[3D Printing News] How to Choose Support Materials for 3D Printing?

[3D Printing News] How to Choose Support Materials for 3D Printing?

With the launch of Ultimaker's Breakaway support material , there are now more options for supporting 3D printed objects.
But which design is best for you? Let's take a look at these different options and when to use them.

When using an FDM 3D printer, the support material can print models that cannot be printed due to gravity.
Support material can be used to "support" the material above, so that features such as protrusions or recesses can be printed.


Remove the support material from the model with support material.

For more advanced users, support materials allow for greater design freedom. They enable precise model positioning for optimal results or allow for designs with internal moving parts that can be easily moved after the support material is removed.

Establish supporting materials

Support your 3D prints in the same way as before . If you are using PLA for printing, 3D printing software (such as Ultimaker Cura) can create support structures for your model, which will be printed using the same material.



If you are using a single-nozzle 3D printer, this is the only way to print the support structure.
This is also a good option if you don't want to worry about material compatibility, as not all printing materials are compatible with the support material.
The main drawback of using the same material to print the support is that when you manually remove the support, you will not get a 100% accurate model that is the same as the original design .
If your supports are cut or ground down too much, or if any small bumps or dents are left, the model will look slightly different from your original design .
This can be a problem if your 3D printing needs to be very accurate, for example, if you are designing a prototype to test its fit or form.
Cutting and sanding supports can damage the surface of 3D printed materials, and post-processing techniques such as polishing are required to achieve a high-quality surface smoothness.
To remove the support from the printed material, you will need a cutting tool (most people use a knife or pliers) and sandpaper to remove all traces.

Soluble PVA

If your 3D printer can print multiple materials simultaneously, you can combine your printed materials with separate support materials, which are easier to remove.
PVA is a water-soluble material. Because it dissolves and disappears when immersed in water, it allows for almost complete design freedom.
Large overhangs, holes, and complex shapes are all possible without scratching your printed objects, and there is no longer any risk of removing supports, leaving a very smooth surface .
One drawback of PVA is that, although it is easy to remove, it takes several hours to dissolve, which prolongs the entire 3D printing workflow.
PVA is also more expensive than other support materials, and its quality can deteriorate if not stored properly .
Ultimaker PVA works best with PLA, nylon, and CPE. Removing PVA only requires a container large enough to hold water.

Separate support

Breakaway, the latest support material supplied by Ultimaker, shares some similarities with other types of supports.
Like building materials, it is removed manually. But like PVA, it is a material printed using double extrusion printing.
Breakaway strikes a balance between the advantages of other support material options. You can remove Breakaway manually , so there's no need to wait hours; anything can be removed; it can also be completely peeled off from the rest of the printed object, allowing you to obtain an accurate model without post-processing.
However, for objects requiring the smoothest possible surface, we still recommend using PVA. Furthermore, the separate material in printed objects needs to be removed, so you don't have complete design freedom.

The improved Ultimaker Breakaway is compatible with ABS , nylon , PLA , CPE , and CPE+ .
To remove the split support, you will need a set of pliers. Read our full guide to remove the split.


Quickly compare the differences in support materials

• Same Material Support: Compared to the size of the 3D design, this is useful when you don't need 100% accurate printing. Or if you only have one 3D printer. • PVA Support: Ideal for printing complex shapes or requiring a smooth surface on the support, but which takes several hours to dissolve. • Separable Support: If time is limited, Breakaway is easier to remove than PVA, maintaining dimensional accuracy of the printed object and providing a high-quality surface finish.

Original source: https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/52274-which-3d-printing-supports-to-use-pla-pva-or-breakaway