Design Tips for Successful 3D Printing

Design Tips

How to prevent 3d printing warping problems

3d printing warping is one of the most common problems faced by 3d printing enthusiasts. Especially when printing larger models, the printed parts initially adhere to the print bed, but then the edges of the prints lift off the print bed and curl, causing the model to deform and waste material. The main reason for warping is that plastic materials cool and shrink when printed, which causes deformation. This article will analyze the causes of warping and use suggestions to prevent 3d printing warping t......

Dec 12, 2024

Design Tips

Getting Smoother Curves: Understanding Non-Planar 3D Printing

Image via: Pexels by Jakub Zerdzicki Visible layer lines commonly known as stair-step effect can be an issue on your curved or sloped surfaces 3D printed parts. This common challenge in additive manufacturing affects both the look and sometimes the strength of your components. Non planar 3D printing is a developing technique that directly addresses this problem by changing how layers are applied. This article will help you understand the following about non planar 3D printing: ● What it means and how ......

May 14, 2025

Design Tips

Can You 3D Print a Key? Legal Risks, Materials & 3D Printing Tips

(Freepik) Thinking of a fun and functional project? Or afraid of losing your keys and wondering if your 3D printer can save the day? You’re not alone. 3D printing keys has become a hot topic in maker forums and locksmith circles alike. Whether it’s a house key, a car key fob shell, or a custom-designed lock, the idea of duplicating or prototyping a key using just plastic filament and a CAD file is incredibly tempting. But the problem is: printing keys isn’t always legal, it doesn’t always work, and de......

Jul 08, 2025

Design Tips

Achieve Faster 3D Printing With These Simple Tips

Image via: Pexels by Fox Many users, particularly those with popular desktop FDM printers, want to know how to get faster 3d prints. Making 3d printing faster means quicker project completion and more efficient iteration. This article provides answers on how to increase your printer speed, especially your PLA printing speed. It also explains when using a professional 3D printing service is a more effective approach for achieving fast 3d prints with high quality. Here’s what this guide covers: ● Settin......

Jun 04, 2025

Design Tips

Best Resources for Beginners to Learn 3D Printing

(source: Freepik) Getting started with 3D printing is both exciting and overwhelming. With so many books, tutorials, software tools, and printers available, aspiring beginners often don't know where to begin. Whether you're a hobbyist curious about 3D printing or a student exploring the world of additive manufacturing, having the right resources and a reliable guide can make all the difference. In this article, we’ll walk you through the 3D printing basics and show you how to build a solid foundation ......

May 09, 2025

Design Tips

Busting 7 Myths About 3D Printing with Real Facts

You've probably seen the Reddit threads, the YouTube “experts”, all parroting the same tired 3D printing myths. Some say 3D printing is expensive. Others call it dangerous. Some act like you can print a car in your garage by Friday. 3D printing is powerful tech, but if you’re working off bad info, you’ll waste time, money, and maybe even risk safety. In this post, we’re busting 7 of the most common myths with real 3D printing facts, and giving you the clarity you need before you start your next print.......

May 06, 2025

Design Tips

Learn the Design Rules for 3D Metal Printing

In 3D metal printing, even the most minor design missteps can lead to significant loss. You might have your CAD model ready, accounted for every dimension, and the ideal metal filament selected. But, what will you do if your part emerges from the printer, warped, distorted, or failed entirely? Designing for metal additive manufacturing is about understanding some physics: how heat affects the material, how supports interact with complex geometries, and how orientation can make or break your build. In ......

Apr 27, 2025

Design Tips

Brick Layer for Stronger 3D Prints Now Yours to Use

You finally dialed in your extrusion settings, your filament is dry, and still, your part splits clean along the layer lines the moment you put it under stress. It’s the kind of failure that turns a solid-looking print into a structural letdown. Layer adhesion has always been the Achilles’ heel of FDM printing. But there’s a smart workaround that’s picking up steam among engineers and serious hobbyists alike: brick layer 3d print. By offsetting infill and wall patterns across layers, like bricks in a ......

Apr 22, 2025

Design Tips

15 Tips for Fast 3D Printing

3D printing can be time-consuming, but there are some strategies to speed up the process without sacrificing too much quality. Below are 15 practical tips to speed up your 3D printing process while maintaining decent quality. These tips are especially useful for prototyping or when speed is a priority: 1. Increase Layer Height ● Why: Thicker layers mean fewer layers overall, reducing print time. ● How: Adjust the layer height in your slicer settings. For example, go from 0.2mm to 0.3mm or higher. ● Tr......

Mar 24, 2025

Design Tips

How to Create 3D Printed Keycaps for Your Keyboard

If you have used a mechanical keyboard, you may have removed and installed keycaps. With 3D printing, people can design personalized keycaps and print them out to install on the keyboard, giving your keyboard a brand new look. This article will introduce how to design and print your own 3D printed keycaps. Source:deigge, https://www.printables.com/model/818377-flat-xda-icon-keycaps The difference between 3D printed keycaps and traditional keycaps Customization 3D printed keycaps: You can design unique......

Jan 16, 2025

Design Tips

Choosing the right infill structure for 3D printing

In 3D printing, creating hollow objects is a common practice to reduce material usage, shorten printing time, and achieve specific design goals. One of the most critical elements when hollowing out 3D printing is the infill structure, which determines the strength, weight, and durability of the finished print. In this article, we will explore what infill structure is and how to choose the right infill density and pattern. What is infill structure in 3D printing? Infill refers to the material inside a ......

Nov 13, 2024

Design Tips

3D Printing Brims, Skirts, and Rafts: How to Use Them?

3D printing warping is a common problem in 3D printing. In order to effectively prevent warping at the bottom of the part and increase the adhesion of the build plate, 3D printing brims, skirts, and rafts are usually designed based on the printed object. So what are they and how to choose? This article will help you solve this problem. Source: https://3dprintmentor.com/3d-printing-raft-vs-brim-vs-skirt/ What are brims, skirts, and rafts in 3D printing 3D printing brim is a series of lines printed arou......

Dec 13, 2024

Design Tips

What Is an Appropriate Wall Thickness for 3D Printing Parts

What is Wall Thickness in 3D Printings Wall thickness in 3D printing refers to the distance or thickness of a printed object's vertical walls or surfaces. Importance of Wall Thickness Wall thickness affects the structural integrity, printability, and overall quality of the printed product, making it an important factor to take into account in 3D printing. For example, the wall thickness directly affects the strength and durability of 3D-printed objects. Specifically, a thicker wall provides more struc......

Dec 28, 2023

Design Tips

Considerations for 3D printing threads

The rapid development of 3D printing technology has provided unprecedented possibilities for manufacturing complex thread structures. Traditional thread manufacturing usually requires the use of lathes or tapping tools, while 3D printing technology makes the thread manufacturing process more flexible. Whether it is an external thread or an internal thread, 3D printing can directly generate finished threads without the need for post-processing. This article will discuss the considerations for 3D printi......

Oct 11, 2024

Design Tips

Design Considerations: Common 3D Printing Problems to Watch Out For

JLC3DP summarizes the problems encountered in 3D printing from the perspective of materials, with the aim of reminding 3D printing users to avoid some design misunderstandings. 1. Resin material case analysis 1.1 Flat and thin shell models are designed with thin wall thickness, which will easily cause deformation, warping and missing. Suggestion: The overall wall thickness of the resin should be designed to be more than 1.5MM (the thicker the wall thickness, the smaller the deformation amplitude) 1.2 ......

Sep 27, 2024

Design Tips

Optimizing 3D Printing Supports: How to use it efficiently

Supports are temporary structures added during the 3D printing process to ensure that the model can be printed smoothly. On the one hand, support structures are absolutely necessary for models with overhangs or bridges; on the other hand, they increase material costs, add more post-processing work, and may damage the surface of the model. Therefore, getting the right support is a very important part of 3D printing complex models. Source: Prusa 3D When do you need support FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling......

Aug 09, 2024

Design Tips

A Complete Guide to 3D Print Miniatures

3D printing has revolutionized the way we create and customize miniatures for tabletop games, collectibles, and artistic projects. In the model-making and entertainment fields, 3D printing allows designers to create realistic, detailed, unique, and replicable figurines, miniatures, action figures, character models, sculptures, film props, stop-motion models, art, and decoration, all at a sustainable cost and with a fast turnaround.This guide will walk you through the essential steps to successfully 3D......

Design Tips

The Importance of Using Threaded Inserts for Assembling Circuit Boards into 3D Printed Housings

As the integration of 3D printing in electronics grows, designers and engineers are increasingly turning to 3D printed housings for their circuit boards. One critical aspect of this process is ensuring secure and reliable assembly, which can be effectively achieved using threaded inserts. In this article, JLC3DP will explore the importance of using threaded inserts for assembling circuit boards into 3D printed housings, with a focus on the practical considerations for different 3D printing materials. ......

Jul 23, 2024

Design Tips

How to design a 3D Printing Coin Sorter

3D printing technology has revolutionized several sectors, providing practical and customizable solutions to everyday problems. In the financial sector, where counting coins can be a tedious and error-prone process, 3D printing offers a unique opportunity to create tools that increase efficiency and accuracy. The 3D printed euro coin separator combines practicality with cost savings. Using affordable materials and an optimized design, this device allows for quick and accurate separation of different e......

Jun 17, 2024

Design Tips

How to design a Colorful Lighting Spot Controlled by WiFi

Is it possible to use 3D printing to create and test electronic products/prototypes? Is it expensive to use 3D printing technology to create parts? How to create your pieces with 3D printing if you don't have a printer at home? In this article we will present answers to all these questions and explain the step-by-step process of creating an electronic project. From this, you will be able to understand the process of creating and validating 3D printed products. The audio visual production of images and......

Jun 26, 2024

Design Tips

How to 3D Print Wood

3D printing has revolutionized the manufacturing industry by allowing the creation of complex and customized objects. While 3D printing with plastic and metal has been widely adopted, the ability to 3D print with wood has opened up new possibilities for creating aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly products. In this article, we will explore the process of 3D printing with wood and the techniques involved in achieving the desired results. Understanding Wood Filament The key to 3D printin......

May 31, 2024

Design Tips

How To Create And Construct Your Own 3D Printer

The world of 3D printing is a captivating realm where imagination becomes reality. While there are numerous commercially available 3D printers, why not embark on a thrilling journey and create your own? Building a 3D printer from scratch not only offers a unique sense of accomplishment but also provides an opportunity to unleash your creativity and delve into the intricacies of this transformative technology. So, if you're ready to embark on an exciting journey of creating your own 3D printer, let's d......

Apr 29, 2024

Design Tips

How to 3D Print Waterproof

Introduction Many people have misunderstandings about the meaning of "waterproof". Basically, waterproofing and impermeable are different. Waterproof means that water cannot penetrate (and pass through) the component, while watertight means that water can neither enter nor escape from the component. In practice, if your print will be exposed to rain or humid climates, you'll probably want it to be waterproof. Whether it remains watertight or not is irrelevant. For example, if you are 3D printing a car......