There are many important elements to be aware of when you are considering additive manufacturing. In particular, these five elements are essential to achieve the perfect balance when it comes to the design of your product. The harmony between resolution, size as well as thickness, orientation and choice of material will help ensure the function and aesthetics of your product.
Size
One aspect to think about when designing your product is the size. Every technology comes with its own optimal format. Some are larger than others. Check out the post right here to get an article source about 3d printer price.
FDM machines can produce parts up to 16″×14″×16″. If your part is larger than this, it could be sectioned before fabrication and then joined in a professional manner.
Your pieces’ size can affect the amount of time it takes to fabricate them. Larger parts are more difficult to create and require more material. This can lead to cost increases.
The resolution
The resolution refers to the thickness of the layer that is utilized for additive manufacturing. Depending on the type of technology employed and the type of material used, a thin layer may lessen the appearance of ridges or imperfections which may be visible on the surface of the part. High resolution can provide an even surface and more smooth faces for post-processing. The smaller the layer will be, the clearer the details and the more production time.
For an object that has high resolution, you should choose SLA (Stereolitography) technology that has an average thickness that can reach 25 microns (0.025mm). SLS technology has a very high resolution. i.e. 100 microns (0.1mm). FDM layers are generally 250 microns thick (0.25mm) but we offer high-resolution (0.125mm). It’s possible to print in even lower resolution (330 microns, 0.330mm). This is an excellent alternative for large more unattractive objects that are produced quickly and at lower costs.
Wall thickness
The fundamental characteristic of your design is the thickness of the wall. This will ensure stability along with precision and tolerance for additive manufacturing parts. The thinner the thickness, the shorter the build time However, too much thickness can lead to a fragile component with less precise properties.
SLS increases the likelihood that the parts that are thin can warp as a result of the manufacturing process. SLS parts are exposed to extreme temperatures and the powder’s weight when it is being manufactured. The powder used in SLS can also shrink as it cools and then solidifies. With a thickness between 1mm to 3mm, geometric stability of these properties is more easily achieved. You can still achieve a minimum thickness below 0.4mm. However, this is much more dangerous.
FDM is one of the materials in which the recommended minimum thickness is 1.6mm
The orientation
In 3D printing orientation, it is how the object is placed on the printing platform. You can place it vertically, horizontally, at an angle , or flat. Orienting the components correctly to fabricate is an essential element that influences the final quality, especially when it comes to the geometric dimension and error tolerance. The energy required and the extent of support structures needed are directly affected. These factors all are a part of the overall price of the piece.
The orientation can also change based on the technology being utilized. In the case of FDM the part that is printed has a very high elastic force along the X-Y direction, however it is weaker in the Z direction because of the way the layers are created. This can lead to obvious lines in between layers which may affect the look of your parts. Certain orientations work better for curving shapes. Sometimes, orientations too low off the surface are not as effective and require more support.
This being said, we will take care of positioning your components to ensure they offer the highest ratio of surface quality and strength of the part (unless stated otherwise).
Material selection
There are many materials that you can select from based on the method you choose. The constraints of your component will dictate the materials you choose. It is important that you choose the right material for your component. For instance, if it is subject to extremely high temperatures, or chemical solvents, consider ULTEM (in FDM technology). If the product is required to be impervious to impacts, polycarbonate will be a good option.
SLA technology also provides appealing resins for a variety of uses. If you are looking for a material with properties that are similar to rubber, try selecting the flexible resin. Castable wax resin can be found if you are looking to make a lost wax casting. ABS (FDM) as well as nylon (SLS), and acrylic resin (SLA), all can be used for casting.
Design balance
You can create an object 3D printed which is useful by analyzing the dimensions, resolution, thickness and orientation.
