【3D Printing Knowledge】Support Effect Comparison: Which Method is Right for You?
We previously introduced a comparison of three 3D printing technologies, which received a great response from everyone. To meet the public's desire to understand 3D printing technology, 3DMart will now guide you through the differences in "support structures" for FDM printers and how they affect the final results. (Further reading: Beginner's Guide - Comparison and Principles of Common 3D Printing Technologies)
Basic Concepts
Since 3D printing builds objects layer by layer, and material sags when unsupported, auxiliary structures added to unsupported areas are generally called "supports." These are removed from the main body after printing. Taking the fully articulated "Buckyball" as an example, the final 3D printed product should achieve the result shown in the image: each layer can rotate, and movement is smooth with minimal resistance.
I. Single Extruder 3D Printers
First, the most common FDM technology on the market primarily comes in two 3D printing forms: single extruder and dual extruder. A single extruder system can only use one filament at a time, so the support material will be the same as the printed object. If a single extruder FDM 3D printer uses PLA material to create a "Buckyball," the result will be as shown below. Since the ball has five layers, with only a 0.3 cm gap between each layer, and the support and body are tightly bonded, the support is almost impossible to remove without damaging the object itself.
The advantage is that this doesn't significantly affect large-area structures, and removal is relatively easy. For example, the goggle frame shown in the image can have its unsupported parts made with a single extruder system, although the surface smoothness and aesthetics won't be as good as with a dual extruder 3D printing system.
(The left image shows a goggle frame 3D printed with a single extruder, while the right image shows a goggle frame 3D printed with a dual extruder using water-soluble PVA support (white part) and the finished product after dissolution.)
II. Dual Extruder 3D Printers
Dual extruder FDM 3D printers can use two types of filament simultaneously, allowing for different filaments to be used for the main body and supports. The time-lapse video below shows that in Ultimaker's dual extruder 3D printer, the object's body and support material are printed simultaneously. The support structure is automatically generated in the free official Ultimaker Cura software based on the object's body, requiring no manual setup.
Common specialized support materials include Breakaway and water-soluble PVA. For this comparison of the "Buckyball," we will use PVA, as shown in the image below, where the green part is the PLA object body and the white part is the water-soluble PVA support.
The white part is PVA, a biodegradable water-soluble material. After printing with a PLA structure, the object can be immersed in ordinary cold water to dissolve (adding an air pump or ultrasonic vibration to increase water flow can accelerate the process by about two times). Once dissolved, simply remove and clean the object. This is the most popular method for dual extruder systems (if a non-independent dual extruder 3D printer is used, the sticky feeling might not be eliminated).
Since the process does not cause physical damage to the object's surface, the finished product has a smoother and more aesthetically pleasing surface compared to single extruder 3D printers. This is particularly suitable for industrial parts such as assembled components and tenons that require high precision.
Another type of support, Breakaway, offers excellent and fast removal, but is more suitable for objects with large areas for removal. For example, the drill housing shown below requires a smooth surface, so using Breakaway support material for printing only the bottom parts allows for quick and complete removal.
III. How to Choose Between Single and Dual Extruders?
If you have a limited budget, it's recommended to base your choice on the characteristics of the 3D printed objects you use most frequently. For example, high-consumption, structurally simple auxiliary tools are better suited for single extruder models. For sample development with numerous styles and high variability in the future, a dual extruder 3D printer is more suitable. Alternatively, using both can combine innovative development with shortened production time. (Further reading: Inside "Club 5 - Brother Wu's Den"! From Model Agency to Modified Export!) | Single Extruder 3D Printer | Dual Extruder 3D Printer | |
| Support Type | ・Single material ・Same as printed body (commonly PLA) | ・Water-soluble PVA ・Breakaway ・Other dual-material applications |
| Application Scope | ・Large-area support ・Simple structure ・Rapid mass production | ・Movable structural parts ・Intertwined object details ・Needs to maintain fine surfaces |
・Single Extruder 3D Printer: Generally suitable for printing objects with simple structures or for small-batch production development, at a lower price.
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・Ultimaker Single Extruder 3D Printer ・Ultimaker Dual Extruder 3D Printer ・Prusa Single Extruder 3D Printer
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