> ## 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.

# Overview

October 13th, 2021 at 9:30 EST – Learn best practices for designing for AM, creating supports and slicing a part.

### About this course

This training guide walks you through additive manufacturing design, build orientation optimization, and support structure generation in nTop. You will learn about meshing and slicing fundamentals, tools within nTop, best practices when using conversion blocks, slicing an implicit body for printing, voxel grids and best ways to clean mesh before exporting (which include split mesh, remesh, and simplify mesh).

<Frame>
  <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/files-learn/lessons/training-guide-dfam-and-export/dfam-export-overview.png" alt="Block and sphere with AM support structures for DFAM" />
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**Prerequisites:** [101: nTop Essentials](/lessons/ntop-essentials/overview)

**What is covered:**

* Initial Concept and Design – self-supporting structures, escape holes, overhang constraints for topology optimization
* Supports and Orientation – finding best orientation, creating minimal supports
* Slicing – arranging parts on the built plate, slicing implicit bodies, exporting slices
* Meshing – options for creating and cleaning meshes

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="DfAM and Export" href="/lessons/training-guide-dfam-and-export/dfam-and-export" cta="Open">Design for AM, build orientation, and support packing</Card>
</CardGroup>