When making a part for the FDM machine it is important to keep a few things in mind. You should use a CAD, CAID, or 3D graphics software suite. Also, use a program that supports precise measurements and real world units. Make sure to create a strategy for designing the part to ba able to optimize the part. Rember that simple shapes can be used to create complicated objects to export to the FDM machine.

Exporting a file to a FDM machine requires the .stl object format, which is the standard for many other manufacturing machinery, such as Stereolithography. It also requires that the object geometry created on the computer be a “solid” object which means no unclosed surfaces and no exporting between CAD programs using DXF or any inexact formats. Be sure to orientate the part correctly to reduce problems during the machining process. It helps to save as a Binary .stl to insure better compatibility for the reading by the FDM machine, as well as smaller file sizes. Try to limit the detail of your object. For example, the more precise of a rounded curve you make on a cylinder, the larger the file size of the stl. Stl files range from 10k to 10Mbs, and the larger the file, the more computations the FDM machine requires, which may either cause problems or add to processing time.