A method for fabricating an object , comprising: (a) irradiating a layer of powder in a powder bed with an energy beam in a series of scan lines to form a fused region; (b) providing a subsequent layer of powder over the powder bed; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until the object and at least one support structure are formed in the powder bed, wherein the at least one support structure is a spoke support , wherein the object is built on top of the spoke support ; wherein the object includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein a first distal end of the first portion, wherein the first distal end refers to an end of a portion of the object that is away from the center of the object , is separated from a second distal end of the second portion, wherein the second distal end refers to an end of a portion of the object that is away from the center of the object , by a portion of unfused powder, wherein the at least one support structure connects the first distal end to the second distal end; (d) removing the object and the at least one support structure from the powder bed; (e) heat treating the object and the at least one support structure, wherein the at least one support structure maintains dimensional stability of the object during the heat treatment; and (f) machining away the at least one support structure from the first distal end and the second distal end; wherein the spoke support has an open structure that allows unfused powder to be removed from the object before heat treating the object . (a) irradiating a layer of powder in a powder bed with an energy beam in a series of scan lines to form a fused region; (b) providing a subsequent layer of powder over the powder bed; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until the object and at least one support structure are formed in the powder bed, wherein the at least one support structure is a spoke support , wherein the object is built on top of the spoke support ; wherein the object includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein a first distal end of the first portion, wherein the first distal end refers to an end of a portion of the object that is away from the center of the object , is separated from a second distal end of the second portion, wherein the second distal end refers to an end of a portion of the object that is away from the center of the object , by a portion of unfused powder, wherein the at least one support structure connects the first distal end to the second distal end; wherein the at least one support structure is a spoke support , wherein the object is built on top of the spoke support ; wherein the object includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein a first distal end of the first portion, wherein the first distal end refers to an end of a portion of the object that is away from the center of the object , is separated from a second distal end of the second portion, wherein the second distal end refers to an end of a portion of the object that is away from the center of the object , by a portion of unfused powder, wherein the at least one support structure connects the first distal end to the second distal end; (d) removing the object and the at least one support structure from the powder bed; (e) heat treating the object and the at least one support structure, wherein the at least one support structure maintains dimensional stability of the object during the heat treatment; and (f) machining away the at least one support structure from the first distal end and the second distal end; wherein the spoke support has an open structure that allows unfused powder to be removed from the object before heat treating the object . <EOS>