CAMT CAMT Software & Digital Workflow 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the standard overhang angle threshold below which most FDM slicers automatically generate support structures?
- 30 degrees from vertical
- 45 degrees from vertical (Correct answer)
- 60 degrees from vertical
- 90 degrees from vertical
Correct answer: 45 degrees from vertical
Most FDM slicers default to generating supports for overhangs exceeding 45 degrees from vertical, as steeper angles typically cannot bridge without collapsing.
Question 2: What two factors does layer height in slicing software most directly affect?
- Infill pattern and support density
- Part resolution and total build time (Correct answer)
- Material color accuracy and bed adhesion
- Nozzle temperature and retraction distance
Correct answer: Part resolution and total build time
Layer height controls the thickness of each deposited layer, directly determining the surface finish resolution and the total number of layers—and therefore the build time.
Question 3: In additive manufacturing build preparation software, what is 'nesting' used for?
- Creating hollow lattice interiors within parts
- Efficiently arranging multiple parts within the build volume to maximize utilization (Correct answer)
- Automatically generating support structures
- Setting individual part layer parameters
Correct answer: Efficiently arranging multiple parts within the build volume to maximize utilization
Nesting is the process of efficiently arranging and orienting multiple parts within the available build volume to maximize machine utilization and minimize overall build time.
Question 4: What does the 'wall thickness' or 'shell count' setting in FDM slicing software define?
- The total outer dimension of the part
- The number of perimeter passes forming the outer surface (Correct answer)
- The bed adhesion layer count
- The support wall density
Correct answer: The number of perimeter passes forming the outer surface
The shell count setting determines how many concentric perimeter passes the printer makes around the part exterior, affecting surface strength, print time, and material use.
Question 5: Which step in the digital pre-print workflow involves checking a 3D model for errors such as non-manifold geometry or inverted normals?
- Slicing
- File repair and validation (Correct answer)
- Support generation
- G-code post-processing
Correct answer: File repair and validation
File repair and validation detects and fixes geometry errors like holes, non-manifold edges, or inverted normals that would cause slicing failures or poor print quality.
Question 6: What is a 'raft' in the context of FDM slicing software?
- A side-attached support structure for tall parts
- A flat mesh base printed beneath the part to improve bed adhesion (Correct answer)
- A mesh infill pattern used for flexible parts
- A sacrificial cooling layer printed between sections
Correct answer: A flat mesh base printed beneath the part to improve bed adhesion
A raft is a multi-layer horizontal mesh printed beneath the part that increases contact area with the build plate, improving adhesion and reducing warping especially for shrinkage-prone materials.
CAMT CAMT Software & Digital Workflow 2
What is the standard overhang angle threshold below which most FDM slicers automatically generate support structures?