Knowledge & Community For Engineers & Product Designers

Salve, sono nuovo nella stampa 3D e sto cercando di capire come ottimizzare l’orientamento dei pezzi per ridurre la necessità di strutture di supporto e i tempi di produzione. Qualcuno ha consigli/strategie efficaci per farlo?In particolare, sto considerando un modello simile a questo https://www.printables.com/model/622078-screw-cable-zip-tie.Qualsiasi consiglio sarà molto apprezzato!

Hello!I’m planning to use CNC machining for plastic parts (Delrin/POM) for the first time and have typically worked with metals before. I’m considering the ‘as machined’ finish with a standard 3.2 µm surface roughness.For those who have experience with plastic CNC machining, can ‘as machined’ parts generally be used as end parts, or do they often carry too many machining marks? Would it be better to choose a bead-blasted finish (or another type) to enhance the appearance? These early prototypes might be shown to our end customers, so they need to look reasonably good. Any tips or experiences would be very helpful.Also, could anyone share some pictures of polymer parts you have produced using CNC machining? I’d appreciate it!Thanks, Marcin

Hello,I am a mechanical engineer currently in the design phase of developing rectangular housings using PA66 GF30 material. From my previous projects, I’ve encountered challenges with achieving consistent dimensions, particularly with thin wall sections. In my current design, a critical feature has a specified wall thickness of 0.7mm, which I suspect might lead to warping and strength issues based on past experience.To preemptively address potential problems, I am considering adjusting the wall thickness. However, this could affect the overall width, initially designed at 80.0mm (+/-0.05mm).What is the generally recommended minimum wall thickness for injection molding of PA66 GF30 to ensure structural integrity without compromising dimensional accuracy?Given the stringent tolerances required, would it be appropriate to adhere to ISO 20457 for general tolerances in this situation, which is specifically tailored for injection molded plastic parts?I would appreciate any insights or suggestions on how to best approach this design challenge.

Hello! I need some advice on CNC machining designs with mechanical engraving.should I integrate the lettering directly into my CAD designs, or is it better to engrave them after machining, separately? I’m planning on 2-3 mm deep engravings with letter heights around 15 mm. Also, I’m aware that machining can’t achieve perfect 90-degree internal corners. I’ve heard Sans Serif is a good choice for fonts—any truth to that, or do you have other font recommendations?p.s. I’ve done some googling already but I’m a bit lost, there’s so much information out there, and sometimes it’s a bit self-contradictory ..Thank you in advance! 

Hello community,I’d like to start a discussion about the add-ins or plugins you find indispensable for working with CAD software like SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Inventor, etc.Which add-ins can’t you live without and why?How do they streamline your workflow or enhance your design capabilities?Any hidden gems out there that more people should know about?Eager to hear your thoughts and learn from your experiences. Let’s share and discover tools that could benefit our CAD work!