Professional support techniques for delicate jewelry in 3D printing
Table of contents
Introduction
When 3D printing jewelry with PowerResins Castable Resins, one of the most important steps is proper and professional support. Printing delicate parts, such as jeweled rings or plaques filled with voids, without proper support can lead to print failures, part damage, or missing details.
In this article, we will explore professional support techniques so you can get the best quality from your DLP or SLA printer.
Why is support in jewelry so important?
Unlike industrial parts, jewelry has:
- Micro Details
- Thin and fragile forms
- Critical angle decay
Key techniques for professional support
1. Choose the right printing angle (Tilt 30–45 degrees)
- Printing the part vertically creates uneven surfaces and many supports.
- The ideal angle for rings or round parts is usually between 30 and 45 degrees.
- This angle allows the supports to be located in the lower and invisible area and reduces the need for finishing.
2. Use Variable Support
- Use thin supports (0.15 to 0.3 mm) for sensitive areas.
- For heavy parts or central sections, thicker supports with a more stable base are needed.
- Software such as Chitubox Pro, Lychee or Asiga Composer, BellSupport, Matrix have the ability to adjust the thickness of the support.
3. Avoid contact of the support with the decorative outer surface.
- The support should not be connected to the surface of the stone, filigree designs or embossing.
- The support location should be located under the part or on invisible surfaces so that the support trace is not visible after casting.
4. Using Manual Supports Alongside Automatic Supports
- 100% automatic supports are usually not suitable for jewelry.
- Start with automatic supports first, then manually review the supports and edit them if necessary.
5. Reinforce the structure of the part with “Cross Supports”
- Using cross supports increases the stability of the print.
- This is especially effective for long or thin parts such as pendants or parts of a ring that are far from the body.
- 6. Experiment with your own resin and printer
- Some resins (like BlueCast X-One or PowerResin Wax) require a thicker support.
- Some printers (like Asiga Max or Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K) support thinner supports well.
Important tips for removing the support without damage
Important tips for removing the
- After printing, first wash the part in methanol alcohol.
- Then cut the supports in the appropriate direction with soft tweezers or a special support cutting tool.
- For thin supports, it is recommended to use gentle heat or UV post-cure before removing.
Note: PowerResin brand resins, of which MZ is the sole exclusive representative in Iran, do not require UV at all.Support without damage Conclusion
Support placement in 3D jewelry printing is not just a technical task; it is an art that must be done with care and knowledge. Following the correct principles of support placement will:
- Increase print quality
- Reduce waste
- Reduce post-processing and repair time
An example of proper support for a delicate ring:
