Connecting identical parts in standard resin

#1

You advise grouping models for Mammoth Resin, Transparent Resin and Gray Resin. Does the same apply to Standard Resin as well? My impression is, that connected identical parts with support beams /structure would save costs especially with lots of identical small parts (e.g. 1x1x1cm), due the basic handling cost per object. Are there any restrictions on aligning the parts apart from the maximum allowed dimensions? E.g.: Could i design a stacked 3D grid of 5x5x5 of the same object to save costs?

#2

Hello,
We do not accept the files with the grouped models. Please find more information below:
https://imaterialise.helpjuice.com/using-imaterialise/uploading-multiple-parts-in-a-single-3d-file?from_search=30528206
However connected or sprued parts are applicable for some materials.
Please take into consideration that all the connections should be not less than 3 mm each.
Anything thinner will not be strong enough to support the different parts of your design.
Sprued Parts only applicable for polyamide (SLS), polyamide (MJF), alumide, mammoth Resin, transparent resin and gray resin.
Connected Parts only applicable for polyamide and alumide if the design rules are respected.
For most materials, designs with non-intersecting shells will be rejected. For polyamide and alumide you are allowed to upload multiple shells that do not intersect but these shells have to be gathered in a so-called grid container. You can find detailed info in the design guide of polyamide under the section of grouped models.
https://i.materialise.com/en/3d-printing-materials/polyamide/design-guide

#3

The page you linked to appears to be in error, or at least inconsistent - it lists the “standard resin” among the materials for which grouped models are allowed. The only hint that this may be wrong is that there is no “Guidelines for grouped models” entry on the page for “standard resin”.

#4

Hello,
You can see the Guidelines for Grouped Models on the Standars Resin page.
Please see the Design Guide:
https://i.materialise.com/en/3d-printing-materials/standard-resin/design-guide
t is possible to have several individual shells within a single 3D file with Standard Resin but we do not recommend this option as it will not allow us to orientate the individual parts in the printer for optimal surface quality. If you want parts with the best possible surface quality, we advise you to upload the parts separately.
Best regards,
Anna

#5

Thanks, I see now that the difference is simply that the links for all the other materials in that sentence on the uploading-multiple-parts-in-a-single-3d-file page go to the design-guide section while the link for “standard resin” goes to the starting page for that material. (And for the resins “grouping” always means “sprueing” due to process limitations - somehow I did not think of that)

#6

In the guidelines, you suggest using a minimum sprue thickness of 3 mm. however, my parts are quite small with a size of max 11mm and wall thickness ~1mm. Is it possible to try a smaller diameter on my own risk (like 2mm with 3 connections per part)?

#7

Hello,
For the models of the smaller size the connections might be smaller like 2 mm as you indicated.
Best regards,
Anna