Designing Text for Mass Production 3D Printing

In this video, we explore different ways of incorporating text onto 3D printed parts, focusing on orientation and design considerations. We discuss the advantages of embossing and engraving, and why the side of the part is the optimal location for text placement. We also touch upon the importance of text depth and size, emphasizing the ideal range for legibility. Additionally, we explore a severely under-utilized technique, only possible with 3d printing, that allows you to add hidden text to your parts.

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#3dprinting #designtutorial #designfor3dprinting #additivemanufacturing

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[janoshorvath]

The hidden text idea is extremely cool!

[daliasprints]

I like the hidden text. One variant on this, when you want the text visible on the final part, is doing it with translucent/semi-transparent materials. You get text you can read but that doesn't alter the smoothness of the outer surface, provide ridges for dirt to collect in, etc.

[robinte]

Nice to see interesting ways to use inside geometry. The hidden text idea really lets me question "whats next?". The potential of 3D printing is huge, and we are just at the beginning.

[partsdave]

Hadn’t thought of, or seen, hidden text. Interesting 🤔

[lostsauce]

To clarify, embossing is text outside, engraving is text inside.
You flip-flopped them :)

[alexbolt]

The hidden text just blew my mind! Thanks for this brilliant idea!

[椰糠种植者]

The hidden text is mind blowing... thanks for sharing!

[jynkotech]

You Are Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Awesome 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[Kemised]

It's called debossed when it's what you call engraved. Engraving is when it's literally cut/carved.

[Braincho]

Very nice!
Will Raft improve text/surface quality at the bottom side?

[arduinomistakes]

I insist students add rev numbering for iterations. But small characters are illegible if print is not crisp and the features smear. So they can use a code system that tolerates inaccuracy. We standardize on rev codes being all numbers, the dash to separate values, a period=1, a pipe=5. e.g. .. - ... - |.. - | is read as 2-3-7-5. Even a janky print can still have the code readable. This can also be use for students to put their student ID number on prints so I know whom I am grading.

[VeniceInventors]

For printing text on the bottom, would it be possible to place the text first as an object in the slicer and then adding the other object with negative space where the text goes so that the text object falls within the main object, hopefully causing the print head to move in a different pattern where the text goes?

[windysynth]

Can you put text on a surface where you use randomness for texture without screwing up the text?

[humblepi]

love this - trying to learn how to create embossed text with 5-10 degree draft to add to pattern for molding - hard

[RazaXML]

i feel like im going to fall out of my chair watching your head

[TS_Mind_Swept]

5:00 Text on the bottom also isn't gonna do too well if the first layer is too high SoonerLater

[AlejandroVelazquez-sdmg]

What type of 3D Printers dou you have in your Farm?

[BradKwfc]

I've tried text on the bottom of the print many times. It is not reliable at all, and I'm using a Bambu X1.

If you can get really good repeatable bed adhesion you'll get better results but still the thick outline of the text looks bad... but maybe that can be changed in slicer settings?

[uiopuiop]

i would hereby propose the idea of a 3d printed carbon fiber ax, and what it can do. as you said, it would be really tough, and it would be nice to see exactly how though it can be

[JasGawera]

I'm very new to 3d printing. I just designed and made a replacement plastic flap for my alarm keypad. Thought it would be fun to put some tet on there. I designed it with engraved?(sunken) text on the bottom face. I just set it to 0.1mm, the text is very large (40mm tall letters), so just initials on the keypad face.
When printing, it looks like the first layer just skipped those areas, the next layer just printed over them. The final result is very subtle. The area of the text came out with the diagonal texture, and the rest had the flatter bed texture. If you catch the light just right you can clearly see the letters, otherwise they blend in.
I also put embossed text on the top face. Slightly smaller font but still maybe 20mm tall letters. This time set to 0.2mm. Came out very nice.
(My part was only 2.5mm tall so no text on the sides :)