Latest News

Best Support Structure for 3D Printing: A Guide for Tech Enthusiasts and Entrepreneurs

01/11/2024

3D printing has transformed the way we fabricate everything from detailed designs to working prototypes. At the centre of so much innovation, one of the most important but not as publicised aspects of successful 3D printing is choosing the right support structure. For those of you who are either entrepreneurs just starting up or even tech hobbyists, knowing the best support structure for 3D prints can save you precious time and material, all the while improving on your creations.

What is a Support Structure in 3D Printing?

Support structures are the temporary scaffolding used for overhangs, bridges, and such geometries that may be quite complex in the normal process of 3D printing. Without these, parts of a model just might not print properly, especially where one is dealing with designs featuring intricate or unsupported features. In fact, support structures are quite necessary in 3D printing, particularly in FDM-SLA, where areas of a design need extra stability during printing.

Support Structure Types

There are several types of support structures available, depending on both the complexity of design and on which 3D printing technology is being utilised. The two most frequent ones are:

Tree supports: These are ideal for detailed prints that have fewer overhanging parts. Their structure resembles that of tree branching, providing good support to the model with minimal material usage. Tree supports are much easier to remove, barely leaving marks on the finished print. They are a perfect solution for models which require paying close attention to appearance.

Linear or Lattice Supports: These are more rigid in structure and better serve simpler designs with large overhangs. While they offer good support, they are harder to remove and tend to mark the surface of the print more visibly.

Picking the Right Support Structure Using Different Materials

There are some factors to keep in mind when it comes to choosing the best support structure for your 3D print-one of those being material you’re working with.

FDM Materials: PLA does not warp much and it works with both tree and lattice supports. ABS is strong and usually requires a lattice for stronger designs, whereas PETG is a little flexible and works great with tree supports to avoid excessive force while removing it.

SLA/DLP Resin Printing: As every layer is being cured through a light source, 3D printing with resin will have a higher reliance on support structures. Tree supports are generally working great for resin prints, which minimises the amount of post-processing and keeps markings on the model to fewer. 

Best Practices of Using Support Structures

For some really optimal experience with 3D printing, here are some best practices to consider:

Strategic Placement: Position supports carefully in order to not damage the surface of your model. In software, take advantage of preview functionality that displays how supports will interact with the print.

Reduce Contact Points: The fewer contact points between the supports and the model, the less visible mark when removing supports.

Print Settings Optimization: The process can be further fine-tuned by tuning parameters such as overhang angle threshold, support density, and support pattern in the slicing software to arrive at a better printing result with less material consumption.

Support Structure Generating Software

Excellent options can be used in tools such as Simplify3D, Cura, and PrusaSlicer to enable the creating and customising of supports. They make it easy for the user by allowing them to change settings, see a preview of the placement of supports, and even fully customise supports for designs that may be a bit more complicated. Other advanced features are things such as organic supports within Cura, which can be very useful when doing high-detailed prints.

However, the best support structure of your 3D prints really depends on the design, material, and printing technology. Learning how different supports work, and how to tune their settings, can greatly improve print quality by reducing material usage and saving you much time in post-processing. Mastering support structures-whether for personal projects or launching a business-is one of the keys to successful 3D printing.

Looking to enhance your 3D printing setup? At Cartridge World Cyprus, we offer a wide range of ELEGOO 3D printers, filament options, and resin printers that cater to both beginners and professionals. Our ELEGOO Mars and ELEGOO Neptune models deliver high precision and performance, making them the perfect choice for entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts looking to take their 3D printing to the next level.

Explore our 3D printing products here, and check out our latest special offers to kickstart your 3D printing journey!