How to Get Better Overhangs in 3D Printing - Complete Fix Guide

Why 3D Printing Overhangs Matter (and Why They’re So Frustrating)

(Source: ABCD4WS via Reddit)

Ever printed a model and noticed parts drooping, curling, or turning into stringy disasters mid-air? That’s an overhang issue.

Overhangs are parts of a print that jut out beyond previous layers, meaning they have little to no material beneath them for support. If not handled properly, they result in poor surface quality, failed prints, or ugly warped edges.

Real-World Example:

Say you’re printing a figurine with an outstretched arm. Without the right support or slicer tweaks, the arm curls upward or sags, ruining the aesthetics and precision. Sound familiar? Let’s fix it.

3D Printing Overhanging Angle

(Source: Instructables)

In FDM printing, an overhang occurs when a layer extends beyond the footprint of the previous layer. Your printer is essentially trying to print “in mid-air.”

The steeper the overhang, the harder it is to print cleanly, especially beyond 45°. This is where problems like sagging, poor layer adhesion, or overhang curling arise.

What’s the Ideal 3D Printing Overhang Angle?

The general rule:
Overhangs up to 45° print cleanly on most FDM printers
Above 45°- 60° starts to challenge cooling and bridging
Beyond 60°+ almost always needs support or advanced tuning

Want to test your printer’s limits? Run a 3D printing overhang test model from Thingiverse or Printables. It helps you visually see where the quality drops off, a great diagnostic tool.

Common 3D Printing Overhang Issues & How to Solve Them

1. 3D Print Overhang Curling Up

(source: grabcad)

If the edge of your overhang curls upwards mid-print, it’s usually caused by inadequate cooling.

Fixes:

a. Use a part cooling fan (and ensure it’s working!)

 b. Lower print temperature slightly (e.g., 5 - 10°C)

 c. Add support structures if overhang is too steep

 d. Enable “Z-hop” to avoid nozzle collisions

2. Gaps or Rough Surfaces on Overhangs

(Source: shawnsblog via Reddit)

This usually results from poor bridging performance or not enough layer time to solidify.

Fixes:

 a. Slow down print speed for overhangs (try 15 - 25 mm/s)

 b. Enable “Detect Overhangs” in slicer if available

 c. Increase cooling (fan speed to 100%)

 d. Reduce layer height to improve detail

3. Overhang Sagging

(Source: Raise3D)

Material starts drooping because gravity wins when there’s no support underneath.

Fixes:

 a. Print with supports (especially for angles > 60°)

 b. Use “Support Overhang Angle” setting wisely (more below)

 c. Use filaments that hold shape better (like PLA over ABS)

Using the Right Support Overhang Angle

Your slicer (like Cura or PrusaSlicer) will have a setting called “3D Printing Support Overhang Angle”. This tells the software at what overhang angle to generate supports.

Typical setting:
Support Overhang Angle = 55°- 60°

Meaning: anything steeper than 60° will have supports automatically added.

Pro Tip:

Try painting supports only where needed. Don’t let your slicer flood the whole model.

If you’re still struggling with unpredictable overhangs or curling despite trying every setting tweak, it might be time to check if the issue lies in inconsistent filament quality or printer calibration. At JLC3DP, we use industrial-grade machines and controlled settings to eliminate guesswork for clients who want clean overhangs and flawless prints, no babysitting required. Get a free quote!

3D Printing Materials & Their Overhang Behavior

Still seeing gaps between walls or weak, stringy infill in your overhangs? These can actually be symptoms of under-extrusion. Check out our full guide on how to avoid gaps and under-extrusion in your 3D prints for practical fixes.

Design Tips to Improve Overhang Printing

Chamfer or fillet overhanging edges instead of sharp angles

a. Add support blocks in CAD to control where they generate

 b. Orient the model to reduce extreme overhangs (lay flat when possible)

 c. Consider bridging instead of overhanging if it spans across two points

Best Overhang Settings for Cura / PrusaSlicer

Cura:

 a. Enable “Enable Print Cooling”

 b. Set “Support Overhang Angle” to 55°

 c. Adjust “Minimum Layer Time” to 10-15 seconds

 d. Use “Adaptive Layers” for finer detail near overhangs

PrusaSlicer:

a. Set “Fan Speed” to 100% for PLA

 b. Set “Support Style” to Grid or Snug

 c. Try “Detect Bridging Perimeters”

FAQs: Your Overhang Questions Answered

Q: Why does my 3D print overhang curl up?
A: Usually due to poor cooling. Make sure your fan is running at full speed and your print temp isn’t too high.

Q: Can you 3D print a 90° overhang?
A: Technically yes, but only with support structures or specialty printers like SLA. On FDM? You’ll likely get a spaghetti mess.

Q: How do I test my 3D printer’s overhang capabilities?
A: Download an “Overhang Test” print from Thingiverse and observe where quality starts to degrade.

Q: Which filament is best for 3D printing overhangs?
A: PLA is the easiest to manage due to its stiffness and cooling friendliness.

Final Thoughts

Overhangs are one of the ultimate skill checks in FDM 3D printing. But once you understand how angles, cooling, support, and slicing interact, you’ll start getting beautiful bridges, clean arches, and no more curling edges.

Need precision parts that push overhang limits?

Try our online 3D printing service, with expert slicing and tuned printers, we handle overhangs like pros.