Print Quality & Manufacturing Standards

01Scope

These standards apply to products manufactured by 3D Print It, including:

• prototypes and development parts;
• functional and engineering components;
• replacement parts;
• display models, cosplay props and miniatures;
• architectural and educational models; and
• commercial and small-batch production parts.

Project-specific requirements agreed in writing before production will take precedence where they differ from these general standards.

02Understanding 3D Printing

FDM 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that creates parts by depositing material in successive layers.

Unlike injection moulding or CNC machining, printed parts may naturally display:

• visible layer lines and small seam lines;
• minor surface-texture differences;
• slight dimensional variation;
• support-contact marks; and
• minor colour variation between production batches.

These characteristics are normal consequences of the manufacturing process and are not defects by themselves.

03Manufacturing Equipment

3D Print It uses professional-grade 3D printers that are maintained and calibrated to support consistent production.

Our quality procedures include:

• regular printer calibration and routine maintenance;
• monitoring material condition and storage;
• using slicing profiles suited to the selected material and part;
• monitoring production where appropriate; and
• inspecting completed prints before dispatch.

04Dimensional Accuracy

Actual dimensions can be affected by:

• the selected material and its shrinkage characteristics;
• model geometry, wall thickness and feature size;
• print orientation;
• overall part size; and
• manufacturing and environmental conditions.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, typical dimensional accuracy for most FDM printed parts is approximately ±0.2 mm or ±0.5% of the nominal dimension, whichever is greater.

Very small features, thin walls, holes, mating features and large components may show greater variation. If your project requires tighter tolerances or a critical fit, please contact us before ordering so the requirement can be assessed and agreed.

05Surface Finish

Unless post-processing has been included in your order, a standard printed part may show:

• visible layer lines;
• support-removal marks;
• seam lines;
• slight texture differences; and
• minor cosmetic blemishes.

Surface quality varies with the material, layer height, print orientation and model geometry. These characteristics are inherent to additive manufacturing.

06Support Structures

Overhangs and other features may require temporary support structures during printing.

Although supports are removed carefully, supported surfaces may retain small witness marks, slight texture differences or minor surface imperfections.

We select support locations and removal methods to reduce visible marking where practical, but complete elimination is not always possible.

07Print Orientation

Unless a specific orientation has been agreed, we select the print orientation that best balances:

• structural strength;
• dimensional accuracy;
• surface finish;
• print reliability;
• material use; and
• production efficiency.

If you require a particular orientation, tell us before production begins. Orientation can materially affect appearance, strength, support marking, production time and cost.

08Material Characteristics

Different 3D printing materials provide different combinations of stiffness, toughness, flexibility, heat resistance, ultraviolet resistance, moisture sensitivity and surface appearance.

Published material data provides general guidance, but the performance of a finished printed part also depends on geometry, orientation, print settings and operating conditions. Material information should not be treated as engineering certification of the finished component.

09Colour Variation

Displayed and finished colours may vary because of:

• filament manufacturer and batch differences;
• material production tolerances;
• lighting conditions and monitor calibration;
• surface texture; and
• printing temperature and processing conditions.

An exact colour match cannot be guaranteed unless a specific material, batch or colour-matching requirement has been agreed in writing.

10Functional Parts

For functional parts, customers are responsible for confirming that:

• the design is suitable for its intended application;
• the selected material is appropriate for the operating environment; and
• adequate testing is completed before operational use.

Unless expressly agreed and certified in writing, our products are not supplied for safety-critical applications. Please also review our Warranty Policy.

11Post-Processing

Where purchased or included in a quotation, post-processing may involve:

• support removal and deburring;
• sanding or surface finishing;
• assembly or adhesive bonding;
• priming; and
• painting.

Post-processing can improve appearance or usability, but minor cosmetic differences and traces of the underlying additive process may remain.

12Quality Inspection

Orders are inspected before dispatch. Depending on the project, inspection may include:

• a visual assessment for manufacturing defects;
• dimensional spot checks where appropriate;
• confirmation of the selected material and colour; and
• comparison with the approved design file or order specifications.

Standard inspection is not engineering certification, load testing, metrology reporting or independent product certification unless one of those services has been expressly agreed in writing.

13Customer Review

Please inspect your order as soon as reasonably possible after delivery.

If you believe it contains a manufacturing defect or differs materially from the approved specifications, contact us promptly with:

• your order number;
• clear photographs or video; and
• a description of the issue.

We will assess the issue under our Returns & Refund Policy, our Warranty Policy and applicable New Zealand law.

14Design Limitations

We manufacture parts from customer-supplied files and approved specifications. Problems can arise from:

• incorrect dimensions or scaling;
• inadequate wall thickness;
• unsupported or unprintable geometry;
• insufficient clearances or tolerances;
• poor model design or mesh errors;
• assembly-fit issues; and
• mechanical failure caused by a design limitation.

Where practical, we may raise an obvious concern before production, but standard manufacturing does not include a complete engineering review or validation of every aspect of a customer-supplied design.

15Environmental Factors

Finished parts may be affected after delivery by:

• prolonged ultraviolet exposure;
• excessive heat or temperature cycling;
• moisture or chemicals;
• heavy or repeated mechanical loading;
• impact damage; and
• improper storage.

Customers should use and store printed parts within the appropriate limitations of the selected material and design.

16Continuous Improvement

We regularly review our equipment, materials, slicing profiles, production processes and inspection procedures to improve consistency and provide the highest standard of service reasonably achievable.