Basics Of Support Structures Used In 3D Printing
3D printers have made it extremely effortless to construct even the most complicated structures of a design. You just need to insert the soft copy of a 3D model and here you are, with a 3D printed outcome in a span of just a few minutes.
But while it does sound so simple and magical, in reality, nothing turns out too simple and magic isn’t a word existent anywhere in this. Various kinds of 3D models encompass some extremely overhanging or complicated shapes which require the assistance of supports to be constructed.
Let us view a bit on these support structures which find themselves an obligatory part of the 3D printing kit:
What Is The Need Of Support Structures?
Support structures are the ancillary parts of a 3D printer that allow printing of models having cantilevered sections or steep overhangs etc.
As the printing process goes, the print material is deposited in layers, one after the other. What if you need to print an extremely sophisticated 3D design where a layer of material finds no layers beneath it? In such a case the deposited material could experience undesirable drooping which could mar the overall view of the structure.
To prevent this, support structures are used at various levels and angles in order to obtain the desired shape and size of the structure.
What Are Various Support Materials?
When you make use of a large format 3D printer, this generally allows two kinds of support structures:
· Break-Away Support Structures: These support structures could be removed by breaking them away from the finally obtained 3D model
· Wash-Away Support Structures: These include elements which dissolve in cold water and make it easy to prepare various intricate 3D prints
When Are The Support Structures Required?
As a thumb rule, if a 3D model tends to possess an overhang above 45 degrees, it would need support structures. And this angle could well be determined by the print material, extrusion width, layer-height and temperature etc. conditions
How To Adjust The Support Structure?
Generally, you do not need anything special for this. Most of the 3D printing software would adjust the support structures depending upon the parameters you set. With these, you could generate the support structures, modify the support structure density and even set the resolution for the support pillar.
However, if the model requires still more attention, you could adjust, add or remove the support structures manually.
When you buy a 3D printer, it is better to learn all the aspects of support structures beforehand, so that you never struggle afterwards with the adjustment of the same. And for your assistance, you have hoards of 3D printer communities to solve all your queries.
