3D Printing Support Materials

*3D Printing Support Material from a FormLabs Form1+ Stereolithography (SLA) Print*

3D Printing Support Materials

Support materials play a crucial role in additive manufacturing, especially when creating complex geometries, overhangs, or internal cavities that cannot be printed in mid-air. Different 3D printing technologies use different types of supports, and understanding these options is key to achieving high-quality, accurate prints.

FDM Support Materials: PVA and HIPS

In Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), two of the most widely used support materials are Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS). These materials are typically used with dual-extrusion 3D printers, allowing the main structural filament and the support filament to be printed simultaneously.

PVA is a water-soluble material, making it ideal for complex prints with internal voids or delicate features. Once the print is complete, it can simply be submerged in water, and the PVA will dissolve completely, leaving a smooth and clean surface.
HIPS, on the other hand, is soluble in limonene, a citrus-based solvent. It pairs well with ABS filament and is often used for mechanical parts requiring chemical resistance and post-processing flexibility.

These dissolvable supports offer a major advantage over traditional breakaway supports: they minimize manual cleanup and reduce the risk of damaging the final print.

SLA Support Structures

Stereolithography (SLA) printers use a different approach to support generation. Instead of using a separate material, SLA builds both the part and its supports using the same UV-curable resin. The support structures are designed to break away cleanly after printing, often requiring only light sanding or polishing to finish the surface.

Because SLA prints are typically high-resolution and detail-rich, the software automatically generates thin, precise supports that are easy to remove without damaging fine features.

Other Technologies and Considerations

Support strategies differ even further when considering Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) or Multi Jet Fusion (MJF). These powder-based methods often don’t require traditional support structures at all, since the surrounding powder naturally supports the part during printing. This opens the door to even more complex and nested designs.

However, regardless of the method, it's important to consider the following when planning for supports:

Ease of removal: Can the support be removed without damaging the part?
Material compatibility: Is the support material chemically and thermally compatible with the build material?
Post-processing requirements: Will dissolving or breaking away the support add time or require special equipment? Select the manufacturer's name to be forwarded to the product page.

Recent work on support at Bambu Labs now has special support materials for PLA/PETG and ABS, where the support can be the same material, but the interface is printed with the support material that is relatively easy to separate.

Manufacturer

Spectrum Filaments

Plasty Mladec

Form Futura

All Professional 3D

Spectrum Filaments

Form Futura

Bambu Labs

Product Name

HIPS

Natur

EasyFil HIPS White