# Print directly on build plate, no supports ... is that allowed?

**URL:** <https://forum.formlabs.com/t/print-directly-on-build-plate-no-supports-is-that-allowed/11611>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [January 28, 2017, 6:20am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/print-directly-on-build-plate-no-supports-is-that-allowed/11611 "2017-01-28T06:20:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GameCraftMiniat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@GameCraftMiniat](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/GameCraftMiniat)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 6:20am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/print-directly-on-build-plate-no-supports-is-that-allowed/11611/1 "2017-01-28T06:20:38Z")

</div>

I’ve had my Form 2 since December 2015 and It’s been working like a champ … Tonight I came across a situation that I’ve never run into before … the possibility of printing without support structure. And I’m wondering if it’s a good or bad idea.

I have a part that is totally flat on the back and is not very thick, it seems sensible that I can save about 4 hours of print time if I orient it flat on the build plate and don’t have any supports at all.

Is this allowed? Will it cause any problems at all?

 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/2X/d/d010604ae017f69205fac86a692f24c02745477d.jpg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aad345](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/aad345/32/5444_2.png) [@aad345](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/aad345)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 7:45am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/print-directly-on-build-plate-no-supports-is-that-allowed/11611/2 "2017-01-28T07:45:19Z")

</div>

It is fine to print directly on the platform but:

1. You might get a little bit of inaccuracy on the Z-axis
2. Since your model has a large surface area on the bottom it might be tough for the printer to do the peeling process.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CraigBroady](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/craigbroady/32/6106_2.png) [@CraigBroady](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/CraigBroady)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/print-directly-on-build-plate-no-supports-is-that-allowed/11611/3 "2017-01-28T20:09:30Z")

</div>

Part removal will be a pain and point (1) from @aad345 is especially valid because the height of the part in its shortest section is very small.

If I were in your situation, I either would print that part without support and increase the thickness of the bottom-most region or would rotate the part by about 78º and print with supports.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GameCraftMiniat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@GameCraftMiniat](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/GameCraftMiniat)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/print-directly-on-build-plate-no-supports-is-that-allowed/11611/4 "2017-01-29T01:14:33Z")

</div>

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. I ended up just orienting it like I would normally, about 20 degrees off vertical and then added supports … and I let it print all night. This morning it was done and waiting for me and it came out fine.