What is water soluble support material

Posted by kuraraypovaluk on February 4th, 2023

It is designed to dissolve in water, making removing support structures from complex 3D prints much more accessible. Water-soluble support materials can be used with various thermoplastic materials, allowing for more intricate and detailed designs.

What are its uses?

water soluble printer filament is used in 3D printing to help create complex geometries and prints with intricate internal details. It is most often used in fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing, where the support material bridges gaps and supports parts of the print that would otherwise be impossible to produce without it. This can be especially helpful in making parts with overhangs and intricate internal structures. In addition, Water soluble support material can be used to create complicated support structures in dual-extrusion 3D printing, allowing users to combine two different materials in a single print.

What are its alternatives?

Water soluble support material is the go-to choice for many 3D printing projects but is not the only option. Other support materials, such as PVA and HIPS, can be used instead of water-soluble support material and are better suited for some applications. PVA is a water-soluble plastic which is slightly different from water-soluble support material and is often used to produce parts with large overhangs, such as bridges. HIPS is a biodegradable support material famous for its low cost and ability to dissolve in limonene. Other alternatives include ABS, PLA, and PETG, which are more commonly used for structural support.

Does it have any downsides?

Although water-soluble support material has many advantages, there are also some downsides to using it. For one, it can be challenging to remove from the print, and some prints may require soaking in water for a more extended period for the support material to dissolve completely. Water-soluble support material is often more expensive than other materials and can be challenging to work with within a dual-extrusion setup.

Which industries use it most?

Water soluble support material is used in many industries, such as aerospace, automotive, and medical. It is often used to create complex prints with intricate internal details, such as injection moulds and parts for aircraft engines. Water-soluble support material can also be used in the jewellery and dentistry industries to create regions with fine details and intricate shapes. Finally, the water-soluble support material can also be used to develop models for product prototyping and 3D-printed medical (polyvinyl alcohol powder) devices.

Two Cents on Water soluble support material  

Water soluble support material is an innovative addition to 3D printing technology. With it, users can create complex objects and prints that would otherwise be impossible. It makes creating overhangs, intricate designs and spaces possible, allowing for much greater complexity in 3D printing projects. Furthermore, water-soluble support material eliminates the need to manually remove support structures, allowing prints to be finished much quicker. It is a valuable feature that can add much value to many 3D printing projects.

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