Tutorials

Variable Density FDM parts with Advanced FDM in GrabCAD Print

23 1 Intermediate
A tutorial on how to create an FDM part with discrete zones with different infill patterns & densities. This is a great but simple tactic for reducing the print time and cost of your designs as well as making them both stiff and lightweight.

Finishing Options for FDM and PolyJet 3D Printed Parts

22 1 Beginner
Finishing or secondary operations encompasses a broad range of processes that change a manufactured part’s properties. Engineers can employ finishing simply to improve part’s appearance and reshape it to meet certain dimensions, or use it to enhance functionality, such as increasing strength, chemical resistance, electrical conductivity and more. Secondary operations basically turn raw parts into finished goods and this isn’t limited to traditional manufactured parts. 3D printed parts can also be enhanced with secondary operations, but much like designing for additive manufacturing, different processes and best practices apply. Throughout the product design and manufacturing process, engineers should also be thinking about how 3D printed parts can be finished. Determining the appropriate finishing operations depends on the additive process, material and geometry as well as the desired aesthetics and functionality. This guide explains the primary finishing operations additive manufacturing service providers implement for FDM and PolyJet 3D printing technologies, grouped by possible finishing objectives, and compatible materials and applicable design considerations.

Best Practices for Working in KeyShot & GrabCAD Print

22 1 Expert
KeyShot 3D rendering software from Luxion Inc now seamlessly integrates with GrabCAD Print for a smooth and quick export of 3MF files. This new workflow allows designers to easily export 3MF files (that maintain color and texture data) from KeyShot into GrabCAD Print. In this tutorial guide, we’ll discuss best practices for when you’re working with KeyShot and GrabCAD Print.

Helpful Injection Molding Design Guidelines

22 3 Intermediate
These guidelines are to be used as a starting point in understanding the basic aspects of design and preparation for injection molding.

STLs and 3D Printing for PolyJet

20 0 Beginner
This tutorial is the first part of our series about how to prepare and optimize settings for mesh file types supported by GrabCAD Print (GCP). The tutorial explains the building blocks of 3D printing with PolyJet. We will explain the conversion process from a CAD file to an STL file and how to optimize it to achieve the best print results possible. Future tutorials in this series will then explain more advanced types of files and operations.

What 3D printing a coronavirus taught me about DFAM and rapid prototyping

20 6 Beginner
A project to visualize the novel coronavirus for a local medical conference. But over the course of our work, we re-learned some important 3D printing principles that EVERYONE can use!

How to 3D Print from Adobe Photoshop

16 1 Intermediate
Every sculpture, product, installation and building (successful and unsuccessful) starts with an idea. When it takes physical form, the designer gets valuable aesthetic and practical feedback. Here are some tips on when and how 3D printing can feed this process.

How to 3D Print Consumer Product Prototypes, at different levels of realism

16 8 Expert
Realism helps the prototyping process of Consumer Product Goods, but not always in the ways you'd expect. We climb through the 4 levels of 3D printing realism, using both single color FDM and full-color Polyjet printing, and discuss the cost and benefits of each.

How to Create Texturing Patterns on FDM 3D Printed Parts

16 0 Beginner
When producing FDM parts that will be installed in user-facing applications, or when FDM prototypes need to have a more interesting appearance, surface profile and finish are critical. Texturing a part file allows for a unique pattern or design to be built directly into part surfaces, reducing the layer line visibility as well as post-processing time. Coatings and paint can be applied directly to the textured surface to create a finished part.

How to 3D Print Full-Color, Fully-Textured DISPLACEMENT Mapped Parts Using Photoshop!

15 0 Intermediate
This tutorial covers a little-known feature in Photoshop you can use (today) to quickly create incredibly complex displacement-mapped parts for your 3D printer in full color!

How to 3D Print Jigs & Fixtures, Part 3: Advanced Features and Advanced Materials

15 4 Expert
Building on parts 1 and 2 of the series, this tutorial takes you through an ENTIRE agile design cycle for a real fixture we needed in our office, exploring the use of DFAM, advanced infill techniques to save printing time and finishing by going through a material selection process to print in one of the stiffest materials out there- Nylon 12 Carbon Fiber! It's a total, soup-to-nuts, fixtures tutorial!

How to Convert 2D Images into 3D STL Files

14 0 Beginner
There are several ways to create 3D models from BMP images. This tutorial explains how to do this by converting a BMP file to an STL file. The following content was taken from Stratasys' Resources Center

How to Insert Metal During an FDM 3D Print Job

14 1 Beginner
If not done right, metal that is inserted in FDM parts can look sloppy and unprofessional. With a few easy steps, a metal part can be inserted seamlessly and damage-free.

Understanding Design & Process of DMLS 3D Metal Printing

14 0 Intermediate
Over the last decade, metal 3D printing has seen significant growth and evolution in the additive manufacturing landscape. Major players like NASA and GE have incorporated additive metals into their programs, aided by industry-wide material development and process research. Additive metal parts are seen more and more in end-use production. This tutorial covers Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) design constraints and freedoms, available metal materials and the process controls that deliver incredible metal parts.

How to Insert a Z Pause in a Stratasys Printer

13 0 Intermediate
How do I use a Stratasys printer with multiple materials? Multiple colors? How do I add metal inserts in my 3D printed part? This tutorial explains how to use Stratasys software to insert pauses (Z-pause) during an FDM print job, to change materials, colors or to add metal inserts. Go to Step 1 for some documentation and examples of parts printed with Z Pause.