
Xacto knives are a popular choice and give you lots of precision.So it might only make sense to remove the rough and outer parts of the support with these kinds of knives They are most often used for large-scale models without small details. Putty-type knives, scraper knives, or pallet knives with sharpened edges are sometimes used for removing support as well.A flush cutter might be a good alternative since it combines strength and precision So while this is a great tool to work relatively fast, it is less suitable for parts that need precise control. These are typically used for support that can be broken away, rather than cut away.

These are the most common and most popular tools that our community uses: It often makes sense to use a combination of these blades. 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. There are tons of blades and tools to choose from.

How to remove support structure from 3D prints The connecting parts between the design and rest of the support structure for Standard Resin are very thin by default. If you don’t feel comfortable to remove the support yourself, you can choose the option “without support structure”. This means less manual work for us, and low-budget prints for you. In order to make your prints cheaper, you can order prints in Standard Resin “with support structure” at i.materialise. However, there is one exception to this rule. However, online services automatically design support structures when necessary and trained personnel remove them after the printing process.

Some other technologies, such as resin-based stereolithography or filament-based FDM printers do need support. Most of our materials (especially those that use power-based technologies like laser sintering) work completely without support structures. If you order through online services like i.materialise the short answer is: you never have to design support structure. When do you need to design and remove 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. 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. Some 3D printing processes will require what is known as support.
