Xometry.pro
en – Global
Knowledge & Community
Quote & source your parts
Europe Europe
English Deutsch Français Italiano Español
Türkiye Türkiye
English Türkçe
United Kingdom United Kingdom
English
Global Global
English

Get Instant Quote

Use our Instant Quoting Engine to easily quote and source your parts online

Get a Quote
Back
 Profile
Menu
Materials Library
Manufacturing Stories & Cases
Articles
E-books & Guides
Free Tools
Webinars
Free Courses
Community Discussions
Create Topic
Quote & Source Your Parts
Get a Quote

Edit topic

Home Xometry Community Industrial Design Reducing stepping on slopes surfaces in 3D printing

Reducing stepping on slopes surfaces in 3D printing

0
A
2

Greetings! There is an issue with stepping on sloped surfaces in FDM prints, specifically at a 20° angle to the x/y plane using FDM technology. Parts require a smooth finish with minimal post-processing. Tried reducing the layer height, but the problem persists. Is there a way to further fix this issue beyond just lowering the layer height? Would changing the part orientation or using a different 3D printing technology help with surface quality in sloped areas? thanks

Link copied
Solved by Zuhair A

Yeah, I'd agree with Yves on this one. FDM is tricky when it comes to sloped surfaces. One more thing you could try if you want to stick with FDM is chemical smoothing. If you're using ABS, acetone vapor smoothing can remove the visible steps. Other materials might have similar treatments you could look into.

That said, SLA or MJF will definitely give you a better surface finish. MJF in particular has more isotropic properties, so you won’t see that same stepping effect regardless of the part orientation. Plus, it can handle complex geometries better without compromising strength or detail.

    • A

      Greetings! There is an issue with stepping on sloped surfaces in FDM prints, specifically at a 20° angle to the x/y plane using FDM technology. Parts require a smooth finish with minimal post-processing. Tried reducing the layer height, but the problem persists. Is there a way to further fix this issue beyond just lowering the layer height? Would changing the part orientation or using a different 3D printing technology help with surface quality in sloped areas? thanks

      0
      Reply
    • Y

      I’ve run into similar issues with FDM. Unfortunately, with parts printed at angles like 20°, you’re bound to see some stepping. Lowering the layer height helps, but it’s not always enough. One trick I’ve used is to reorient the part so that the steep angles aren’t in the z-direction. For example, if you can rotate the part to minimize the slope, the layer lines will be less visible. Of course, this might not always be possible depending on your part’s geometry, but it’s worth a shot

      0
      Reply
      Link copied
      • Z
        YvesYves

        Yeah, I’d agree with Yves on this one. FDM is tricky when it comes to sloped surfaces. One more thing you could try if you want to stick with FDM is chemical smoothing. If you’re using ABS, acetone vapor smoothing can remove the visible steps. Other materials might have similar treatments you could look into.

        That said, SLA or MJF will definitely give you a better surface finish. MJF in particular has more isotropic properties, so you won’t see that same stepping effect regardless of the part orientation. Plus, it can handle complex geometries better without compromising strength or detail.

        0
        Reply
        Link copied
Reducing stepping on slopes surfaces in 3D printing
Your information:




Suggested Topics

Topic
Replies
Views
Activity
Will a 6mm dowel fit in this hole?
Industrial Design
hello, I'm designing a part with an FDM 3D printed hole to hold a 6mm wooden dowel, but I’m unsure about the actual fit due to print tolerances and material shrinkage. The hole is... read more
b
1
35
Mar 14
Manufacturing in Germany
Industrial Design
Hello,Does Xometry support us in setting up a workshop in Germany and producing there?
1
75
Mar 05
Should I use gd&t or traditional linear dimensions for tight tolerances on motor mount bracket?
Industrial Design
Hi! I am creating a 2D drawing for the bracket of an electric motor, which requires precise specifications regarding the placement of holes and the flatness of surfaces. This drawing is for production purposes,... read more
E
D
C
2
121
Feb 03
Draft angles for master model?
Industrial Design
hi, I’m designing the master model for a silicone mold (for vacuum casting) and wondering about the necessity of incorporating draft angles. Is it always required to include draft angles in the design, or... read more
P
R
3
174
Jan 22
Is drawing needed for modeled threads?
Industrial Design
Hello, I have a modeled anti-backlash lead screw shown in the image below:My question is: when the thread is already modeled in the CAD file, is it still necessary to include a detailed drawing... read more
P
2
142
Jan 17

Edit topic