However, 3D printers need information about how thick you intend the wall of your object to be or if you want to print a completely solid model. Many visual 3D models (e.g., 3D models intended for games) only have surface visual purposes and thus do not have wall thickness. When using your 3D modeling software, it is possible to design a surface without a wall thickness. It’s very important that every surface of your 3D model has been assigned a wall thickness. You can clearly see that there is a big gap in its surface. The design below is an example of a model that is not watertight. Sometimes this process is also called ‘creating a manifold model.’ Ask yourself the question: if I were to put water inside my model, would it flow out? If that’s the case, then you need to find those holes and close them. Watertight/non-manifoldĪ printable model must not have any holes in its surface.
Sticking to this checklist will make sure that your 3D model is perfectly prepared to be 3D printed. In this blog post, we will cover some essential tips designers should keep in mind to get a stunning 3D print. Creating a model for 3D printing can be somewhat intimidating at first.
