Prashant kumar

DFAM ( Design for Additive Manufacturing) is a completely new concept, You have to consider every technological constraint of 3D printing while planning your design or products. Also you had to design your product in a manner so it will be ready for mass production also just with minor optimization. Whereas sometimes you also be prepared to optimize models for 3D printing to meet your project requirements or for better quality 3D prints.

Following the industry experts and influencers can also be a good start. Start building your connections and networks on social media platforms, build a strong relationship, and get guidance. This will help you start and choose the right set of tools and techniques. Interact with different communities, get your doubts clear, and also help others with your level of skills. Always share your work and portfolio to get feedback from your community. Don't just blindly believe in anything, do your own research.

Learning New tools and techniques is always challenging, but if you plan and execute project-based learning it can be efficient. Here are some of the most recommended and powerful Automotive 3D modeling tools For Beginners: - Blender - Onshape - Solidworks - Autodesk inventor For experienced designers: - Vred - Alias - Rhino - Catia - Creo Parametric Don't get overwhelmed by seeing so many options, just start with any of the tools and once you will have the concept and methodology clear, you can easily migrate to any of the advanced tools as per your industry and Job profile.

There are multiple online free learning resources where you can start your 3D modeling and 3D printing journey. Some of them are 1) Udemy 2) Youtube 3) Coursera 4) Edx 5) LinkedIn Learning But my recommended way to start with this skill is: 1) Choose the software of your choice based on your industry. 2) Find a Mentor on LinkedIn and follow his/her content. 3) Start a small project For example: a Pen holder, Paper clip Water bottle, etc. 4) Join communities to get your queries solved. 5) Improve and repeat. And for 3D printing, get a 3D printer or find access to it somewhere. Try different kinds of 3D models and evaluate the outcomes and challenges. I hope very soon you will feel pride in your 3D printing projects.

Before starting 3D printing Make sure you have checked all the settings and parameters inside Slicer software before exporting it as a final Gcode 3D printable file. Also if your 3D model is having cuts, holes, or any kind of errors you can check and fix it using tools like MeshMixer. If your part is bigger, having multiple features like threads, holes, and other fitting, my recommendation is to test those features separately by splitting your 3D model into small pieces. This helps reduce the loss of resources like Material and Print time. And once you feel confident with every feature, just go for the final prototype.

Design principles vary based on your 3D printing technologies. I will suggest a few for FDM ( Fused deposition Modeling). - Print Orientation: This is to be considered while planning your 3D model because it affects the strength and surface finish of your part. - 3D printer and Material Tolerance: Test a few sample 3D prints to check and verify your 3D printer and Material tolerance, and optimize your 3D model accordingly. -Overhang areas: Make sure your 3D model has limited overhang areas to avoid excessive support, rough surface finish, and Longer print time. -Wall thickness and Infill: Consider optimal wall thickness based on nozzle size, not less than 4 walls, and also consider correct infill to avoid extra weight and print time.