When you prepare 3D printed prototypes of your designs, keep in mind these 5 concepts:
- Nozzle size and material: Your choice of printing equipment is directly linked to how fast your product prints and the level of detail that you can achieve.
- Design parameters: In order to be printable, your geometry needs to have volume and manifold geometries.
- Overhangs and support: Beyond a certain point your printed material won't be able to print onto thin air (surprise!) and requires designed 3D printed supports, which will affect the look of your final object.
- Adhesion: The heat of the material and printer nozzle may distort the cooling material, unless you print out a support structure to keep it firmly adhered to the printer bed.
- Orientation: The direction that the material is layered to create your object and how it will impact the final look and feel of your object.
If you want to dig into the details, jump over to our definitive guide to design for 3D printing in 2020.