Printing materials
3D printing can work with a wide variety of materials. However, some materials like metals or ceramics place very high demands on the printer, which is why plastic is the most commonly used material.
9. Supports
9.2. The 10 mm Rule
Similar to overhangs, not all bridges require support. Here, the rule applies: if a bridge is shorter than 10 mm, the printer can likely print it without additional support.
Printers use a technique called bridging, where the hot material is stretched over short distances and managed to print with minimal sagging.
However, if the bridge is longer than 10 mm, this technique does not work. In such cases, adding supports becomes necessary to prevent sagging.
This distance is a general guideline and might not always hold true! It also depends on the printer and its settings. Adjusting parameters, especially active cooling and print speed, can improve bridging performance.