Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing#

This section takes a Fusion design to a finished 3D print on FDM, resin, powder-bed and metal machines. It starts with the end-to-end workflow and which decisions belong to Fusion versus the slicer, then preparing models, the 3D Print command, and exporting STL and 3MF.

It then covers build plate arrangement and nesting, orientation and supports, and additive machine, print setting and material libraries. Process-specific pages cover FDM design guidelines, print-in-place and tolerance design, SLA and resin printing, and SLS and metal additive basics, with a symptom-to-cause guide for failed prints. It suits beginners, with advanced pages on tolerances and powder-bed processes.

Pages in this section#

1. 3D Print Workflow Overview (beginner): The end-to-end path from a Fusion design to a physical print, and which decisions belong to Fusion versus the slicer.
2. Preparing Models for Printing (beginner): Units, orientation, wall thickness, tolerances and a pre-flight checklist that prevents most failed prints.
3. The 3D Print Command and Sending to a Slicer (beginner): How Fusion's Utilities > Make > 3D Print command (Manufacturing, Export and Print Utility types) and Save As Mesh hand a model to a slicer.
4. FDM Design Guidelines (intermediate): Designing in Fusion for fused filament fabrication: overhangs, bridges, shrinkage, strength, fasteners and surface quality.
5. SLA and Resin Printing (intermediate): Preparing Fusion models for vat photopolymerization: hollowing, drain holes, suction cups, supports, cure shrinkage and post-processing.
6. SLS and Metal Additive Basics (advanced): Design rules for powder-bed processes (SLS, MJF, metal PBF/DMLS/SLM): minimum features, escape holes, supports, shrinkage and what Fusion adds.
7. Orientation and Support Generation (intermediate): Choosing build orientation, generating automatic and manual supports, tuning support parameters and removing supports cleanly.
8. Build Plate Arrangement and Nesting (intermediate): Placing one or many parts on the build plate: spacing, packing, plate adhesion, print order and batch planning.
9. Additive Settings and Machine and Material Libraries (advanced): Fusion's additive setup in the Manufacture workspace: machine, print setting and material libraries, custom profiles and sharing them.
10. Exporting STL and 3MF (beginner): How to export meshes from Fusion: STL versus 3MF, refinement settings, units, multiple bodies and file hygiene.
11. Print-in-Place and Tolerance Design (advanced): Designing moving assemblies printed in one build: clearances, hinges, captive parts, joints in Fusion and tolerance test coupons.
12. Troubleshooting Failed Prints (intermediate): A symptom-to-cause guide for failed 3D prints, separating design-side fixes in Fusion from slicer and machine fixes.