Optimize Your 3D Prints With Cura Tree Supports

Tree supports are a game-changing feature in Cura that allows for easier print removal and improved surface quality on overhanging areas and intricate designs. Unlike regular block supports, tree supports use a branching structure that uses less material and is easier to remove after printing.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about enabling and optimizing Cura tree supports.

What Are Tree Supports and How Do They Work?

Tree supports, as the name suggests, mimic the natural branching structure of trees. Instead of typical straight columns, tree supports have angled braced structures stemming from a single base point on the build plate.

This branching structure means less material is used to support overhangs and complex geometries. By reducing the amount of support material touching the print, tree supports make it easier to remove supports after printing without damaging the surface quality.

The branching angles and patterns of tree supports are generated algorithmically based on the optimal directions to support overhangs on the 3D model. Cura analyzes the geometry and creates tree-like branches only where they are needed to brace the print.

Compared to block supports, benefits of tree supports include:

• Less support material used
• Easier to remove without damaging print
• Improved surface quality on supported areas
• Consistent support structure across the entire print

Tree supports work best on prints with complex shapes, overhangs, tunnels, arches, and negative space in the geometry. The algorithmic generation can reach into tricky areas regular supports cannot.

Enabling Cura Tree Supports

Tree supports are easy to enable in Cura. Just go to the Support section in your slicer settings and change the Support Type from “Normal” to “Tree”.

That’s it! Cura will now generate tree supports instead of regular block supports on your next slice.

You can view the tree support structure in the preview window before slicing to print. Zoom into overhang areas to see the branching pattern.

Optimizing Tree Support Settings

The great thing about tree supports is they require less tweaking than normal supports. Still, there are a few settings you can adjust to optimize tree supports for your specific print:

Tree Support Branch Angle

• This controls the max angle between support branches. Lower angles around 30-45° create more support branches. Higher angles around 60° make the supports more tree-like.

Tree Support Branch Distance

• Higher values space out the branches more. Lower values create more dense support structures.

Tree Support Branch Diameter

• Larger diameters result in sturdier supports. Smaller diameters use less material. Diameters around 1-2mm are a good starting point.

Tree Support Wall Thickness

• Controls the shell thickness of the branches. Larger values make them stronger.

Support Z Distance

• The vertical distance between supports and the model itself. Larger gaps make supports easier to remove but less supportive. 0.1-0.2mm is a good range.

Support Density

• Tree supports allow lower density settings of 15-20% since the branching structure already reduces material use.

Minimum Support Area

• Tree supports work well with lower minimum area thresholds of 15-25mm2 to catch small overhangs.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with these tree support settings across different prints to dial in optimized values. The default Cura profiles provide a good starting point too.

Pro Tips for Better Tree Supports

Beyond changing settings, there are some useful techniques to take your tree supports to the next level:

• For easier removal, increase the Support Z Distance so branches detach more cleanly from the print.
• If supports are hard to remove, reduce the Support Density which makes them weaker and breakaway more easily.
• On small overhangs, reduce the Minimum Support Area so tree branches catch the entire area.
• For supported bridges, increase Tree Support Branch Diameter for better stability and less sagging.
• Place the model strategically on the print bed so tree branches grow in optimal directions.
• For prints where supports touch critical areas, block supports may still provide better control. Tree supports excel where removal is difficult.
• Supports only generate where needed, so orienting the model intelligently allows you to avoid supports entirely on some surfaces.
• For dual extrusion printers, use a secondary soluble material like PVA for the tree supports for even easier removal.

With a bit of fine-tuning and experimentation, you’ll be able to dial in tree supports for reliable, high-quality prints.

Example Prints Perfect for Tree Supports

Tree supports really shine on certain types of 3D prints where traditional supports struggle. Some examples include:

Miniatures: Detailed mini figures with capes, weapons, overhangs, and pieces sticking out benefit greatly from the precision of tree supports. The branching structures conform perfectly to the model geometry.

Terrain: Recreating natural shapes like terrain, geodes and organic sculptures is where tree supports excel. The supports wrap smoothly around the exterior mimicking tree roots.

Mechanical Objects: Machine parts and functional objects with interior voids or passageways are difficult to support without tree supports reaching into those spaces.

Hollow Items: Vases, cups or other prints with hollow interiors are a perfect use case for tree supports. The branching supports easily access the interior walls without leaving marks.

Lattice Structures: Tree supports integrate beautifully into lattice designs, supporting interior lattices while leaving the outside clear.

Jewelry: Delicate jewelry pieces with facets or chains are very hard to support without marring the surface finish. Tree supports allow stunning surface quality on such prints.

Essentially, any model with hard-to-reach areas will benefit greatly from tree supports versus traditional block supports. Just take a look at your structure preview in Cura to see if trees would make supporting your object easier.

Limitations of Cura Tree Supports

While tree supports have opened up huge new possibilities, they do have some limitations to be aware of:

• Over-supporting: The algorithms can sometimes generate excessive tree branches in simple areas where fewer supports would suffice.
• Processing power: Calculating tree patterns is more computationally intensive than regular supports. It may slow down your slicing time significantly on lower-powered machines.
• Bridging: While great for reaching into negative space, tree supports are not ideal for bridging large gaps which still requires linear block supports.
• Part removal: In some cases, the branching can wrap so tightly around sections that removing parts is very difficult without damage. Block supports may work better for easily separating printed components.
• Small parts: Tree supports work best on larger models. On tiny parts with little room for branching, traditional supports are often better.
• Supported surfaces: Though easier to remove, tree supports can still leave small marks on the supported surface depending on geometry, angle, and printing method.
• Overhang angle: Tree supports generate mainly for steep overhangs greater than 45 degrees. Gradual slopes may still require block supports.

Knowing these limitations help you choose when to use tree supports versus default supports based on the geometry and functional goals of your print.

Troubleshooting Tree Supports

Tree supports bring a whole new set of considerations compared to normal supports. Here are some common issues and solutions:

Supports Fall Off: Increase the Tree Support Branch Diameter, Wall Thickness, and potentially Density to give them more structural integrity if branches are falling off mid-print.

Too Much Material Used: Tree supports use less material than normal supports, but can still be excessive. Lower the Density first, then reduce Branch Diameter to trim back the amount of filament used.

Difficult Support Removal: A larger Z Gap helps supports detach easier from the model. Reduce Density and Diameter to make them break away cleaner without damaging the print.

Surface Marks: Some marking is expected, but excessive pitting means supports are too grippy. Increase Z Gap and reduce Density to limit surface contact. Also slow down print speed for cleaner bottom layers.

Not Supporting Overhangs: If tree supports aren’t catching an overhanging area, reduce the Minimum Support Area so branches will reach smaller patches.

Fine tuning these core settings will help resolve most issues with tree supports. Don’t hesitate to use handy tools like a needle, tweezers, or dental pick to remove any stubborn supports after printing.

Alternative Support Options

While tree supports are a huge advancement, they aren’t necessarily the best option for every scenario. Here are some other support types to consider:

• Normal block supports: Still useful for bridging gaps, covering large flat overhangs, or easily separating printed parts.
• Sparse supports: Manually placed block supports in only very specific areas are an option if you want to minimize material use.
• Custom supports: Creating your own support structures that attach precisely where needed is possible for ultimate control.
• Water soluble supports: Using a secondary soluble filament like PVA allows full automatic support generation while enabling easy removal.
• Other slicing software: Software like Simplify3D or Slic3r allow generating unique support types not possible in Cura.
• Support-less: On occasion, you may find creative orientations that allow printing a model without any supports at all.

As with anything in 3D printing, there are always multiple ways to achieve your goals through different techniques. Tree supports may not be ideal for every print, but they offer an exceptional new approach.

Take Your 3D Prints to New Heights with Tree Supports

Tree supports in Cura provide a huge leap forward in supporting 3D prints by conforming to complex geometry and reducing messy clean up. With a bit of basics and some tuning, you’ll be able to leverage tree supports to achieve prints that were previously impossible.

Certain types of models that were extremely difficult to print in the past can now be supported easily with branch-like trees. Make your workflow much simpler by enabling tree supports to improve reliability and surface quality.

While the technology is still evolving, tree supports mark an exciting advancement that opens up new opportunities in 3D printing. By understanding how to apply them effectively, you can push your printing skills to new levels and create stunning models with intricate designs.