Usage of a witness mark to distinguish support structure from part

Abstract

A component includes a support structure made with an additive manufacturing process with a first end and a second end, and an object made with an additive manufacturing process with a first end and a second end, where the first end of the object is attached to the second end of the support structure. A cross-sectional area of the first end of the object is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second end of the support structure. A method of making an object, the method includes manufacturing a support structure with an additive manufacturing process. An object is manufactured on top of and connected to the support structure with an additive manufacturing process, wherein there is a witness mark created between the support structure and the object. The witness mark is identified. The object is separated from the support structure along the witness mark.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.