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Giorgio Aguilar

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Aug 4, 2024, 5:19:50 AM8/4/24

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Everything You Wanted To Know About 3D Printing Support But Were Afraid To Ask

3D printing support is a crucial part of the 3D printing process that helps you create complex and detailed models. Support structures are additional material that are printed along with your model to prevent it from collapsing or sagging due to gravity or overhangs. Without support, your model may end up with defects, gaps, or even fail completely.

But how do you know when and how to use support for your 3D prints? What are the different types of support and how do they affect your print quality and post-processing? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, so you can master the art of 3D printing support and get the best results possible.

When Do You Need Support for Your 3D Prints?

The need for support depends on the geometry of your model and the printing technology you are using. Generally speaking, you will need support if your model has any of the following features:

Overhangs: These are parts of your model that extend beyond the previous layer without any support from below. Overhangs can cause drooping or curling of the material, resulting in poor surface quality or structural integrity. The maximum angle that an overhang can be printed without support depends on the material and printer settings, but it is usually around 45 degrees.

Bridges: These are horizontal spans of material that connect two points without any support from below. Bridges can sag or snap due to gravity or insufficient cooling, resulting in gaps or deformations. The maximum length that a bridge can be printed without support depends on the material and printer settings, but it is usually around 5 mm.

Cantilevers: These are parts of your model that extend horizontally from a vertical wall without any support from below. Cantilevers can bend or break due to gravity or insufficient cooling, resulting in poor surface quality or structural integrity. The maximum length that a cantilever can be printed without support depends on the material and printer settings, but it is usually around 3 mm.

Hollows: These are parts of your model that have empty spaces inside them. Hollows can cause internal stress or collapse due to insufficient material or cooling, resulting in defects or failures. The minimum thickness that a hollow part can be printed without support depends on the material and printer settings, but it is usually around 1 mm.

To determine whether your model needs support or not, you can use a slicing software like Cura to preview your print and see where the overhangs, bridges, cantilevers, and hollows are located. You can also use tools like Meshmixer to analyze your model and automatically generate support structures where needed.

What Are the Different Types of Support for Your 3D Prints?

The type of support you use for your 3D prints depends on the printing technology you are using and the desired print quality and post-processing. Generally speaking, there are two main types of support: same-material support and dissolvable support.

Same-material support: This is when you use the same material as your model to print the support structures. This is the most common type of support and it works with most printing technologies and materials. The advantage of same-material support is that it is easy to use and cheap. The disadvantage is that it can be difficult to remove and may leave marks or scars on your model.

Dissolvable support: This is when you use a different material than your model to print the support structures. This material can be dissolved in water or a chemical solution after printing, leaving your model clean and smooth. This type of support works best with dual-extrusion printers and materials like PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) or HIPS (high impact polystyrene). The advantage of dissolvable support is that it is easy to remove and does not damage your model. The disadvantage is that it is more expensive and requires more time and resources to dissolve.

Within these two types of support, there are also different patterns and settings that you can choose to optimize your print quality and post-processing. Some of the most common patterns are: