3D Printing has an incredible ability to not require certain geometries. But if you are designing a piece from scratch for 3D printing, there are several rules-of-thumb to follow in order to create a parts that address the advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing. The graphic below is a good start when designing for 3D printing.

If you have any questions or would like to see if your part should be 3D printed. Submit it for a quote. We will determine cost and give you a full design evaluation.

The original source of this graphic can be viewed here

When designing a product every feature of the item must be considered. The curves, the safety, the color. Since 3D printing has long been just a prototyping technology, color has been one of the last features to be considered. Mainly because the creation of custom, pantone-matched 3D printing materials would just add unnecessary cost to a part a customer would never see.

But production 3D printing is changing that. It is now possible to create finished products with 3D printing manufacturing at  scale. So 3D printing is a viable alternative to injection molding. But the color problem has persisted. Up to this point the only options have been the primary colors with a few variations.

Slant 3D has changed that. From this point forward Slant 3D is offering pantone-matching of 3D printed parts. We will work with our customers to make sure that the 3D printed parts they want to produce are the final color that they are looking for. 

3D printing can now match injection molding not only in pricing but color options. Designers now have an equal amount of freedom to use the color pallet for 3D printed products as with any other process.