> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ntop.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manufacturing Support Beams

Beta/Manufacturing/manufacturing\_support\_beams

## About this Block

**What it does:** The **Manufacturing Support Beams** block generates beam-based support structures under points on a body that require support for additive manufacturing. It identifies these regions based on a user-defined overhang angle relative to the build plane.

**Common uses:**

* Automating the generation of support structures for additive manufacturing build preparation.
* Creating efficient, easily removable lattice-based or single-face mesh supports.
* Reducing manual intervention and "clicks" in the build prep process.

**Tips:**

* Spacing: This input defines the distance between support points on the build plane. A smaller spacing increases the number of calculated support points, which improves support density but increases algorithmic computation time.
* Overhang Angle: Regions on the body with a shallower angle than this value (relative to the build plane) will receive support structures.
* Min Overhang Angle: Use this optional parameter to define a minimum threshold, confining the support volume only to a specific angular range.
* Support Region: You can choose to build supports for internal regions, external regions, or both.

## Example File

Download Example: [Manufacturing Support Beams](https://storage.googleapis.com/files-learn/static/ExtendedBlockDocs/manufacturing_support_beams.ntop)
![Manufacturing Support Beams](https://storage.googleapis.com/files-learn/static/ExtendedBlockDocs/manufacturing_support_beams.png)

***

Generate beams under the points needing support on a body for an additive manufacturing process based on overhang angle.

### Inputs

| Name               | Type                                                                 | Description                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Body               | [Implicit Body](../../../../block-documentation/types/implicit-body) | The body to support.                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Build plane        | [Plane](../../../../block-documentation/types/plane)                 | The build plane.                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Spacing            | [Scalar](../../../../block-documentation/types/scalar)               | Distance between support points on the build plane. This input will affect the number of support points calculated and the speed of the algorithm.                                                       |
| Overhang angle     | [Scalar](../../../../block-documentation/types/scalar)               | The overhang angle that will define where supports are required. Regions on the body that form a shallower angle than the overhang angle with respect to the build plane will define the support volume. |
| Min overhang angle | [Scalar](../../../../block-documentation/types/scalar)               | An option to define the support volume only to this minimum overhang angle.                                                                                                                              |
| Support region     | Manufacturing Support Region Type Enum                               | An option to define whether to build supports for internal, external, or both regions of the body.                                                                                                       |

### Outputs

| Type                                                 |
| ---------------------------------------------------- |
| [Graph](../../../../block-documentation/types/graph) |