Design Guide

Validating your dimensions

Our online tools can verify that most of the dimensions of the parts you upload will meet the minimum requirements. However, in some cases it will still be possible for you to place an order with an unprintable model. We may notice these issues during production planning, and in this case we’ll inform you and cancel the order. Once the print is initiated, it’s impossible for us to offer a refund even if the taks fails and produced a defective item.

Be sure your model is designed within the following limitations:

SLA

• Printing volume : 5.7 x 6.8 x 5.7 inches (14.5 x 17.5 x 14.5 cm)
• Minimum wall thickness : 0.03 inches (0.762 mm)
• Minimum detail size : 0.025 inches (0.635 mm)
• Minimum protruding/engraved feature : 0.025 inches (0.635 mm)
• Minimum hole diameter : 0.03 inches (0.762 mm)

SLS

• Printing volume : 13.7 x 14.9 x 9.8 inches (35 x 38 x 25 cm)
• Minimum wall thickness : 0.03 inches (0.762 mm)
• Minimum detail size : 0.02 inches (0.508 mm)
• Minimum protruding/engraved feature : 0.025 inches (0.635 mm)
• Minimum hole diameter : 0.039 inches (0.9906 mm)

FDM

• Printing volume : 16 x 16 x 14 inches (40.6 x 40.6 x 35.6 cm)
• Minimum wall thickness : 0.03 inches (0.762 mm)
• Minimum detail size : 0.02 inches (0.508 mm)
• Minimum protruding/engraved feature : 0.025 inches (0.635 mm)
• Minimum hole diameter : 0.039 inches (0.9906 mm)

POLYJET

• Printing volume : 9.8 x 5.9 x 9.8 inches (25 x 15 x 25 cm)
• Minimum wall thickness : 0.024 inches (0.6096 mm)
• Minimum detail size : 0.008 inches (0.2032 mm)
• Minimum protruding/engraved feature : 0.025 inches (0.635 mm)
• Minimum hole diameter : 0.01 inches (0.254 mm)

DMLS

• Printing volume : 6.3 x 6.3 x 9.8 inches (16 x 16 x 25 cm)
• Minimum wall thickness : 0.012 inches (0.3048 mm)
• Minimum detail size : 0.015 inches (0.381 mm)
• Minimum protruding/engraved feature : 0.025 inches (0.635 mm)
• Minimum hole diameter : 0.02 inches (0.508 mm)

Large parts

Parts that are larger than the printing area of our machines will be split into sections and assembled. Let our team know if you need the part to be cut in a certain way.

Details and features

If your part has internal channels or other important features, please inform our production team so they’re careful with these details while preparing the parts.

Printing failures

As mentioned above, it’s not possible to issue refunds once the materials have been used. Printing failures are rare but also very costly in terms of both material and time. In some cases, we can advise you as to what changes you’ll need to make to your model to ensure a successful print. We can also recommend different printing technologies that may give better results with your design, but this isn’t always an option. In any case, the costs of printing replacements will be added to your original order.

Effects of solvent smoothing

The solvent smoothing option is available for almost all the materials we offer with SLS and FDM technologies. We have observed a very slight reduction in thickness at the surface of the parts, of around 50 microns on all sides. This is because the solvent melts the surface material, then hardens it back into a slightly denser layer. While this may improve the mechanical properties of the part, it also means that certain critical dimensions may be affected. It is therefore imperative to mention these important details when placing your order. Also, your parts may bend during the smoothing process, especially if they are thin (less than 3 mm) and/or long (over 100 mm). Generally speaking, the more compact the parts, the less likely they are to warp. Given the unpredictable nature of this new technology, we cannot guarantee that the result will meet expectations.