Hi All -
We’re excited to announce the latest update to our material portfolio:
Black Hi-Def Acrylate with Supports.
We introduced Black Hi-Def Acrylate (BHDA) last March and saw immediate demand from our community, so much so that we had to quickly increase manufacturing capacity to fulfill orders. Once our community got their hands on the new material, we received many requests through various channels of feedback to offer an option with the supports left on the models. We initiated testing on this option late last year and are now ready to open this up to the broader community. We hope this gives our community more control over the final design and quality of their products.
What are supports?
In order to secure your model to the build platform and support overhangs, toothpick-like scaffolds are printed to support your structure. For normal Black High Definition Acrylate, these are carefully removed from your model before shipping. If you choose to purchase your model in Black High Definition Acrylate with Supports, we will ship your model with the supports still attached to your model. Below is a picture of what this will look like on your model.
Achisia, Oathbound Gargoyle Outlaw by
Ill Gotten Games
How do I remove the supports?
Here are some helpful tools to remove supports:
- Tweezers
- Wire snips
- Exacto blade
- Micro snips
- Sculpting tools
- Files and/or sand paper in order to flatten out stubs and support marks
Warning-These tools are sharp so be careful! This material scratches in contact with metal so be cautious while removing support. Shapeways is not responsible for any damage you may do to your model during support removal.
Here are some helpful tips:
- Go slow and be cautious
- Many supports can be removed by hand depending on the geometry
- Start by trimming the supports down using wire snips
- Your model may be hidden by supports. Be careful not to cut the part by accident. Trimming supports first helps you see your model better so that you don't cut it
- Use tweezers to pull support posts off of the now visible model
- If there are thin wires and/or walls, you may need to cut the supports using micro-snips instead of pulling with tweezers so you don't break your part
- Be careful not to scrape your model with the tools as it may cause unwanted divots
Elf Ranger (28mm scale) by
Ill Gotten Games
For more tips on how to post-process beyond removing the supports, take a look at
our blog.
Which models are eligible?
You can only order BHDA with Supports for your own models.
What are the guidelines?
The material guidelines for the BHDA with Supports Pilot are the same as normal Black High Definition Acrylate.
What's the refund policy?
If you break your model while removing support material, it will not be eligible for a refund.
If, however, you find that there is a defect on your model after removing supports (with the exception of damage caused by the removal including divots, scratches, etc.), you will still be eligible for a refund.
We will refrain from printing or issuing a return for any models that do not meet our Content Policy guidelines.
Are there any risks?
If you choose Black High Definition Acrylate with Supports, we may not be able to do a thorough quality check before shipping your model. Supports often obstruct our view from the entire model. You may notice defects on your model that we could not detect with the supports still on the model.
Please see
our blog for more instructions on how to get the best quality from your products.