Guidelines for Successful 3D Printing
1. Model Orientation:
Strength of the 3D prints are stronger when load is applied along the filament. The blue
lines show the direction of the filament, and black arrow show the load direction.
Weaker along the Load Direction
Stronger along the Load Direction
2. General Guideline for Support Material:
Simple re-orientation of parts could result in saving print time and support material. In the
example below, the part is rotated to lay flat on the build plate.
Support Material Needed
No Support Material Needed
Support material can be avoided if overhangs have an angle as shown below. The angle
should be less than 45 degree
Support Material Needed
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No Support Material Needed
3. Recommended Wall Thickness :
It is recommended that the wall thickness of a part be 0.8 mm or greater.
4. Recommended Shell Thickness Multiple of Nozzle diameter:
The nozzle diameter of the printers at MMC is 0.4 mm, it is recommended to have the shell
thickness set to multiples of nozzle diameter, to avoid gaps and better wall strength.
(Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm) [0.4mm, 0.8mm, 1.6mm]
Good Shell
Thickness
(No Gap)
Gap in Wall
image: 3D hubs.com
5. Avoid Sharp Edges:
While designing parts for 3D printing round the edges to avoid warping of the layers.
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6. Chamfers Preferred over Fillets:
Use of chamfers around corners is preferred compared to fillets. The figure on the left
shows a corner with fillet, and the right with a chamfer.
7. Larger Base Results in Better Adhesion and Avoids Warping:
While designing parts having a larger base results in better adhesion to the build plate and
avoids warpage between the build plate and first few layers.
8. Support Material Needed for Anchor Points/Bridges > 3 mm wide to avoid Bridging:
Bridging occurs when there is a wide gap resulting in the print layers failing without
sufficient support. When there is more than 3mm gap, support material is needed to avoid
bridging as shown in the picture
Initial layers are failing
due to no support
9. Assembly and Fit Guidelines:
For parts that are assembled, use a tolerance of ± 0.5mm. One of the dimensions can be
reduced or increased by 0.5 mm
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10. Overhangs with Chamfer require Support:
For overhangs that are greater than 5 mm in length or have an angle more than 45 degree
support material is needed.
Support Material Needed for Angle > 450 or > 5 mm length of Overhang
For more information and resources:
www. lib.sfu.ca/makercommons
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