Design Aspect | Guideline | Reasoning |
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Minimum Feature Size | Typically 0.5 mm or greater | Ensures that small features can be resolved and remain intact during and after printing. |
Wall Thickness | Minimum of 1 mm; recommended 2 mm or greater | Thinner walls may not be strong enough to support the part or could fail during depowdering. |
Supports | Generally not required as the powder acts as support | Eliminates the need for additional support structures, simplifying post-processing. |
Orientation | Consider orientation for optimal surface finish and mechanical properties | Orientation can affect the surface quality and structural integrity due to binder saturation and layering effects. |
Escape Holes | Include holes for powder removal in hollow parts | Necessary to remove unbound powder from internal cavities and reduce weight and material usage. |
Clearance | Minimum of 0.2 mm for assemblies | Ensures parts fit together properly after printing, considering possible powder residue. |
Layer Thickness | Typically 50 to 100 microns | Affects the resolution and build time; finer layers improve detail but increase build time. |
Post-Processing | Infiltration with a secondary material like epoxy or cyanoacrylate may be necessary | Binder jetted parts often require post-processing to improve mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy. |
Infill | Use strategic infill settings to balance strength and material usage | Full density is not always necessary; strategic infill can save material and reduce weight. |
Surface Finish | Top surfaces show better finish than side surfaces | Side surfaces may show stair-stepping, especially on curves, requiring post-process finishing. |
Coloring | Can add colorants during the printing process | Binder jetting is capable of producing full-color parts directly from the printer. |
Tolerance | Expect ±0.3 mm or greater, depending on the machine and material | Tolerances can vary widely with part size, material, and the specific printer used. |