How to Remove Support Structure from 3D Prints
Some 3D printing processes will require what is known as support. Since we cannot print into thin air and the laws of physics and gravity also account for 3D printing, some objects with overhanging parts need support structure. In this blog post you will discover which materials use support structure, what this means for you as a customer, and how you can remove support structure from resin prints yourself.
When do you need to design and remove support structure?
If you order through online services like i.materialise the short answer is: you never have to design support structure. Most of our materials (especially those that use power-based technologies like laser sintering) work completely without support structures. Some other technologies, such as resin-based stereolithography or filament-based FDM printers do need support. However, online services automatically design support structures when necessary and trained personnel remove them after the printing process.
However, there is one exception to this rule. In order to make your prints cheaper, you can order prints in Standard Resin “with support structure” at i.materialise. This means less manual work for us, and low-budget prints for you. If you don’t feel comfortable to remove the support yourself, you can choose the option “without support structure”.
A Standard Resin 3D print with support structure.
General tips for removing 3D-printed support structure
- First of all, a general reminder: work slowly and cautiously when removing support structure. Thin and detailed Standard Resin parts are much more brittle than thick and solid ABS parts. So, caution and precision are key
- Before you work on your main print, make sure to start with a test piece or with the least visual part of your model
- Support structure that was added by i.materialise is generated with high-end software that automatically designs and attaches those lightweight structures to your print. The support is typically connected to the print with very thin connection parts. It is advised to cut off the support very close to the actual print. This will make sanding the part much easier
The connecting parts between the design and rest of the support structure for Standard Resin are very thin by default.
How to remove support structure from 3D prints
- There are tons of blades and tools to choose from. Which tool works best for you depends on many variables such as the shape and size of the print, the material, and your personal preferences. It often makes sense to use a combination of these blades. These are the most common and most popular tools that our community uses:
- Many people use a needle nose plier. These are typically used for support that can be broken away, rather than cut away. So while this is a great tool to work relatively fast, it is less suitable for parts that need precise control. A flush cutter might be a good alternative since it combines strength and precision
- Putty-type knives, scraper knives, or pallet knives with sharpened edges are sometimes used for removing support as well. They are most often used for large-scale models without small details. So it might only make sense to remove the rough and outer parts of the support with these kinds of knives
- Xacto knives are a popular choice and give you lots of precision. With these, you can cleanly cut away the small elements that connect support structure and objects in Standard Resin. The only downside is that they are really sharp and a single slip can result in a sliced finger or a scratch in your 3D print
- Some people like heating the blade or even the model in order to make it easier to slice off the support structure since it will be much softer. Typically, a tiny butane torch is used for this. If you want to go for this option, make sure to be very careful, for the sake of both yourself and your model
From top left to bottom right: needle nose plier, flush cutter, scraper knife, and Xacto knife.
After the cut: sanding off the surface of the 3D print
- Once the cutting is done, you probably want to get rid of the small remaining support elements and marks. This is why the next step is all about polishing your model. For this, sanding with high grit sandpaper between 220 and 12000 can work wonders. While using sandpaper will make your part smoother and eliminate the last remaining support parts, it will change the color of the print. Basically, it will be possible to see which parts of the print have been sanded. This is why it makes sense to color the print afterward
- Some users even go for a small drill-like tool such as a Dremel. These handheld grinders, with a variety of bits and attachments, can smoothen parts. For Standard Resin, we would suggest against using them, however. They are simply too fast and powerful. They produce heat that can deform the part and offer too little control for delicate details
Design by Bert de Niel. Printed in Standard Resin.
Design by Bodo-Lutz Schmidt. Printed in Standard Resin.
Now that you know how to remove support structure, make sure to check out our Standard Resin. It’s a low-budget material that comes at an even lower cost if you go for the option to remove the support yourself.
