What is a primary benefit of using soluble supports in FDM printing?

Using soluble supports in FDM printing offers the significant benefit of being easily removable without causing any damage to the main part. This aspect is crucial, particularly when working with complex geometries that may require support structures to maintain their shape during the printing process. Traditional supports made from the same material as the model can often be challenging to remove and can leave marks or damage the surface of the part.

Soluble supports, on the other hand, can be dissolved away in a specific solvent, typically water or a specialized solution, leaving the printed object intact and maintaining a smoother surface finish. This ability to eliminate supports without physical intervention not only improves the quality of the finished item but also enhances design flexibility, allowing for more intricate designs that would otherwise require extensive manual post-processing steps.

While other options may pertain to characteristics of supports used in FDM, they do not capture the primary advantage offered by soluble supports, which is focused on their ease of removal and preservation of the print quality.