{"id":4538,"date":"2022-12-22T07:17:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T07:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimakerstage.wpengine.com\/learn\/"},"modified":"2023-05-19T09:20:46","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T09:20:46","slug":"special-alpha-new-xmas-tree-supports-for-ultimaker-cura","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimaker.com\/nl\/learn\/special-alpha-new-xmas-tree-supports-for-ultimaker-cura\/","title":{"rendered":"Special alpha: new (Xmas) tree supports for UltiMaker Cura"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Special<\/div>\n

Special alpha: new (Xmas) tree supports for UltiMaker Cura<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n

Are you a fan of tree support, but dislike the removal process and the amount of filament it uses? Then we would like to invite you to try this special release of UltiMaker Cura. Brought to you by our special community contributor Thomas Rahm.<\/p><\/div>\n

We are constantly working to make UltiMaker Cura better. Our community is a big part of helping us to do that by requesting new features and reporting bugs. Since Cura is open source, you or anyone else can offer suggestions on how to improve the software. One of those community members is Thomas Rahm. In June 2020, he created a fork where he started making improvements to Tree Support because they did \u201cnot meet his expectations\u201d. Many changed lines of code later, we want to help bring his improvements to a bigger audience.<\/p>\n

To do this, we generated a special version of Cura 5.2 called 5.3.0 Alpha + Xmas. The only changes we introduced compared to UltiMaker Cura 5.2.1 are those which are needed for the new supports. So keep in mind, this is not a sneak peek for Cura 5.3 (there are some really cool new features coming up) but a spotlight release highlighting this new version of tree supports.<\/p>\n

New tree support implementation<\/h2>\n

These new tree supports use significantly less filament than our current version of tree supports. Where our current tree supports have a tendency to merge multiple branches into one larger branch to limit the amount of retraction, these trees have a different shape and have more smaller branches that are able to reach tricky corners. With less filament extruded, you\u2019ll also see a significant decrease in printing time.<\/p><\/section>\n

\"Ultimaker<\/figure><\/div>\n
An example of the significant decrease in printing time and material extruded<\/div><\/div>\n

Another significant improvement is that they are now easier to remove. You\u2019ll still need some pliers to remove the supports, but we\u2019ve observed a significant decrease in how long it takes to remove them. With the ease that the branches release from the model, you’re also less likely to damage your print in the process. The scars left on the model where the tree support touches the model have also been significantly improved, resulting in cleaner prints.<\/p><\/section>\n

\"Ultimaker<\/figure><\/div>\n
These new tree supports are easier to remove from your model.<\/div><\/div>\n

A number of new settings can now be applied to your tree supports, including: support blocker, per model settings, and support horizontal expansion. Expanding the possible ways you can tweak tree supports and bringing the customization options closer in line with regular supports.<\/p>\n

Not only is the printing time faster but slicing times have also been decreased because slicing is now done on multiple cores. This makes it easier to tweak your settings, introduce alterations, and of course, reduces your waiting time.<\/p>\n

How can you start testing?<\/h2>\n

You can try out these new tree supports today.<\/p>\n

  1. Download UltiMaker Cura 5.3.0-Alpha-Xmas.<\/p><\/li>\n

  2. Run some tests with prints that you are familiar with. We\u2019ve enabled tree supports by default for testing purposes.<\/p><\/li>\n

  3. Share any feedback or bugs via GitHub (Simply enter a bug or feature request, you\u2019ll automatically find the correct feedback template.)<\/p><\/li><\/ol>\n

    Notes to keep in mind when you start testing<\/h2>\n

    The following settings have been introduced:<\/p>\n