During 3D printing printers apply the filament gradually higher, layer by layer, shaping the model as expected. As printing in the air is impossible, to oppose gravity, it is necessary to apply additional content, which is the support. Those are the elements that the item being printed is based on and is used during a print of suspended in the air or sticking out parts of the model.
Use of support is an excellent solution for complicated, advanced prints, which implementation in a different way would be difficult to achieve. A huge simplification, especially for those who begin their journey with 3D technology is a slicer platform that prepares the model for printing and generates places, where the support usage is necessary, on its own. Using the slicer, we can also change the other parameters of the print –its speed or type of fulfilling the model.
Supports can be made of the same material as the printing – then both models and supports are printed in the single-head printers and its removal is based on chopping off or detaching the supports (theoretically) with no damage caused to the created model. However, it is a solution recommended only with simple, not very complicated printings as the supports removal might leave minor marks on the model.
The second type od supports, used mostly in more advanced 3D printings, are supporting filaments such as PVA and HIPS, so dissolving under the influence of specific, dedicated substances ones. To print out a project with two kinds of filament usage (basic and supportive) it is necessary to use a twin-head printer, such as Signal Pro, Galaxy, Saturn and Jupiter.
What are the differences between specific supportive filaments?
PVA - polyvinyl alcohol, dissolves in the water perfectly. Choosing that material, we get a guarantee of efficient and technically seamless support removal where a clean model is received. It will do the job perfectly with detailed, complicated 3D models printing. It can be mixed with filaments such as PLA, TPU or kevlar.
HIPS or High Impact Polystyrene is a general-purpose material – it is used both for independent printing and as a support. It matches ABS filament perfectly thanks to its similar properties. After its printing, the model is placed in special d-limonene solution, that dissolves HIPS, but does not have any impact on ABS, that only dissolves under the influence of acetone. This filament will make a perfect match for 3D prints with custom or having big overhangs shapes. ( „hanging” elements effect).
At one time or another, a 3D model printing in FDM technology without support usage is impossible or difficult to achieve, especially with complicated geometric models. In those cases, we should use a twin-head printer, in which one of the heads prints with soluble filament, designed for support making (HIPS or PVA) and the second one with appropriate filament, robust to dissolving solution. If you are planning a simple 3D model print, it is sufficient to use a single-head device, in which both object and support are printed out of the same filament – however, the necessity of self-reliant, often arduous removal should be taken under consideration.
