Design for manufacturing
We want you to get the best possible parts.
Operating for over a decade in Additive Manufacturing, we are specialists and know the technology inside out, so we have put together some advice for optimising your parts for 3D printing with LayerParts.
Please refer to our design guidance below. If you are unsure, please contact us.
Nylon 12 SLS parts - Design guidance
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What is the maximum part size that can be printed?
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Maximum part size in Nylon 12 is: 159.2 mm (x) x 159.2 mm (y) x 295.5 mm (z)
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Do Nylon 12 SLS parts have support material?
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No. Due to the way in which SLS technologies function, there is no support material attached to parts.
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What are the smallest recommended feature sizes?
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We recommend following the below guidelines for minimum dimensions:
- Holes = min diameter of 1.0 mm
- Walls (horizontal) = min thickness of 0.3 mm
- Walls (vertical) = min thickness of 0.6 mm
- Pin = min diameter of 0.8 mm
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Can I print assembly joints?
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Yes, you will need to select the Nylon 12 SLS material option. There is a minimum tolerance to be aware of for assembly parts. Follow these guidelines:
- Features < 20 mm2: 0.2 mm
- Features > 20 mm2: 0.4 mm
Leave a slight clearance between parts intended to mesh or interface after printing, like assembly joints or gears.
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I have a part with an enclosed cavity. Any recommendations?
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Escape holes are a must when printing with Nylon 12 SLS material. Include at least 2 escape holes in your design to enable unsintered powder to be released. Each hole must be a minimum of 3.5 mm in diameter.
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Can I emboss parts?
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Yes, but use a bold font and work to these design guidelines. Note, that some small features may not be printed.
Horizontal face:
- Depth: 0.15 mm
- Width: 0.35 mm
- Text height: 4.5 mm
- Text depth: 0.3 mm
Vertical face:
- Depth: 0.35 mm
- Width: 0.4 mm
- Text height: 4.5 mm
- Text depth: 0.3 mm
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Can I engrave parts?
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Yes, but use a bold font and work to these design guidelines. Note, that some small features may not be printed
Horizontal face:
- Depth: 0.1 mm
- Width: 0.3 mm
- Text height: 3 mm
- Text depth: 0.3 mm
Vertical face:
- Depth: 0.15 mm
- Width: 0.35 mm
- Text height: 3 mm
- Text depth: 0.3 mm
Nylon PA66 with Carbon Fibre (Onyx) parts - Design guidance
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What is the maximum part size that can be printed?
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525 mm (x) x 400 mm (y) x 400 mm (z)
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Will my part have support material?
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Possibly. This will depend on the orientation. Our team will always orientate your parts in the best way possible to minimise the use of support material, and preserve key surfaces. However, due to the nature of FFF printers, support material may be required. We will remove supports prior to shipping.
If there is a particular face or surface that is most important, please let our team know prior to production and we will do our best to accommodate this where possible.
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Is there a minimum angle that means support material is not needed?
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Yes, 40° to the horizontal. This is the minimum angle at which a feature of a part can print without needing supports
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What are the smallest recommended feature sizes?
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We recommend following the below guidelines for minimum dimensions:
- Holes = min diameter of 1.5 mm (in xy) and 1.0mm (in z)
- Posts = min diameter of of 1.6 mm (in xy) and 2.0mm (in z)
Avoid posts with heights more than five times their diameter
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Can I engrave parts?
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Yes, we suggest engraving parts for lettering and texture, but engraved features may blend into the rest of the model if they are too small.
Z layer features:
- H: 0.10mm
- W: 0.50mm
Horizontal XY features:
- D: 0.20mm
- H: 0.80mm
- D: 0.20mm
- W: 0.50mm
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Can I emboss parts?
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Yes, we suggest embossing parts for lettering and texture, but embossed features may blend into the rest of the model if they are too small.
To prevent gaps on features less than than 2mm wide, design embosses to be even multiples of 0.4mm.
Z layer features:
- H: 0.10mm
- W: 0.80mm
Horizontal XY features:
- D: 0.20mm
- H: 0.80mm
Vertical XY features:
- D: 0.20mm
- W: 0.80mm
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