Less is More with NoSupports

Metal Powder-Bed Printing Without Support Structures

Support structures are unwanted within enclosed structures where support removal is impossible. NoSupportsTM allows you to:

  • Print large internal channels and cavities without supports
  • Improve surface homogeneity in downfacing overhang zones
  • Reduce the risk for dimensional variation caused by manual finishing. 

Powered by 3DXpert® software, NoSupports expands the design envelope, accelerates design cycles and unlocks new applications.

Apply NoSupports to Your Advanced Application

NoSupport build strategies are available for: 

Find out how 3D Systems' team of application experts can help you apply NoSupports on your application and benefit from reduced cost, shorter delivery time and accelerated design cycles.

Schedule a Free Consultation
part with supports

An optimized DMP build design with NoSupports strategies. The reductions achieved using NoSupports were 69% fewer supports, 14% shorter print time, 69% reduction in labor cost.

Optimized DMP build design with NoSupports

DMP build design using traditional supports.

  • Key benefits of using NoSupports

  • Eliminating supports in direct metal printing (DMP) improves part production efficiency without compromising on part quality.

  • Reduce Costs Icon

    Reduce Time and Costs

    Eliminating supports accelerates part production and delivery. Reduce the cost of labor and minimize material waste. Less supports means less scrap and post-processing which expediting build times.

  • Speed up production icon

    Improve Repeatability

    NoSupports strategies improve dimensional repeatability and surface homogeneity while empowering expanded design freedom and advanced print capabilities such as nesting.

  • Lock Icon

    Unlock New Applications

    Discover new possibilities such as complex geometries, and enclosed channels not previously possible. Less supports means quicker builds and faster turnaround on design iterations. 

  • Reduce Post Processing Icon

    Expedite Post-Processing

    If no supports are used, you eliminate the need for their removal during post-processing, significantly reducing the time to delivery.
     

Real-World NoSupports Applications

  • Hip cup

    Acetabular Cups

    NoSupports build strategies make acetabular cup production even more cost-effective by using a supportless stacking configuration. This approach saves time, reduces labor cost and minimizes material waste, while improving dimensional repeatability.

    Download the Brochure
  • Turbo Pump Casing

    Turbo Pump Casing

    The turbo pump casing with a diameter of 455 mm was printed seamless in 75 hours on the DMP Factory 500. This cost-competitive solution was achieved by combining the high-productivity Ni718 parameters with 3D Systems NoSupports build strategies.

    Direct Metal Printing for Turbomachinery
  • 3d-systems-healthcare-vsp-cmf-planning

    VSP® Fibula Guide

    NoSupports strategies combined with design for AM (DfAM) practices enable you to rapidly produce mass personalized devices—such as this titanium 3D printed fibula cutting guide—without compromising on part quality. 

    Download the Brochure

Design Guide: Printing with NoSupports

Metal AM makes it possible to produce high performing components that defy conventional manufacturing limitations. Every manufacturing process has its nuances, and for metal AM this is the need for certain geometries to be printed with support structures. However, the need for supports is not universal. The strategies within this guide offer ways to print successfully without them.

Download the Guide
Laserform 316L a part

3DXpert

The 3DXpert software package has advanced metal AM capabilities to expand your design envelope with features such as multi-exposure and thermal blades to print without supports. 3DXpert is an all-in-one integrated software for the entire AM workflow. It provides the ultimate combination of automation and full user control.

  • Parametric and history-based hybrid (b-rep and mesh) CAD tools
  • History-based approach facilitates changes at any stage
  • Built-in simulation speeds up design verification
  • Optimize print strategies to ensure quality at reduced printing time
     
Discover 3DXpert Software
3DXpert rendering of a print part

Schedule a free consultation with the Application Innovation Group (AIG) to accelerate your AM journey.

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