【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-type printers and how they affect the final outcome. (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 in mid-air, 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 final effect shown in the image: each layer can rotate, and movement is smooth with minimal resistance.
1. 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 sphere has five layers, with each layer only 0.3 cm apart, and the support and body are tightly bonded, the supports are 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 ski goggle frame in the image can have its suspended parts produced 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 ski goggle frame 3D printed with a single extruder, and the right image shows a ski goggle frame 3D printed with a dual extruder using water-soluble PVA support (white part) and the finished product after dissolution.)
2. Dual Extruder 3D Printers
Dual extruder FDM 3D printers can use two filaments simultaneously, allowing for different filaments to be chosen for the object body and support. The time-lapse video below shows that in Ultimaker's dual extruder 3D printers, the object body and support material are printed simultaneously. The support structure is also automatically generated in Ultimaker Cura, the free official software, based on the object body, without manual construction.
Common support-specific materials include Breakaway and water-soluble PVA. This time, PVA is used for the "Buckyball" comparison demonstration, 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 structural body, the assembly can be dissolved by immersing it in ordinary cold water (using an air pump or ultrasonic vibration to increase water flow can speed up the process by about two times). After dissolution, simply remove the object and clean it. This is the most popular use for dual extruder systems (non-independent dual extruder 3D printers may not be able to eliminate stickiness).
Since the process does not physically damage the object's surface, the finished product's surface is smoother and more aesthetically pleasing compared to single extruder 3D printers. It is particularly suitable for industrial parts with precision requirements, such as interlocking components and snap fits.
Another type of support, Breakaway, is easy and quick to remove, but it is more suitable for objects with large areas to be removed. For example, the drill housing shown in the figure below has aesthetic requirements for its surface. Therefore, only Breakaway support material is needed to assist in printing the lower part, which allows for quick removal of the entire block.
3. How to Choose Between Single and Dual Extruders?
If your budget is limited, it is recommended to prioritize the characteristics of the 3D printed objects you use most frequently. For example, highly consumable, structurally simple auxiliary tools are more suitable for single-extruder machines. For sample development with many styles and high variability in the future, a dual-extruder 3D printer is more suitable. Alternatively, using both can combine innovative development with reduced production time. (Further reading: A Glimpse into "Club 5 - Brother Wu's Den"! From Agency Models to Modified Exports!) | Single Extruder 3D Printer | Dual Extruder 3D Printer | |
| Support Type | ．Single material ．Same as printed object (commonly PLA) | ．Water-soluble PVA ．Breakaway support ．Other multi-material applications |
| Scope of Application | ．Large-area supports ．Simple structures ．Rapid mass production | ．Movable structural parts ．Intricate object details ．Requires fine surface finish |
．Single Extruder 3D Printers: Generally suitable for printing objects with simple structures or for small-batch production and development, at a lower price point.
．Dual Extruder 3D Printers: Suitable for complex structures, aesthetically demanding samples, and offer newer technology and more features, but come at a higher price.Did you enjoy this sharing? If you have any questions or content you'd like to understand, feel free to message our fan page. We're here to answer your 3D printing technical questions; alternatively, we also offer high-quality 3D printing services. Contact us now to learn more!
．Ultimaker Single Extruder 3D Printer ．Ultimaker Dual Extruder 3D Printer ．Prusa Single Extruder 3D Printer
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