What Is Support Filament?

Support filament is used alongside a primary printing material to hold up overhangs, bridges, and complex internal features during the printing process. Once printing is complete, the support material is removed, either manually or through dissolution.

Why Use Support Filament in 3D Printing?

Support filament allows for complex designs that would otherwise be impossible to print cleanly. It improves surface quality, reduces failed prints, and enables accurate printing of intricate features and internal cavities.

Types of Support Filament

Support materials are available as dissolvable supports, which dissolve in water or specialised solutions, and breakaway supports, which are mechanically removed after printing. The choice depends on the part geometry and surface finish requirements.

Applications for Support Filament

Support filament is commonly used for complex mechanical parts, detailed prototypes, enclosed geometries, dual-extrusion prints, and precision components where surface finish and dimensional accuracy are critical.

Support Filament Compatibility

Support materials are designed to work alongside common filaments such as PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, and Nylon, depending on printer compatibility and extrusion setup. Dual-extrusion printers are typically required for optimal results.

Support Filament in South Africa

Create It 3D supplies reliable support filament across South Africa, suitable for professional and engineering-grade 3D printing applications requiring clean, accurate, and complex part production.