Build Envelope
The build envelope is the maximum available printing space on a 3D printer. It determines how large of an object the printer can build.
The size of the build envelope depends on the size of the projector, the distance between the projector and the material tray, and the maximum height of the build platform in the Z axis.
Build envelope:
|
Printer: |
D4K |
P4K 90 |
P4K 75 |
P4K 62 |
P4K 35 |
Envision One cDLM series |
|
X axis |
140 mm |
223 mm |
192 mm |
160 mm |
95 mm |
180 mm |
|
Y axis |
83 mm |
141.5 mm |
120 mm |
100 mm |
56 mm |
101 mm |
|
Z axis |
110 mm |
220 mm |
220 mm |
220 mm |
200 mm |
175 mm (320 mm XL) |
|
Pixel size |
50 μm |
90 μm |
75 μm |
62 μm |
35 μm |
93 μm |
Minimum Part Size
There is no minimum part size for the Envision One cDLM, P4K, or D4K.
Tip: Printed parts under 5.0 x 5.0 x 5.0 mm may be hard to handle during post-processing.
Feature Size
The minimum resolvable feature size is dependent on:
- the specific printer,
- the material,
- and the feature geometry.
To better understand the achievability of small features, it is useful to think in terms of voxels.
Voxels
A voxel is a three-dimensional pixel.
The dimensions of a voxel are based on:
- the native pixel size of the printer in the X and Y coordinates,
- and the layer height in the X and Z or Y and Z coordinates.
Layer Height
Layer height is the thickness of the material cured in each layer during a print job.
Important: Layer height is material dependent.
Pixel Size and Layer Heights:
|
Printer: |
D4K |
P4K 90 |
P4K 75 |
P4K 62 |
P4K 35 |
Envision One cDLM series |
|
Pixel Size: |
50 μm |
90 μm |
75 μm |
62 μm |
35 μm |
93 μm |
|
Layer Height: |
25 - 150 μm |
25 - 150 μm |
25 - 150 μm |
25 - 150 μm |
25 - 150 μm |
50 - 150 μm |
Minimum Feature Size
The minimum feature size must be at least three times the voxel size of the printer.
Example: The D4K has a 50 μm voxel size, and a minimum resolvable feature size of 3.0 pixels or 150 μm.
For horizontal features ETEC recommends a minimum resolvable feature size of five times the layer height.
Example: E-RigidForm material has a 100 μm layer height, and a minimum resolvable horizontal feature size of 500 μm.
Wall Thickness
Part wall thicknesses from as thin as 2.0 mm to over 10.0 mm are printable without special considerations. The printability of wall thicknesses under 2.0 mm depends upon:
- geometry,
- orientation,
- and material.
Freestanding walls as thin as 0.20 mm can be printed when correctly oriented and reasonably sized.
Minimum Wall Thickness
The minimum recommended wall thickness is 0.50 – 1.0 mm, depending on the material and geometry.
Text Size
Minimum text size differs if:
- the text is raised or recessed, and
- the text is placed on a surface that is vertical or horizontal to the Z axis.
The recommended feature depth/height for character heights is 0.50 mm.
Tip: Testing was performed with both serif and sans-serif fonts. Sans-serif fonts are slightly more legible at the minimum size.
Minimum Text Size:
|
|
Raised (Positive) |
Recessed (Negative) |
|
Parallel |
2.0 mm |
1.0 mm |
|
Perpendicular |
3.0 mm |
1.0 mm |