3D Printing Guide

3D Printing Design Guideline

Last updated on Oct 16, 2025

Recommended dimensional rules, tolerances and design constraints for every 3D printing process CircuitSprint supports. Follow these specs to maximise first-time print yield and avoid costly redesigns.

On this page

  1. 1. 3D Printing Build Size
  2. 2. Wall Thickness
  3. 3. Embossed & Engraved Details
  4. 4. Thread Design
  5. 5. Model Clearance
  6. 6. Escape Holes
  7. 7. Holes Design
  8. 8. Small Column Design
  9. 9. Special-Shaped Model
  10. 10. 3D Printing Tolerances

1. 3D Printing Build Size

Maximum and minimum build sizes per technology and material.

3D TechnologiesMaterialsMax. Size (L × W × H) mmMin. Size (L × W × H) mm
SLA (Resin)Ledo6060780 x 780 x 5305 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
9600780 x 780 x 5305 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
Black Resin780 x 780 x 5305 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
CircuitSprint Black780 x 780 x 5305 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
Imagine Black580 x 580 x 3805 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
8001780 x 780 x 5305 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
CBY780 x 780 x 5305 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
8228580 x 580 x 3805 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
Grey580 x 580 x 3805 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
CircuitSprint Temp580 x 580 x 3805 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
WJP (Resin)Full Color Resin380 x 330 x 2305 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
MJF (Nylon)PA12370 x 276 x 3605 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
PAC320 x 175 x 2255 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
PA11370 x 276 x 3605 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
SLS (Nylon)3201PA-F350 x 350 x 4005 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
1172 Pro250 x 250 x 5905 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
3301PA350 x 350 x 4005 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
SLM (Metal)316L390 x 290 x 3905 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
Titanium TC4390 x 290 x 3905 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
BJ (Metal)BJ-316L100 x 100 x 1005 x 5 x 5 / 10 x 2 x 2
FDM (Plastic)ABS580 x 480 x 48030 x 30 x 10
ASA250 x 250 x 30030 x 30 x 10
PLA250 x 250 x 30030 x 30 x 10
PA12-CF580 x 480 x 48030 x 30 x 10
TPU250 x 250 x 30030 x 30 x 10

All data in the table above.

2. Wall Thickness

3D printing parts go through alcohol cleaning, support removal, sanding, bead blasting and so on. Models therefore require a certain mechanical strength, and the wall thickness determines the strength of the printed part.

In 3D printing, wall thickness refers to the distance between one surface of your part and the opposite sheer surface. A 3D printed part has a minimum wall thickness that depends on its overall size. As a guide, increase wall thickness whenever you scale a design up to a larger size.

Materials / Range5 x 5 mm10 x 10 mm50 x 50 mm100 x 100 mm200 x 200 mm
Resin (SLA)0.5mm0.8mm1.0mm1.5mm2.0mm
Nylon (MJF)1.0mm1.2mm1.5mm2.0mm2.0mm
Nylon (SLS)1.0mm1.2mm1.5mm2.0mm2.0mm
Metal (SLM)1.5mm1.5mm1.5mm2.0mm2.5mm
Plastic (FDM)//1.6mm2.0mm2.5mm
Note: The recommended minimum wall thickness for structures such as protrusions, positioning features, snaps and fasteners is more than 1.5 mm.

3. Embossed and Engraved Details

Min. Embossed Detail

  • SLA (Resin)0.8 mm deep & 0.8 mm wide
  • MJF (Nylon)0.8 mm deep & 0.8 mm wide
  • SLS (Nylon)0.8 mm deep & 0.8 mm wide
  • FDM (Plastic)1.0 mm deep & 1.0 mm wide
  • SLM (Metal)1.0 mm deep & 1.0 mm wide

Min. Engraved Detail

  • SLA (Resin)0.8 mm deep & 0.8 mm wide
  • MJF (Nylon)0.8 mm deep & 0.8 mm wide
  • SLS (Nylon)0.8 mm deep & 0.8 mm wide
  • FDM (Plastic)1.0 mm deep & 1.0 mm wide
  • SLM (Metal)1.0 mm deep & 1.0 mm wide

4. Thread Design

Two main factors affect 3D-printed non-standard threads: thread pitch and helix angle.

Material MinimalResin (SLA)Nylon (MJF)Nylon (SLS)Plastic (FDM)Metal (SLM)
Thread pitch0.5mm0.6mm0.6mm1.0mm—
Helix angle30°30°30°30°—

The clearance fit of threads needs to refer to Model Clearance. Without a clearance fit, parts will be very difficult or impossible to assemble. The minimum recommended thread for printing is M6. Tapping is recommended for 316L metal printed parts.

5. Model Clearance

A. Clearance between assembled parts

Modules can be printed to be assembled, as long as they meet the minimum clearance shown below.

MaterialResin (SLA)Nylon (MJF)Nylon (SLS)Plastic (FDM)Metal (SLM)
Minimum Clearance0.2mm0.2mm-0.4mm0.2mm-0.4mm0.5mm0.5mm

B. Clearance between moving parts

The minimum clearance between two moving or connecting parts.

MaterialResin (SLA)Nylon (MJF)Nylon (SLS)Plastic (FDM)Metal (SLM)
Minimum Clearance0.5mm0.6mm0.6mm0.5mm1.0mm
Note: The values above are the minimum clearance for simple structures and may not apply to all geometries.

6. Escape Holes

Hollow designs need an escape hole so that excess material can leave during the 3D printing process. Most printing services use printers and techniques that require at least one escape hole.

  • (1) The minimum escape hole diameter is 2.5 mm.
  • (2) Two escape holes are required when the escape hole diameter is less than 3 mm, otherwise the resin will not flow out, the cavity will not be cleaned, and the part may crack after a period of time.
  • (3) The size and quantity of escape holes are finally determined according to the model size and structure.
  • (4) Supports inside a cavity cannot be fully removed unless the escape hole is designed to be large enough.

7. Holes Design

Relationship between aperture (φ) and hole depth (h):

Material / Apertureφ = 1.0 mmφ = 1.5 mmφ = 2.0 mm
Resin (SLA)h = 1.0-3.0mmh = 1.5-4.5mmh = 2.0-6.0mm
Nylon (MJF)/h = 1.5-4.5mmh = 2.0-6.0mm
Nylon (SLS)/h = 1.5-4.5mmh = 2.0-6.0mm
Plastic (FDM)/h = 1.5-4.5mmh = 2.0-6.0mm
Metal (SLM)/h = 1.5-4.5mmh = 2.0-6.0mm

When a model is designed with micropores or deep holes, please follow the standards above. For parts with an oil-spraying finish, at least 2.0 mm hole diameter is required to avoid material residue and blockage.

8. Small Column Design

Relationship between column diameter (D) and column height (H):

Material / DiameterD = 1.0mmD = 2.0mmD = 3.0mm
Resin (SLA)H = 1mmH = 2-4mmH = 3-6mm
Nylon (MJF)/H = 2-4mmH = 3-6mm
Nylon (SLS)/H = 2-4mmH = 3-6mm
Plastic (FDM)/H = 2-4mmH = 3-6mm
Metal (SLM)—H = 2-4mmH = 3-6mm

When a model is designed with a positioning column, refer to the standards above.

9. Special-Shaped Model

A special-shaped model is mainly a hollow structure that occupies a large bounding box. When a part is designed as a special-shaped geometry and meets the printing requirements, a small additional handling cost may be applied.

10. 3D Printing Tolerances

A. Model Tolerances

  • Resin (SLA)±0.2mm (Within 100mm), ±0.3% (Above 100mm)
  • Nylon (MJF)±0.3mm (Within 100mm), ±0.4% (Above 100mm)
  • Nylon (SLS)±0.3mm (Within 100mm), ±0.4% (Above 100mm)
  • Plastic (FDM)±0.3mm (Within 100mm), ±0.4% (Above 100mm)
  • Metal (SLM)±0.3mm (Within 100mm), ±0.4% (Above 100mm)
Note: The tolerances above assume the model has no deformation or warping, and no oil-spraying or painting process.

B. Hole Tolerances

  • Resin (SLA)±0.3mm
  • Nylon (MJF)±0.3mm
  • Nylon (SLS)±0.3mm
  • Plastic (FDM)±0.4mm
  • Metal (SLM)±0.5mm

Kindly Note

  • Generally, holes will shrink and become smaller.
  • For 316L metal printed parts, the general tolerance for parts with internal unoccupied areas or structures is within −0.5 mm (such as rings, sleeves, and rectangular or polygonal holes).
  • The thicker the wall around a hole, the bigger the shrinkage of the hole will be.
  • If you have high tolerance requirements for holes and threads, reserve room and perform precise tapping yourself.

Tolerance changes over time

Material / Time1-3 Days3-7 Days
Resin (SLA)0.15mm or 0.15%0.2mm or 0.20%
Nylon (MJF)//
Nylon (SLS)/—
Plastic (FDM)//
Metal (SLM)——

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CircuitSprint.in • 3D Printing Design Guideline