Design guide
The numbers on this page come from our own printers and settings, so they are the limits we really print to. A model that follows them prices without surprises and prints as drawn.
The numbers at a glance
| Rule | FDM (filament) |
|---|---|
| Thinnest wall | 0.9 mm |
| Layer heights | 0.12, 0.16, 0.2, 0.28 mm |
| Largest part | 246 × 246 × 256 mm |
| Gap for a snug fit | 0.2 mm |
Walls and small details
FDM: keep walls at least 0.9 mm thick. That is two lines of plastic, 0.45 mm each, from our 0.4 mm nozzle. Thinner walls may print as one weak line or not at all.
Pins, ribs and lettering should be at least as wide as the thinnest wall. Details thinner than that are rounded off or lost.
Holes and clearances
FDM: holes print a little small, so make a hole 0.2 mm wider than the screw or pin that goes in. Leave about 0.2 mm between parts that fit snugly and about 0.5 mm between parts that must slide or turn.
If a fit matters, tell us in the order notes. Printing a test piece first is the safest way to get it exactly right.
Text and engraving
FDM: raised or cut letters need strokes at least 0.9 mm wide and a height of at least 5.4 mm. A plain, bold font reads best.
Overhangs and supports
A surface that leans out more than 45° from vertical needs support underneath, which leaves marks and adds cost. We choose the orientation that needs the least support, and you can change it on the quote page.
A flat span between two walls up to 10 mm long prints as a bridge, without support.
Where you can, design overhangs as slopes of 45° or less from vertical so they print clean.
Layer height and detail
Thinner layers give a smoother surface and finer detail but take longer, so they cost more.
- FDM (filament): 0.12, 0.16, 0.2, 0.28 mm
Largest part
A part must fit inside the build volume, less a margin of 10 mm at the sides for the skirt and clips.
- FDM (filament): 246 × 246 × 256 mm
A bigger model can be split into parts that are glued together after printing.