Yellow Part

Design for 3D Printing Toolkit

Get in-depth design advice to optimise 3D-printed parts. Designing with additive manufacturing in mind can accelerate production time and reduce overall cost.

Optimising Part Design
for 3D Printing

There are many design elements involved in creating plastic or metal parts for 3D printing—design for printability is a key one. At Protolabs, we provide automated design analysis on CAD models that highlights features in your part design that can be adjusted for manufacturability. To keep design advisories at a minimum and optimise part design, we created this helpful kit of 3D printing resources.

Designing for 3D Printing Processes

Stereolithography

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Selective Laser Sintering

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Multi Jet Fusion

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PolyJet

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Metal 3D Printing

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Navigating Critical 3D Printing Advisories

DMLS Sizes

 

 

Micro/Fine Resolution

High Resolution

Normal Resolution

Process
.

Minimum Wall Thickness 
X/Y

Minimum Wall Thickness 
Z

Minimum Wall Thickness X/Y

Minimum Wall Thickness 
Z

Minimum
Wall Thickness 
X/Y  

Minimum Wall Thickness Z

 Process

Aluminium AlSi10Mg

 N/A

 N/A

1.00mm
1.00mm

1.00mm

1.00mm

DMLS

Cobalt Chrome

1.00mm

1.00mm

N/A

 N/A

N/A

N/A

DMLS

Inconel 718

N/A

N/A

1.00mm

 1.00mm

1.00mm

1.00mm

DMLS

Stainless Steel 316L

1.00mm

1.00mm

1.00mm

 1.00mm

N/A

N/A

DMLS

Maraging Steel

N/A

N/A

1.000mm

 1.00mm

 1.00mm

1.00mm 

DMLS

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V

1.00mm

1.00mm

1.00mm

 1.00mm

1.00mm

1.00mm

DMLS

 

 

Micro/Fine Resolution

High Resolution

Normal Resolution

Process
.

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y  

Minimum Small Gap Z

 .

Aluminium AlSi10Mg

 N/A

 N/A

0.5mm

 1.00mm

0.50mm

1.00mm

DMLS

Cobalt Chrome

0.50mm

1.00mm

N/A

 N/A

N/A

N/A

DMLS

Inconel 718

N/A

N/A

0.50mm

 1.00mm

0.50mm

1.00mm

DMLS

Stainless Steel 316L

0.50mm

1.00mm

0.50mm

 1.00mm

N/A

N/A

DMLS

Maraging Steel

N/A

N/A

0.50mm

 1.00mm

 0.50mm

1.00mm 

DMLS

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V

0.50mm

1.00mm

0.50mm

 1.00mm

0.50mm

1.00mm

DMLS

 

  Micro/ Fine Resolution (mm) High Resolution (mm) Normal Resolution (mm) Process
Aluminium - 250 x 250 x 300  300 x 300 x 400 DMLS
Stainless Steel 316 L 71 x 71 x 80 (Ø100 x 80) 250 x 250 x 300 - DMLS
Inconel 718 - 250 x 250 x 300 250 x 250 x 300 DMLS
Maraging Steel - 250 x 250 x 300 250 x 250 x 300 DMLS
Titanium 71 x 71 x 80 (Ø100 x 80) 250 x 250 x 300 250 x 250 x 300 DMLS
Cobalt Chrome 100 x 100 x 100 - - DMLS

SLA Sizes

 

 

Micro/Fine Resolution

High Resolution

Normal Resolution

Process
.

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y  

Minimum Small Gap Z

 .

ABS-Like Black

N/A

N/A

0.13mm

 0.41mm

0.25mm

0.41mm

SLA

ABS-Like Grey

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.25mm

0.41mm

SLA

ABS-Like Translucent/Clear

N/A

N/A

0.13mm

 0.41mm

0.25mm

0.41mm

SLA

ABS-Like White

N/A

N/A

0.13mm

 0.41mm

0.25mm

0.41mm

SLA

Ceramic-Like (Advanced High Temp)

N/A

N/A

0.13mm

 0.41mm

0.25mm

0.41mm

SLA

PC-Like Advanc High Temp

N/A

N/A

 0.13mm 0.41mm

0.25mm

0.41mm

SLA

MicroFine™ Green

0.07mm

0.20mm

N/A

 N/A

N/A

N/A

SLA

MicroFine™ Grey

0.07mm

0.20mm

N/A

 N/A

N/A

N/A

SLA

True Silicone 

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.25mm

0.41mm

SLA
 

Micro/Fine Resolution

High Resolution

Normal Resolution

Process
.

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y  

Minimum Small Gap Z

 .

ABS-Like Black

N/A

N/A

0.40mm

 0.65mm

0.50mm

0.65mm

SLA

ABS-Like Grey

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.65mm

SLA

ABS-Like Translucent/Clear

N/A

N/A

0.40mm

 0.65mm

0.50mm

0.65mm

SLA

ABS-Like White

N/A

N/A

0.40mm

 0.65mm

0.50mm

0.65mm

SLA

Ceramic-Like (Advanced High Temp)

N/A

N/A

0.40mm

 0.65mm

0.50mm

0.65mm

SLA

PC-Like Advanc High Temp

N/A

N/A

 0.40mm 0.65mm

0.50mm

0.65mm

SLA

MicroFine™ Green

0.40mm

0.40mm

N/A

 N/A

N/A

N/A

SLA

MicroFine™ Grey

0.40mm

0.40mm

N/A

 N/A

N/A

N/A

SLA

True Silicone 

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.65mm

SLA
  Micro/ Fine Resolution (mm) High Resolution (mm) Normal Resolution (mm) Process
ABS-Like Black (Accura Black 7820) -  247 x 247 x 250 247 x 247 x 250 SLA
ABS-Like Translucent/Clear (WaterShed) - 247 x 247 x 250 736 x 635 x 533 SLA
MicroFine™ Green 127 x 127 x 63 - - SLA
MicroFine™ Grey 127 x 127 x 63 - - SLA
PC-Like Advanc High Temp (Accura 5530) -  247 x 247 x 250 247 x 247 x 250 SLA
Ceramic-Like (Advanc HighTemp PerFORM) -  247 x 247 x 250 585 x 585 x 380 SLA
ABS-Like Grey (Accura Xtreme Grey) - - 585 x 585 x 380 SLA
ABS-Like White (Accura Xtreme White 200) - 247 x 247 x 250 736 x 635 x 533 SLA
True Silicone - - 70 x 130 x 100 SLA

 

SLS & MJF Sizes

 

 

Micro/Fine Resolution

High Resolution

Normal Resolution

Process
.

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y  

Minimum S0mall Gap Z

 .

PA 12 Smooth White

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

SLS

PA 12 Vapour Smooth White

 N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

1.50mm

1.50mm

SLS

PA 12 - Glass Filled Smooth White

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

1.00mm

1.00mm

SLS

PA 12 - Carbon Filled Smooth Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

SLS

PA 12 Flex Pure Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

SLS

TPU-88A Pure Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

1.00mm

1.00mm

SLS

PA 12 Smooth Light Grey

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.50mm

MJF

PA 11 Smooth Grey

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.50mm

MJF
PA 11 Vapour Smooth Black N/A N/A N/A N/A 1.50mm 1.50mm MJF

Ultasint TM TPU-01 - 88A Pure Grey

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.50mm

MJF

Ultasint TM TPU-01 - 88A Vapour Smooth Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

1.50mm

1.50mm

MJF

 

 

Micro/Fine Resolution

High Resolution

Normal Resolution

Process
.

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y  

Minimum Small Gap Z

 .

PA 12 Smooth White

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

SLS

PA 12 Vapour Smooth White

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

SLS

PA 12 - Glass Filled Smooth White

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

1.00mm

1.00mm

SLS

PA 12 - Carbon Filled Smooth Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

SLS

PA 12 Flex Pure Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

SLS

TPU-88A Pure Black 

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

1.00mm

1.00mm

SLS

PA 12 Smooth Light Grey

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.50mm

MJF

PA 11 Smooth Grey

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.50mm

MJF
PA 11 Vapour Smooth Black N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.50mm 0.50mm MJF

Ultasint TM TPU-01 88A Pure Grey

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.50mm

MJF

Ultrasint TM TPU-01 88A Vapour Smooth Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.50mm

0.50mm

MJF
  Micro/ Fine Resolution (mm) High Resolution (mm) Normal Resolution (mm) Process
PA 12 Smooth White - - 676 x 367 x 564

SLS
PA 12 Vapour Smooth White - - 500 x 300 x 300

SLS
PA 12 - Glass Filled Smooth White - - 292 x 320 x 406 SLS
PA 12 - Carbon Filled Smooth Black - - 490 x 490 x 740 SLS
PA 12 Flex Pure Black - - 490 x 490 x 700 SLS
TPU-88A Pure Black - - 330 x 280 x 440 SLS
PA 12 Smooth Grey - - 284 x 380 x 380 MJF
PA 11 Smooth Grey - - 284 x 380 x 380 MJF
PA 11 Vapour Smooth Black - - 284 x 380 x 380 MJF
UltrasintTM TPU-01 88A Pure Grey - - 284 x 380 x 380 MJF
UltrasintTM TPU-01 88A Vapour Smooth Black - - 284 x 380 x 380 MJF

 

PolyJet & 3D Printed Silicone Sizes

 

 

Micro/Fine Resolution

High Resolution

Normal Resolution

Process
.

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y  

Minimum Small Gap Z

 .

3D Printed Silicone

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet & 3D Printed Silicone

Digital Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet

Digital Clear/Translucent

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet

Digital Overmould

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet

Digital White

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet

 

 

Micro/Fine Resolution

High Resolution

Normal Resolution

Process
.

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y

Minimum Small
Gap Z

Minimum Small
Gap X/Y  

Minimum Small Gap Z

 .

3D Printed Silicone (60-65%)

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet & 3D Printed Silicone

Digital Black

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet

Digital Clear/Translucent

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet

Digital Overmould

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet

Digital White

N/A

N/A

N/A

 N/A

0.80mm

0.80mm

PolyJet

 

  Micro/ Fine Resolution (mm) High Resolution (mm) Normal Resolution (mm) Process
Digital Clear/ Translucent - - 490 x 390 x 200 PJET
Digital Black - - Stratasys OBJET 500 Connex 3 - 490 x 390 x 200

Keyence AGILISTA 3200W - 297 x 210 x 200		 PJET
Digital White - - Stratasys OBJET 500 Connex 3 - 490 x 390 x 200

Keyence AGILISTA 3200W - 297 x 210 x 200		 PJET
Digital Overmould - - Stratasys OBJET 500 Connex 3 - 490 x 390 x 200

Keyence AGILISTA 3200W - 297 x 210 x 200		 PJET
3D Printed Silicone (60-65%) - - 297 x 210 x 200 3DS

 

3D-printed Parts on Your Schedule 

Our lead time options lend you flexibility. Need printed parts lightning fast? Select Expedite at checkout. Not in a rush? Choose Economy to save on cost. For reliable delivery on-time, select Standard. Your parts when you need them. 

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