Know Your Printer
This printer component melts filament and deposits it layer by layer to build a 3D object.
What is the nozzle (or hot end)
This file format is most commonly exported from CAD software and used to transfer a 3D model to slicing software.
What is an STL file
This defect appears as thin, hair-like strands of plastic connecting separate parts of a print.
What is stringing
This industry commonly uses 3D printing to produce custom prosthetic limbs, dental models, and surgical guides.
What is the healthcare (or medical) industry?
This slicing parameter determines the thickness of each printed layer and affects both print quality and printing time.
What is layer height?
This design principle encourages creating parts that minimize supports, reduce material use, and improve printability.
What is Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)
Your print's corners lift off the build plate during printing. This common defect is called this.
What is warping?
Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing, this manufacturing approach builds parts by adding material layer by layer.
What is additive manufacturing?
A student wants a smoother surface finish for a prototype but does not want to change the material. Which print setting should they decrease?
What is the layer height?
A bracket with a large horizontal overhang requires excessive support material. What design change could reduce the need for supports?
What is reorienting the part or redesigning the overhang with a chamfer or self-supporting angle?
A print shows gaps between layers because not enough filament is being extruded. Identify the problem.
What is under-extrusion?
A company needs only 20 customized parts with a fast turnaround. Which manufacturing method is the better choice?
What is 3D printing (additive manufacturing)?
A print has poor first-layer adhesion across the entire build plate. The filament and print settings are correct. Which printer component should be checked and adjusted first?
What is the print bed (bed leveling/build plate leveling)?
Two printed parts are designed to slide together, but they fit too tightly after printing. Which design concept should be adjusted to improve the fit?
What is tolerance (or clearance)?
A tall print suddenly shifts several millimeters along the X-axis midway through printing. Name the most likely print failure.
What is layer shifting?
An aerospace engineer wants to reduce the weight of a component while maintaining strength. What advantage of 3D printing makes this possible?
What is the ability to create lightweight, complex internal structures (such as lattice structures or topology-optimized designs)?
ou need to produce a highly detailed dental model with smooth surfaces and fine features. Between an FDM printer and an SLA printer, which technology would you choose and why?
What is an SLA printer because it provides higher resolution and finer detail than an FDM printer?
You are designing a lightweight drone component that must be strong while using as little material as possible. Which design strategy is the best choice?
What is optimizing the geometry with ribs, lattice structures, or topology optimization instead of using a solid part?
A PLA print has severe stringing, poor overhangs, and blobs. You may only adjust two settings. The most effective combination is reducing this temperature and increasing this movement.
What are nozzle temperature and retraction settings?
A manufacturer must produce 500,000 identical plastic bottle caps at the lowest possible cost per unit. Should they choose 3D printing or injection molding, and why?
What is injection molding because it has a much lower cost per part and higher production speed for high-volume manufacturing?