Wall thickness refers to the distance between one surface and its corresponding opposite surface. In general, the thicker the wall, the higher the hardness and strength of 3D printed parts.

The optimal wall thickness should be determined based on the specific requirements of the project.

When the wall is too thick:

1. More material will be used, which increases the cost.

2. Greater thermal stress is generated, potentially causing cracks or fractures.

When the wall is too thin:

1. Printing may not be possible, and holes may appear in the model.

2. The parts may lack sufficient strength, making them unsuitable for use.

How to choose the appropriate wall thickness?

Both the material and the printing technique used will affect the suitable wall thickness.

Techniques:

1. FDM: >=1.2mm

Recommended thickness: 1.2mm-2.5mm; optimal at 2mm

2. SLA: >=1.0mm

Recommended thickness: 1.0mm-2mm; optimal at 2mm

Materials:

1. Stronger materials, such as Alumide, Sculpteo (Plastic): >=1.0mm

2. Softer materials, such as Sculpteo (Multi-color material): preferably above 2mm

3. PLA/ABS (Plastic): >=1.0mm

4. Photosensitive resin, high-precision ABS, PC: >=1.5mm

5. Flexible PLA, full-color sandstone, metal (such as stainless steel/gold-plated): preferably above 2mm.

Model size:

Wall thickness is highly dependent on the size of the model. The larger the model, the greater the minimum required wall thickness. For example:

When using stainless steel, a vertical wall thickness of 5mm² requires only 0.3mm, while a vertical wall thickness of 100mm² needs at least 1mm, and a horizontal wall thickness of 100mm² requires a 2mm wall thickness.

If the printing material is brittle (e.g., ceramic), a model close to 50mm × 50mm × 50mm should have a minimum wall thickness of 3mm; a model of 100mm × 100mm × 100mm needs at least 6mm. For larger models, we recommend a wall thickness greater than 6mm.

3D printing is based on a three-dimensional model. What should you do if the model’s wall thickness is either too thin or too thick for printing?

1. Adjust the wall thickness in the 3D model file (in STL format) to match the actual production requirements.

2. The minimum and maximum wall thicknesses vary depending on the material. If there are no specific material requirements, the issue can be resolved by switching to a different printing material.

If you have any questions about PCBs or PCBA, please feel free to contact me at info@wellcircuits.com