placement. PreForm switches to manual touchpoint placement mode. The model turns gray, and support touchpoints are shown as green dots.
5. Click Select & Edit. The supports brush switches modes and the red spacing circle disappears.
6. To select multiple touchpoints, do one of the following:
• Click-and-drag the pointer to select multiple touchpoints. The selected touchpoints turn blue.
• Hold the SHIFT key and click multiple touchpoints, one at a time. The selected touchpoints turn blue.
7. To edit, do one of the following:
• Enter a number into the Touchpoint Size field.
• Click an arrow in the Touchpoint Size field.
• Hover the pointer over the Touchpoint Size field and use the scroll wheel.
8. To delete, do one of the following:
• Press the Delete key.
• Press the Backspace key.
9. Click Generate Structure. Supports are regenerated.

Normally, PreForm removes supports when you rotate a model. If you need or would like your touchpoints to remain while you adjust the orientation of a model, you can have PreForm preserve those touchpoint locations.

To preserve touchpoint locations through small orientation changes:

1. Generate supports for your model.
2. In the Model List, click the touchpoint icon labeled Do not automatically generate supports next to the model. The icon turns blue when selected and the label changes to Preserve contact locations and automatically generate supports.
3. Rotate the model. As you rotate the model, touchpoints that can still be used with the new orientation are shown in green. Touchpoints that cannot be used, such as those that are now facing upward, are shown in red.
4. After you finish rotating the model, PreForm regenerates support structures using the remaining valid touchpoints. If the model is now undersupported, you may need to add more touchpoints.

After supporting your model for maximum printability, save your work as a FORM file to keep changes to the support settings.