A Few Words on Layer Thickness and Your 3D Prints

One thing unique to 3D printing in relation to other fabrication processes is the importance of layer thickness. Since you’re building a part up additively, thicker layers make for a faster build, but if the 3D printing software is cutting the design file into thicker slices, you may lose some degree of resolution in the print. Whether or not that’s the case, the aesthetics of different layer thicknesses can be something you want to consider when getting a part 3D printed.

In this video, I provide insight into the topic of layer height and show you a handful of parts printed at different layer heights. This may provide you a sense of what the end result would look like if you were to submit an RFQ through ProdEX and specify a given layer height for the extrusion printing process. I also review the post-process options that can be added to address the layer aesthetics, including sanding and acetone vapor smoothing.

After this four-minute video, you will be ready to make an educated decision on the layer thickness of your next additive-manufacturing project.