Hollow throwaway pillar to aid printing thin towers

thingiverse

This is a temporary adjustment component that allows you to shift the nozzle aside between layers so your object's top layer has time to cool down properly. This comes in handy when your print fan isn't doing enough to keep the part cool and you can't slow your print speed any further. Some people prefer to use layer change G-codes for this purpose, but if you're not feeling like figuring out what your layer change code should be or your slicer doesn't support arbitrary layer change codes, then just use this thing. I've included the SCAD file so you can adjust the pillar height as needed. The design makes the pillar wide and hollow to save on material and make it sturdier by spreading its footprint and reducing nozzle friction from yanking it off the plate. Currently standing 7 centimeters tall with an outer diameter of one inch, this piece consumes just a single cubic centimeter of material. You should: Place your model on the printing plate first. Get the height of your print from your slicer - specifically its height. Insert that height into the pillar SCAD file to match your print's specifications. Then, export it as an STL. Once you've got the adjusted model in hand, just attach it to your printing plate like normal. Next, create G-code out of it for proper use. If this thing happens to topple during your print and causes problems, try widening its base by increasing the size of the brim or, if that's not enough, raise its pillars too until it stays put through entire prints.