Failed 3D prints can happen.
Anyone who has operated any type of 3D printer is aware that printing an object requires more than just designing a model and clicking on “print”. There are several variables that will impact the quality and success of a printed part. In some occasions, even the most experienced engineer, designer or 3D printing enthusiast, will end up with a failed print.
Obviously, there are ways to maximize the success rate of 3D printed parts such as using conceptual frameworks for designing printable objects like Design for Printability (DFP). But even then, sometimes printed parts will simply not come out right.
Having several years of combined experience in Additive Manufacturing, Beamler’s team also had its fair share of 3D print failures. When we started building a platform that enables manufacturers and engineers to print industrial parts anywhere in the world, we made it a priority to provide our customers with a fully automated testing tool that analyses each 3D model’s printability.
What is the Printability Check? Why is it important?
One of the greatest benefits of 3D printing is the ability to build highly customized products and components. In fact, every 3D model is unique by design. For that reason, it is important to assess the printability of your file to ensure that it can be successfully 3D printed, with quality. Our software performs an automated check of all uploaded files. The algorithm of the tool considers all the variables that determine whether a print will succeed or fail in order to run an effective printability check. To ensure the most reliable and optimal results we broke down the printability check into two stages. Each stage is at the two opposite ends of ordering parts on our platform:- File upload – Once a printable file is uploaded, our software will run a Geometric Check of the file to identify the following characteristics of the object:
- Size
- Width
- Depth
- Height
- Volume
- Area
- After check-out – The exact material and printer type to build the custom part is confirmed only after check-out. At that moment, the tool will test the uploaded file for specific design guidelines such as:
- Wall thickness
- Bounding Box Size
- Model Density
- Model Integrity
- Orientation
- Holes
- Area
- Strength (based on material properties)
- Other variables