Design guidelines – FDM Technology | Druk 3D | SLS, FDM, SLA, MJF

DESIGN GUIDELINES - FDM technology

Check if your model is technologically feasible

Every manufacturing technologie has restrictions on the design to be carried out. 3D printing is no exception, it is important that the model is designed properly, i.e. in accordance with the guidelines specified for the additive manufacturing technology. Below you will find guidelines for Fused Depostiton Modeling (FDM)..

Note: The following quantities are universal values specified for the devices used by our company and standard process parameters. Following specified below design guidelines for FDM technology, you are minimizing the risk of building a model incorrectly. Deviations from the following values are possible, but require consultation with a specialist.

wytyczne do projektowania pod druk 3D w technologiach SLS, SLA, FDM

MINIMUM WALL THICKNESS:

Recommended value: 1.2 mm

Unsupported wall, designed at less than 1.2 mm may cramp excessively, become distorted or tear from the model during 3D printing.

MINIMUM THICKNESS OF THE SUPPORTED WALL:

Recommended value: 0.8 mm

A supported wall is connected with at least two other walls. Geometries with values lower than recommended (0.8 mm) may cramp excessively, become distorted or tear from the model during 3D printing or post-processing.

MINIMUM OVERHANG ANGLE WITH NO NEED TO SUPPORT

Recommended value: 40° on the level of the work platform

The so-called minimum angle of inclination is important in horizontal and inclined walls. Printing overhangs below the recommended 40° may result in the fragment tearing from the model. A negative effect of the overhang angle in the case of FDM technology may be reduced by proper orientation of a model in the work space.

OVERHANG WIDTH WITH NO NEED TO SUPPORT

Recommended value: 1 mm

Overhang refers to model geometry which horizontally extrudes from the model wall. Printing overhangs which fall outside the recommended parameters may result in deformation or tear of the structure out of the element manufactured. This type of overhangs may be printed but bear in mind that support structures are indispensable and have an impact on the quality of the supported surface.

MINIMUM DIAMETER OF HOLES

Recommended value: 2.0 mm

Hole designed below the recommended value may be sealed up or deformed during 3D printing.
Note! The value is given for shallow holes, and the deeper the hole, the higher the minimum value.

MINIMUM DIAMETER OF THE CYLINDER

Recommended value: from 1.5 mm (supported cylinders) up to 5.0 mm (unsupported cylinders)

While designing cylinder of small cross sections it must be remembered that their mechanical properties (strength) will be relatively low (they will be easily deformed/torn, even during the 3D printing process itself).

MINIMUM CLEARANCE

Recommended value: 0.2 mm (per side, elements to be assembled after the process) oraz 0.5 mm (mobile elements, built during print as one object)

Clearance is the distance (space) which is the difference in dimensions between two elements which are to be cooperating (printed in a single process) or designed to be assembled.

MINIMUM RAISED PART

Recommended value: 0.3 mm

Raised details (their height and width) such as text or texture which are below the recommended value will not be visible after 3D printing with FDM technology.

MINIMUM INDENT PART

Recommended value: 0.4 mm

Sunken areas details (their height and width) which are the indented details being below the recommended value will not be visible after 3D printing with FDM technology.