Question 1

What is the minimum wall thickness for FDM 3D printing?

Accepted Answer

The minimum recommended wall thickness for FDM is 1.2 mm (two perimeter passes at a 0.6 mm nozzle). Structural walls should be at least 2.0 mm. Walls below 0.8 mm may not print reliably.

Question 2

What tolerance can I expect from SLA 3D printing?

Accepted Answer

Standard SLA tolerance is ±0.1 mm for most features. High-precision SLA in dental and castable grades achieves ±0.05 mm. For features below 5 mm, tighter tolerances are achievable with careful orientation.

Question 3

Which 3D printing process is best for functional nylon parts?

Accepted Answer

SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) produces the best functional nylon parts because it is isotropic — equally strong in all directions — and requires no support structures, enabling complex geometry. FDM nylon is also excellent for structural parts but has weaker Z-axis properties.

Question 4

How do I prepare my CAD file for 3D printing?

Accepted Answer

Export as STEP for best results. If using STL, set the highest resolution (chord height 0.001 mm in SolidWorks). Ensure the mesh is manifold (watertight), all normals point outward, and all bodies are Boolean-unioned. Set units to millimetres.

Question 5

What is the difference between DMLS and SLS?

Accepted Answer

DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) uses a high-power fibre laser to fuse metal powder (316L SS, titanium, Inconel). SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) uses a CO₂ laser to fuse polymer powder, typically nylon (PA12). Both are powder bed fusion processes but DMLS produces dense metal parts while SLS produces polymer parts.

Question 6

How much does 3D printing cost in India?

Accepted Answer

FDM printing starts from ₹400/part, SLA from ₹800/part, SLS from ₹1,200/part, and DMLS metal printing from ₹5,000/part at Layer X in Ahmedabad. The final price depends on part volume, material, and required post-processing.

Process	Materials	Tolerance	Surface	Starting Price	Lead Time	Best For
FDM	PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PA12-CF, PC	±0.2–0.3 mm	Medium (layer lines)	₹400+	3–5 days	Structural parts, jigs, production runs
SLA	Standard, Tough, Rigid, Castable, Biocompatible	±0.05–0.1 mm	Excellent	₹800+	2–4 days	Visual prototypes, surgical guides, casting patterns
SLS	PA12, PA12-GF, PA12-CF	±0.2 mm	Good (matte)	₹1,200+	4–6 days	Functional parts, complex geometry, production nylon
DMLS	316L, 17-4PH, Ti-6Al-4V, H13, IN718, AlSi10Mg	±0.1 mm	Ra 4–8 µm (as-built)	₹5,000+	5–7 days	Metal parts, aerospace, medical, tooling

Feature	FDM	SLA	SLS	DMLS
External dimensions (L/W/H)	±0.3 mm	±0.1 mm	±0.2 mm	±0.1 mm
Hole diameter (≥5 mm)	±0.3 mm	±0.1 mm	±0.2 mm	±0.1 mm
Hole diameter (<5 mm)	±0.2 mm	±0.05 mm	±0.15 mm	±0.05 mm
Wall thickness	±0.3 mm	±0.1 mm	±0.2 mm	±0.15 mm
Surface roughness (Ra)	6–20 µm	1–4 µm	8–18 µm	4–8 µm
Minimum feature	0.8 mm	0.3 mm	0.5 mm	0.4 mm
Minimum wall	1.2 mm	0.5 mm	0.7 mm	0.4 mm

Material	Process	HDT	Tensile	Best For	Avoid
PLA	FDM	55–60 °C	50–65 MPa	Visual prototypes, models	Heat, outdoor, load-bearing
PETG	FDM	70–80 °C	45–55 MPa	Functional enclosures, fluid parts	UV exposure >12h/day
ABS	FDM	95–105 °C	40–50 MPa	Automotive, vapour smoothing	Open-air printing (warps)
ASA	FDM	95–100 °C	40–48 MPa	Outdoor, UV-exposed	Load-bearing structural
PA12 Nylon	FDM/SLS	170 °C	48–60 MPa	Snap fits, living hinges, chemical resistance	High moisture environments (without drying)
PA12-CF	FDM	170 °C	60–70 MPa	Structural lightweight parts	Impact-heavy applications
316L SS	DMLS	>800 °C	600–650 MPa	Corrosion-resistant, food/medical	Weight-critical applications
Ti-6Al-4V	DMLS	>500 °C	895–930 MPa	Aerospace, orthopaedic, lightweight	Cost-sensitive volumes
Inconel 718	DMLS	>700 °C	1,000–1,100 MPa	High-temperature, turbine, defence	General engineering applications

Free Resources
for engineers.

Which process for your part?

Achievable tolerances by process

Material selection guide

Pre-upload checklist

Frequently asked questions

Deep-dive reading

Upload your file and get a quote in 24 hours.

Free Resourcesfor engineers.