Best Practices

Here is a comprehensive guide to designing for our state-of-the-art manufacturing hub:

Designing for Prototyping and Rapid Iteration (PLA)

When you need to test multiple versions of a design quickly, your CAD model should be optimized for rapid turnaround.

Material Choice: We highly recommend using PLA or PLA+ filament for prototyping phases. PLA provides stable, predictable extrusion behavior, clean surface finishes, and low failure rates across repeated production cycles.  PLA+ offers stronger layer bonding and better impact resistance for functional test parts.

Infill & Speed: To reduce build times and save on material costs, design your non-load-bearing visual prototypes to utilize a low infill percentage. Pairing fine layer heights with moderate print speeds will preserve sharp edge definition and improve surface clarity.

Built-in Version Control: For iterative projects, we highly recommend incorporating labeled version control directly into your CAD design (e.g., embossing "V1" or "V2") to track your revisions easily.

Designing for Miniatures and High-Detail Models (PLA)

If your goal is to produce intricate figurines, architectural models, or highly detailed decorative pieces, careful design adjustments are necessary.

Nozzle Optimization: To capture the most delicate features, design your models with the understanding that we will utilize smaller nozzle sizes, specifically between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm.  Because we stock all available hotend sizes for our equipment, we can perfectly match our hardware to your design's demands.

Print Speed & Cooling: We run highly detailed PLA prints at significantly slower speeds to ensure absolute precision. To avoid warping and maintain crisp details on overhangs, design your model to minimize severe overhanging angles wherever possible, allowing our cooling fans to solidify the plastic instantly.

Post-Processing Ready: PLA is highly receptive to post-processing; you can easily sand, prime, and paint your models to achieve a flawless, professional finish.

Designing Flexible and Impact-Resistant Components (TPU)

When your project requires rubber-like elasticity or the ability to absorb shocks, rigid plastics will not work.

Material Choice: TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) offers excellent elasticity, allowing prints to bend, stretch, and return to their original shape without permanent deformation. It also features high abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and low friction.

Design Considerations: Design with TPU in mind when creating custom phone cases, weather-tight gaskets, vibration dampeners, and wearable accessories. Because printing flexible materials requires slower print speeds and careful temperature control to avoid stringing, keeping flexible designs relatively simple will yield the cleanest results.

Designing Functional and Load-Bearing Parts (ABS & PETG)

When designing mechanical linkages, enclosures, or automotive components, the physical stresses the part will endure dictate how it should be designed.

High Strength & Heat Deflection (ABS): ABS is renowned for its durability, high impact strength, and heat resistance (withstanding temperatures up to 100°C). It is ideal for functional mechanical parts, automotive components, and tooling. If you require perfectly smooth, injection-mold-like finishes, ABS can be post-processed using acetone vapor smoothing. However, you must factor in slightly wider tolerances in your CAD files to account for thermal contraction and moderate shrinkage.

The "Goldilocks" Material (PETG): PETG perfectly bridges the gap between the easy printability of PLA and the rugged durability of ABS. It boasts extremely low moisture absorption and is highly resistant to water and harsh chemicals. Because it is dimensionally stable and features low shrinkage, PETG is our go-to for snap-fit enclosures, fluid handling components, and durable functional parts.

Mastering Complex Geometries & Extreme Overhangs

You do not have to limit your imagination just because a design features severe overhangs, enclosed internal cavities, or complex bridging.

Soluble Support Structures: Our advanced multi-material systems allow us to print your primary object alongside specialized, dissolvable support filaments.

Guidelines for Food-Safe and Pet-Safe Prints

A common question we receive is whether 3D-printed parts can be used for cookie cutters, pet bowls, or customized food containers. The short answer is yes, but it requires strict post-processing.

The Layer Gap Problem: The standard FDM 3D printing process naturally creates microscopic layer gaps that easily trap moisture and bacteria.

Mandatory Surface Sealing: While base materials like PETG, Polypropylene (PP), and certain PLAs have good chemical stability, to make a printed part truly food-safe or pet-safe, the surface must be thoroughly sealed. We recommend designing parts with smooth, easily accessible surfaces so a verified food-safe epoxy or resin coating can be uniformly applied to block moisture entry.

Care Instructions: Even when properly sealed, these prints are not dishwasher safe. Cleaning must rely on gentle hand washing with mild soap and warm water, followed by complete air drying.