Survey on Optimization of Support Structures in 3D Printing

When manufacturing complex parts using 3D printing technology, support structures are crucial for ensuring build quality. However, their use also leads to issues such as material waste, increased costs, and cumbersome post-processing. This paper synthesizes innovations and optimizations in support structures from various researchers. These optimizations have become key to enhancing printing efficiency and sustainability. Traditional methods of manually or automatically generating supports via software often suffer from limitations like inefficiency or material redundancy. This paper evaluates that these optimization strategies enhance the economic efficiency, quality, and functional reliability of support structures. While there remains room for improvement in handling complex structures, they collectively advance 3D printing toward greater efficiency, precision, and environmental sustainability.