Technical Notes

You can place an online order for a 3D print with 3Faktur. You can find instructions here.
On this page you will find technical information about your order, with a focus on hollowing out solid structures, the support surface for vapor smoothing and general information about internal channels in components.
For further information, please also visit the following pages:

Minimal design requirements: These include, for example, minimum wall thicknesses. Details can be found on the respective material pages. To the material overview
More detailed design requirements: Information on special functionalities and optimization strategies for additive manufacturing can be found here: Construction and design information for additive manufacturing

Option: Allow Hollowing

Background

For components with a material volume of approximately 40 cm³ or more, a high process temperature occurs during the printing process with wall thicknesses of approximately 10 mm or more. This can lead to undesired effects, such as:

• Increased inaccuracy caused by uneven shrinkage behavior.
• Warping caused by high temperature differences in the structure and resulting material stresses.
• Surface damage in the form of “elephant skin” (grooves) or a yellowish color of the component due to heavily oxidized powder.
• Reduced mechanical strength due to high process temperature and heavily oxidized raw material.

back to top

Support Surface for Vapor Smoothing

Background

In the chemical smoothing process (“Vapor Smoothing”), the surface is temporarily liquefied by evaporated solvent (a few µm). This process creates a largely pore-free and smooth surface. The liquefaction leaves visible marks on the component. You can find general backgrounds, guidelines, and information about the technology on our page: Vapor Smoothing (Chemical Smoothing).

Your Options There are two options for handling the component in the process:

• Option “Placing”: The component is placed on a “nail bed” or grid, resulting in point- or line-shaped impressions. The support side (bottom) is less processed in the process, while the smoothing mainly occurs on the opposite side of the component (top). This option is more cost-effective and recommended for components with a clear visible side and a “non-visible side.” This is the case for most housing parts, for example. You can optionally upload a drawing (PDF format) specifying the visible side.
• Option “Hanging”: The component is suspended from a hook, resulting in only one impression at the hanging point. As a result, the component is smoothed more evenly from all sides. Since this is more complex in the process and the relative space requirement per component significantly increases, this option is more expensive. Please note that with the “Hanging” option, a structure must be present in the component on which it can be hung. These can be blind holes, breakthroughs, or loops, for example.

In the quotation and ordering process under “Configure Components,” you will find the available options. You can optionally upload a technical drawing specifying the support or hanging surface.

back to top

Internal Channels & Undercuts

Background

During the printing process, the powder is compacted (“pressed”) at high temperatures. Increased process temperatures occur at internal channels and undercuts because the heat is trapped locally. As a result, the previously loose powder is lightly sintered and becomes very solid in the corresponding areas.

Your Options

The residues are removed by glass bead blasting. Access to the areas is necessary for this. If access is not possible, powder residues may remain in these areas and, for example, clog channels. This can only be avoided by making design changes to the component. You can find suggestions for design optimization for additive manufacturing here.

Example internal channels. This component includes additional structures that facilitate cleaning of the channels. Learn more in our design guidelines for channels.

back to top

back to top