Part Defects
Every manufacturing process comes with its own idiosyncrasies that can manifest in defects due to ill-suited designs, production process errors, and more.
- Injection molding can have flow lines, short shots, and warping.
- Machining can show tool chatter, burns, and burrs.
DLS printing also has its share of potential defects, but the good news is defects can be managed with
- Thoughtful design
- Optimized build layouts
- Well-maintained equipment
- Adherence to recommended processes
Identify a Part Defect
The first and most challenging step is to identify the defect you are dealing with so that you can address the issue properly.
Review the Part Defects Library to review all possible part defects, sorted by when the defect occurs.
Also inlcuded in the library are print artifacts, which are not defects but rather optical effects that are an artifact of DLS printing. You can, however, influence their effect with print preparation.
Curated Libraries
If it is easier to look at a shortened list of defects, a few categories of curated libraraies are also available to find the defect on your part.
If you can narrow down your potential defects to a few options, open the page each option and review the section on identifying defects. Additional clues are provided for each defect that should help narrow your search.
Review Troubleshooting Options
- If there is a known cause with a Print Preparation or Part Design solution*, go straight to the Print Preparation or Part Design Adjustments section of troubleshooting steps to select an action.
- Examples of a defect are shown in its How to Identify section. Known causes and solutions are listed with each example, when available.
- If your defect closely matches one of these examples, then we recommend trying one of the Print Preparation or Part Design solutions first.
- If the cause of the defect is inconclusive, try the suggested troubleshooting actions in order, as available.
- Process, Material, and Hardware Checks
- Diagnostics
- Print Preparation or Part Design Adjustments
* Print Preparation or Part Design solutions include Orientation, Supports, Design, and Print Plan Adjustments.
It is recommended that you review all the possible solutions before taking action to ensure you are pursuing the best course of action.
Carbon provides other resources to help you on your path to successful production. Dive deeper to learn more about the topics below.
Design | Print Preparation | Printer Mainteneance | DLS Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| | | |
| | |
To fully understand why part defects occur and how to resolve them, the most helpful information is to understand the dynamics of the DLS printing process. The video below provides an overview, but reviewing the DLS Printer Dynamics guide is also strongly recommended.
Understanding the forces at play during printing and how resin is flowing will help you understand how to best utilize recommended troubleshooting steps for each defect.