Frequently Asked Questions

25:Poor Bridging
Bridging is a term that refers to plastic that needs to be
extruded between two points without any support from below. For
larger bridges, you may need to add support structures, but short
bridges can typically be printed without any supports to save
material and print time. When you are bridging between two
points, the plastic will be extruded across the gap and then quickly
cooled to create a solid connection. To get the best bridging results,
you will need to make sure that your printer is properly calibrated
with the best settings for these special segments. If you notice
sagging, drooping, or gaps between the extruded segments, you
may need to adjust your settings for the best results. We will cover
each of the areas that you want to address to make sure your can
print the best bridges possible on your 3D printer.
(1) Verify bridging settings are being used
Bridging segments are identified with a special color in the
Simplify3D preview. Click “Prepare to Print” to enter the Preview
Mode and then change the coloring mode on the left-hand side to
“Feature Type”. This will use a different color for each feature
type, with bridging regions shown in yellow. Use the sliders at the
bottom of the preview to scroll to the layer where you expect to