Bambu Labs PLA Support Filament - Worth the hassle?

[@Yggdrasil42]

I'd love to see you try it again, but only as an interface layer. It's not meant to be used for the actual supports. Not strong enough, which may explain your failed prints.

[@mikejackson9585]

I think it's intended to be used as an interface layer only. I don't think it's strong enough to print full long supports well. May work sometimes, but it may not. Personally, it's too expensive for the results, for me. Because when you use it as an interface layer only, it's prints well, but the removal is a little trickier. The results on the models are good, but the interface layer normally needs to be picked off the model, and that's a little annoying. Also, note that when using it as interface layer only, time will be shorter in most cases because there will be fewer filament changes.

[@whgeek]

Correct, it's only meant for interfaces. It will also reduce the amount of flushes, and therefore print time, tremendously,

[@ItsPaulby]

You misused the material. Right on the product page it says “Cautions for Use: ONLY used for support interface”. When you’re only switching to the support material for the interface, you might only need a few filament swaps for the entire print, so the added print time isn’t much. Your print using the support material for the entire support has to do way more filament swaps, which slows it down drastically and also uses a lot of the support material. Using it as it’s intended, it should be fairly quick and last you a very long time!

[@kodeypatterson8973]

You are saying that support filament should be swapped in at a certain layer, reasonably late in the printing process?

[@malfunct]

@@kodeypatterson8973 if you use the option to use support filament for interface layer the slicer handles this for you automatically, it isn't layer based, instead anywhere the support is going to touch the actual print it uses the support filament instead of the regular filament.

[@DanielGoodwin-jq1oc]

Good input, I will revisit with these settings and see what impact that makes. Appreciate good counsel!

[@dakupenndragon810]

You can actually turn off the purge tower too it's not necessary when you only use the support material for the interface. You won't waste a lot of product this way.

[@ansiaaa]

you can just use the support filament for the last one or two layers of the supports, and print the supports with the same PLA you are using for the object you are printing. that way you won't waste so much support filament which cost more than basic PLA

[@J_spec6]

How would you go about setting that in bambu studio without using a bunch of modifiers for the support? Is there specific setting for that?

[@ansiaaa]

@@J_spec6 look for the video titled "Using PETG to Support PLA on Bambu X1 Carbon"

[@adammortensen8861]

Lots of comments for using it as a interface only filament. I absolutely agree. I speed up the print, make the support/raft interface the only thing using the interface filament and set "support/raft base" to the same filament as the model. This results in not swapping for interface filament until the supports are actually 1 to 3 layers away from contact with the model.

[@Leif_YT]

I use sometimes PETG for the support interface layer which can have a similar effect because PLA and PETG don't go well together. A starting point that worked well for me: - Support Style "Snug" - Support Interface "the Support Filament or PETG" (you only ant to print that interface layer in that material) - Top Z Distance "0" - Bottom Z Distance "0" - Top Interface Layer "3" - Top Interface Spacing "0" So basically you want the special material only at the interface layer, but there very snug without a distance. Personally I also disable the prime tower than and increase the flushing volume between the two filaments a bit instead. But that's still experimental for me so I wouldn't say it's the right way to do it. I was just a bit concerned that the prime tower could knock over otherwise too.

[@ushiocheng]

i am not using support material but want to use it. afaik it is really the kind of thing that if you are not sure whether you need it or not than you don't. its sole purpose is really to get prefect overhang surfaces that are not otherwise achievable without painful amount of post processing. also bambu p1s have pallet purge so you can turn off that purge tower which saves 10%+ of filament/time.

[@davidolsson]

Also, if you can, test Add:norths HT PLA Pro Matt. Super nice surface and very easy supports to remove. Though a little expensive so use it wisely :)

[@Jestey6]

Well it takes a big man to admit to doing it wrong, so respect. I’ve had my P1S for five days, and spent most of them scratching my head. To be honest, if it wasn’t for people like you posting videos, I suspect overcoming problems would have taken me a lot longer. Alexa sums 3D printing up, if you ask her if 3-D printing is difficult…….

[@davidolsson]

Good video. I didn’t like it either, no real change when removing supports. I would like to add that just use it at the interface and for even better result use PETG instead and set the interface distance to zero. Smooth surface and easier to remove. :) happy printing!

[@jpenna1976]

Pretty much confirmed my initial feeling I had on support filament. Maybe OK for some special purpose, but I will leave it in package for now.

[@beewilkerson1363]

I just wasted 9 hours to make the same conclusion. Went looking for what I was doing wrong - maybe needed some chemical to clean up, but it is so much more effort to remove the supports and clean up.

[@henrythompson7595]

Daniel, I just received an email from BBL, they have a new support filament that is WATER SOLUBLE. Might want to check that out, it is kinda pricey, about $39 per kilo. Correction, that price is for a 1/2 kilo spool! I have a P1S and if I print with supports, they most always come out bad. In some cases, you destroy the model just trying to get the support materiel off.

[@wagt3634]

Right, support filament is a waste of time and energy

[@datmixednut1254]

Lol you don't know how to use it