There is a need in the art for methods, techniques, devices and systems to ensure the availability of &ldquo；patient-specific&rdquo； and/or &ldquo；patient engineered&rdquo； implant components for a scheduled surgery in a cost effective and efficient manner. Accordingly, there is disclosed herein a method of additive manufacturing of a joint implant (100) which has one or more articular surfaces and one or more bone-facing surfaces (15, 17). A design for the implant (100) is aligned relative to a substrate (30, 120) in a manufacturing apparatus. One or more support structures (110, 115, 160, 200) are provided contacting one or more portions (165, 210) of the implant (100) which is to be supported, and one or more support structures (110, 115, 160, 200) are removed from the implant (100). In one or more embodiments, none of the one or more support structures (110, 115, 160, 200) contacts the one or more articular surfaces nor the one or more bone-facing surfaces. By avoiding support contact with such surfaces, the time and expense associated with implant manufacture can be minimized.
