Design for manufacturing for 3D printing

Learn design for manufacturing for 3D printing, from warping and print-in-place parts to printed hinges, for designers and engineers with 3D modelling skills.

<h2>About this course</h2>In this course, you learn how design for manufacturing (DFM) applies to 3D printing, a flexible and powerful manufacturing and prototyping process. You start with an introduction to DFM for 3D printing and an overview of the printing process itself, then move into the core DFM considerations that shape how a part should be designed for printing.From there, the lessons get practical. You learn how to print efficiently, how to anticipate and design around warping and shrinkage, and how to create print-in-place parts and mating parts that fit together as intended. You also design 3D printed hinges, one of the more specialized applications of these principles. Together, these topics help you create parts that are efficient, practical, and suitable for printing, and a quiz closes the section so you can check your understanding.The second section applies these principles in a case study of a functional gear box, where you explore the design of a simple gear system with moving parts. Seeing the earlier DFM principles applied to a working mechanism shows how the individual lessons connect. The course closes with a conclusion that brings the key DFM points together for your own projects.<h2>Who should take this course</h2>This course is for you if you have some 3D modelling knowledge and want to improve your 3D printing skills. It suits product designers, mechanical engineers, engineering students, and hobbyists who design parts in CAD and print them for prototypes or functional use. It is especially useful if your prints warp, mating parts do not fit, or you want to design hinges and print-in-place mechanisms that work straight off the printer.<h2>Prerequisites</h2>You should have some 3D modelling knowledge before starting. SolidWorks 2022 or later is recommended, and earlier versions can be used, but access to SolidWorks is optional. The course is rated easy.