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Practical tips and guides on custom 3D printing: prices, technologies and model preparation.
Five areas where custom 3D printing delivers measurable value in a manufacturing company: jigs, spare parts, functional prototypes, pilot runs and end-use parts. Plus where it is not worth deploying.
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A comparison of filament and resin 3D printing on accuracy, strength, surface finish, cost and running requirements. Hard numbers on layer height and tolerances, plus a clear rule for choosing.
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A comparison of 3D printing with injection moulding, CNC machining and vacuum casting: cost, lead times, tolerances and design constraints. Plus the formula for working out the break-even quantity for your own part.
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Criteria for choosing a 3D printer based on what you actually want to print, plus a concrete calculation of how many kilograms of material it takes for a machine to pay for itself against outsourcing.
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How to choose a material for a part going straight into service: by temperature, UV, abrasion and load direction. Hard numbers for PETG, ASA, PA, PC Blend and TPU, plus what determines strength beyond the material itself.
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A comparison of 3D modelling software for printing: Tinkercad, Fusion, Onshape, FreeCAD, SolidWorks for Makers and Blender. When the free tier is enough, and which file format to export.
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Seven criteria for comparing custom 3D printing suppliers: technology, materials, quoting, model review, lead times and confidentiality. Includes a checklist of what to send with your enquiry.
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A comparison of FDM printing materials by heat resistance, toughness and UV stability. A practical guide to choosing PLA, PETG, ASA, nylon or TPU.
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A practical guide to preparing a 3D model for custom printing: file formats, tolerances, wall thickness and the most common mistakes to avoid.
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An overview of the factors that determine the price of custom 3D printing: part size, technology, material, number of parts and finishing.
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