Design Guidelines
Design best practices for advanced 3D printing to ensure optimal part quality and cost efficiency.
Critical Design Requirements (Automated Analysis Available)
💡 Pro Tip: Use our automated design analysis tool to get instant feedback on these requirements for your specific part.
Minimum Wall Thickness
0.8mm recommended, 0.4mm absolute minimum
Our analyzer checks actual wall thickness from your mesh
Minimum Feature Size
0.5mm for holes and gaps, 0.4mm for raised features
Analyzed from surface detail density
Mesh Quality
Watertight (manifold) geometry required
Auto-repair available for common issues
Escape Holes for Hollow Parts
Minimum 4mm diameter for powder removal
Cleaning complexity automatically assessed
Automated Design Analysis
Our intelligent analysis system evaluates your STL files against our SLS and FDM printing requirements and provides a comprehensive printability score.
What We Analyze:
- • Actual wall thickness measurements
- • Mesh quality and manifold geometry
- • Feature size and detail density
- • Aspect ratio and structural stability
- • Cleaning complexity for hollow parts
- • Space efficiency and nesting potential
Printability Scores:
Dimensional Guidelines
Wall Thickness Recommendations
Hole and Gap Sizing
Clearances and Tolerances
Aspect Ratio & Stability
Our analyzer automatically calculates aspect ratios and flags potential warping risks.
Optimization Tips
Part Orientation
- • Orient parts to minimize overhangs and supports
- • Place critical surfaces vertically when possible
- • Consider powder removal access for hollow parts
- • Minimize build height for faster printing
Surface Finish Optimization
- • Vertical surfaces have better finish than horizontal
- • Add fillets to sharp corners for better powder removal
- • Consider post-processing for critical surfaces
- • Text and logos work best when raised 0.5mm+
Automated Feedback Examples
- • "Use SLS-optimized orientation for best results (Z-height: 23.4mm)"
- • "Consider black dyeing for improved aesthetics and UV resistance"
- • "Plan for 0.1-0.2mm post-processing allowance on critical dimensions"
- • "Very small parts may benefit from batch printing to improve cost efficiency"
- • "Ensure adequate drainage holes (4mm minimum) for powder removal"
Mesh Repair & Validation
- • Automatic detection of non-manifold geometry
- • Built-in auto-repair for common mesh issues
- • Degenerate triangle removal
- • Normal vector correction
- • Download repaired STL files instantly
Design Examples
Good Design Practices
- ✓ Walls 1.2mm+ thick for structural integrity
- ✓ Holes 1mm+ diameter for clean printing
- ✓ 45° or less overhangs for self-support
- ✓ Escape holes 3mm+ for powder removal
- ✓ Rounded corners and fillets
- ✓ Consistent wall thickness throughout
- ✓ Text raised 0.5mm above surface
Avoid These Issues
- ✗ Walls thinner than 0.8mm
- ✗ Holes smaller than 0.5mm
- ✗ Steep overhangs over 45°
- ✗ Hollow parts without escape holes
- ✗ Sharp internal corners
- ✗ Varying wall thickness
- ✗ Engraved text (use raised instead)
PA12 Material Guidelines
Natural PA12 (Grey)
- • Excellent for functional prototypes
- • Good chemical resistance
- • Suitable for snap-fit assemblies
- • Can be dyed or painted post-processing
- • Slight texture from powder bed
Black PA12 (Dyed)
- • Premium appearance for end-use parts
- • Same mechanical properties as natural
- • Uniform deep black color
- • Ideal for consumer products
- • Slightly longer lead time