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Top 3 Considerations Before Prototyping

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With fast production and broadened design possibilities, 3D printing has become a go to for rapid prototyping. Engineers and designers looking to take advantage of 3D printing for prototyping should consider these key considerations before getting started.

1. The End Product
At the forefront of the decisions made for rapid prototyping should be your product’s application. If your prototype needs to replicate the final product’s cosmetic looks, you may turn to a technology and material that provides a finer resolution, or you may need the prototype to be post-processed for aesthetics. If you need your prototype to simply function exactly as the end-product will; that is where technologies that offer robust materials and ideal tolerances come into play.


2. 3D Printing Technology
At Objective3D Direct Manufacturing we offer four 3D printing processes, each with their own unique build styles, design limitations and material properties. Depending on which method you use will determine specific design adjustments, like offsets and variances, which may need to be implemented into your CAD file. Our Design Guidelines highlight these important considerations.

We have two 3D printing technologies that offer unprecedented detail and cosmetic finish with fine resolution. PolyJet offers the ability to combine flexible and hard materials, as well as full color and transparencies. For functional prototypes, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) build strong, durable parts with engineering-grade thermoplastics. Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is also available for metal prototypes. Produced much faster than with traditional manufacturing methods, these prototypes provide realistic simulations of the mechanical functions of your design in the same materials as the end product.


3. File Formats & Design Guidelines
3D printing methods use .STL files for set up and builds. While native CAD can be converted to .STL format, issues can arise on occasion when conversions happen outside of the native software. To help ensure a great build, send your CAD in .STL format.

Multiple shells and unshared edges on an .STL file can cause uneven surfaces that overlap or disconnect from one another. The best .STL files typically only contain one shell and no unshared edges. Files that have multiple shells will most likely not build as desired. It’s also key to indicate what unit of measurement your file was originally designed with, inches or millimeters? Noting original units of measurement can reduce potential errors.

3D printing processes are free-form production systems, allowing for incredibly intricate parts. They are accurate within thousandths of an inch but have lesser tolerance control than some traditional manufacturing methods. Each process has a minimum feature size, varying from 0.254mm-.7.62mm. Designers should account for slight dimensional variance for designs like interference fits and line-to-line designs, or plan to utilize CNC machining after builds for critical tolerances.

For more detailed design considerations related to each technology, download our technology Design Guidelines.

 About Objective3D Direct Manufacturing
At Objective3D Direct Manufacturing (formerly known as RapidPro and Redeye Australasia), 3D printing and custom manufacturing is our core and we’ve been doing this for over 12 years. Located in Carrum Downs, Victoria, at the Objective3D Additive Manufacturing Centre, the largest of its kind in Australia and New Zealand, we offer a wide selection of solutions which includes Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Polyjet, EOS Selective Laser Sintering(SLS), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Vacuum Casting, Injection Moulding and CNC. Objective 3D Direct Manufacturing is ISO 9001 certified and is a part of the Global Stratasys Direct Manufacturing Network. For more information, visit www.direct3dprinting.com.au

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