Connecting different shells with support beams enables printing a multitude of smaller parts in a cost-effective way.
Material recommendations for connected parts
Some technologies and materials are not well suited for producing these designs, for instance due to risk of breakage when removing support structures. The materials we recommend for printing connected parts are:
- PA12 (SLS) White
- PA12 (MJF) Gray
- PA-AF (Aluminum Filled) Gray
Design recommendations for connected parts
The following recommendations are to make sure the shells in your design stay together and can be processed as one part.
1. Design stable connections and beams
It is important that the parts are well connected and that the connection beams are strong enough. We advise to have 4 firm connections per shell. Use a minimum wall thickness of 3 mm because anything thinner will not be strong enough to support the different parts of your design.
2. Maximum size recommendation
The larger the shells, the more difficult they are to connect properly. That’s why the sum of the dimensions of the imaginary box (X+Y+Z) around your design should be less than 350 mm.
3. Make parts lighter
The heavier / bulkier your individual parts are, the thicker the connecting beams should be. If the connections between the parts are too weak, there is a risk that your parts might get lost.
You can hollow bulkier shells out to make parts lighter and prevent breakage. Do not forget to provide several large drainage holes so that the powder on the inside can be removed, otherwise your part will not become much lighter. The part’s walls should be less than 5 mm thick.