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 The aperture is too small, resulting in hole blockage

Suggestion: The resin aperture is designed to be greater than 1.5MM.

Note: All apertures will shrink during printing, and the resin holes will generally shrink by about ±0.3mm.

1.3 Sharp edges will be missing during post-processing

Suggestion: Reduce such thin-wall designs, or accept the risk of missing prints.

1.4 The local size of the workpiece itself has reached the level of printability without deformation, but there will be deformation after production. Because the outer physical shrinkage of the workpiece is greater, the internal structure has no stretch margin.

Suggestion: Add plane support, and then use a masking knife to cut off the support when using it.

2. Nylon material case analysis

2.1 Spliced ​​parts are prone to breakage and loss when printed. (Poor model splicing printing accuracy, rough surface finish)

Suggestion: Disassemble parts and print individually.

2.2 Model columns are too thin and will break and be missing when printed

Suggestion: Pay attention to the diameter of the cylinder in model design to avoid breakage and missing. Generally, the diameter to height ratio is required to be 3:1.

2.3 When printing flat and thin shell models, there will be severe deformation and warping

Suggestion: The minimum thickness of the nylon printing model must be greater than 1MM, and the length and thickness design ratio must be within 10:1.

3. Plastic material case analysis

3.1 When printing plastic, when there are many curved surfaces on the model surface, the effect shown in the figure will easily appear.

Suggestion: Plastic is not suitable for printing circular structures and complex structure models. It is recommended to replace nylon or resin printing.

3.2 There is a probability that there will be thread ends on the surface of plastic printing, which does not affect the structure and is a normal phenomenon

Suggestion: If the surface quality requirements are high, it can be eliminated by grinding later.

3.3 Plastics have strict requirements on the thickness of molds. If the wall thickness is too thin, shrinkage deformation and printing damage will occur.

Suggestion: The minimum thickness of plastics must be above 1.6mm, and the thickness must be above 2.4mm when the model area is large.

3.4 Plastics are not suitable for printing all dense structures. The printing effect is poor, the support is difficult to remove, and it is easy to break.

Suggestion: Plastics are recommended for printing simple structures.

4. Metal material case analysis

4.1 Flat and thin shell models are prone to deformation and warping after printing.

Suggestion: The thickness of metal printing models must be greater than 1.5MM.

4.2 Metal materials are not suitable for printing splicing models and complex structural models. Splicing models with complex structures are difficult to handle after printing, and there are many supports, which are prone to missing and damage.

Suggestion: Nylon and resin materials are recommended for such models.

4.3 There will be pitting on the surface of metal process printing models

Analysis: Pitting is difficult to avoid, but it will not affect the strength of the model.

By following the design considerations outlined above, users can significantly reduce the risk of issues such as deformation, warping, and print failures. At JLC3DP, we are dedicated to providing high-quality 3D printing services tailored to your specific needs, ensuring your project avoids the above printing risks.