Minimum Features

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
 

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.

Note: 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 in use.

  • 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.

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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.

Note: Layer height is material dependent
Pixel Size and Layer Heights
 

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

  • 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 mm to 1.0 mm, depending on the material and geometry.  

Character Height

Minimum character height 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 text is 0.50 mm.

Note: Testing was performed with both serif and sans-serif fonts. Sans-serif fonts are slightly more legible at the minimum size.
Minimum Character Height
 

Raised (Positive)

Recessed (Negative)

Parallel

2.0 mm

1.0 mm

Perpendicular

3.0 mm

1.0 mm