Designing Better Parts for 3D Printing

This may become a series of posts on some tips for making better 3D printed parts.

When using extrusion deposition, as we do with our MakerBot Replicator, there are some limitations on what you can actually print. Here's our printer in action:

A big problem is that you can't print overhangs without using support material. Support material is very annoying to remove and can leave a terrible surface finish. Avoid it whenever possible. 

Here's one trick to do without it. Suppose you have a bowl with a slot designed like this:

The bowl needs to interlock with another part that slides into the slot. However, the slot will need to be printed with support material. That nasty stuff will ruin your chances of creating a smooth interference fit. 

Let's change the design like this:

It's only a tiny change (you might need to zoom in), making the circular slot with a triangle at the top, but it makes a world of difference. This part no longer requires support material.

Look at the two profiles:

Notice the 45 degree angle. That is the minimum slant angle for overhangs. Depending on your printer, part size, ect., you could change that number, but 45 degrees is a good standard.

This trick is a real life saver. Hopefully, you'll find it as useful as we have. Good luck!