Designing for 3D Printing
Long talk
Time
June 21, 2025 1:30-2:20 PM
Location
Talk Track Two
Like all manufacturing methods, 3D printing has its own set of design constraints that determines reliable production and part usability. Understanding these constraints is an important skill when designing parts for 3D printing, whether as a final product or as part of prototyping. This talk is a primer on these techniques and will give you a foundation to start designing and 3D printing parts with more confidence of success.
Topics that will be covered in this talk include:
- Basic overview of 3D printing
- How print orientation affects part strength and surface finish
- Accounting for layer height/line width when dimensioning features
- Overhangs, undercuts and bridges
- Bevels (fillets vs chamfers and when to use them)
- Threads and fasteners (modeled, tapped, inserts)
- Moving parts (flexures, hinges)
- Print precision and how it affects mating parts (gears, fasteners, lids, etc.)
- Features prone to causing print failures
- Features made possible by 3D printing (embedded or print in place parts)