OFF THE FLOOR // TOPIC INDEX
3D Printing Guides and Field Notes
Practical FDM guidance from AIURION's San Francisco 3D printing operation, covering startup prototypes, PLA and PETG, printability, turnaround, enclosures, and small batches.
12 PUBLISHED ARTICLESPUBLISHED KNOWLEDGE // 3D PRINTING
Articles in this topic
Same-Day 3D Printing for Urgent Prototype Needs
A practical guide to when same-day FDM is feasible, what determines the real turnaround, and when an urgent part needs another process.
Read article →02 // 3D PrintingUrgent Spare-Parts 3D Printing: What Can Actually Be Replaced Quickly?
A readiness check for urgent replacement parts: usable CAD, non-critical use, PLA or PETG fit, and a deadline that includes delivery.
Read article →03 // 3D PrintingWhen Not to Use Additive Manufacturing
Use this process-selection framework when material, risk, finish, tolerance, quantity, geometry, or schedule may make FDM the wrong answer.
Read article →04 // 3D PrintingOutsource 3D Printing or Buy a Printer? A Startup Decision Guide
Compare outsourcing with printer ownership across speed, operator time, cost, iteration frequency, control, and the practical hybrid model.
Read article →05 // 3D PrintingFDM Versus SLA for Startup Prototypes
Choose FDM for practical fit checks and hardware iteration; choose SLA when fine detail and smooth small-scale presentation quality drive the decision.
Read article →06 // 3D PrintingFunctional Versus Display Prototypes: Choose the Right Print for the Decision
Define whether a prototype must test fit and behavior, communicate form and scale, or do both before choosing the print strategy.
Read article →07 // 3D PrintingThe PCB Enclosure Readiness Checklist
A practical checklist for turning a working electronics board into a 3D printed enclosure that can be quoted and ordered through Aiurion's Enclosure Workbench.
Read article →08 // 3D PrintingAdditive Bridge Production Economics: Qualify the Route, Price the Gap, Plan the Exit
Additive bridge production is not "print until tooling arrives." It is a temporary, approved production route with bounded economics and a defined exit.
Read article →09 // 3D PrintingAdditive Manufacturing vs CNC Machining: A Scope-Matched Cost Comparison
The cheaper quote is not always the cheaper production route. Compare additive and CNC with the same scope and the same time horizon.
Read article →10 // 3D PrintingWhen to Validate with a 3D-Printed Prototype Before Production
A prototype is valuable when it answers a named question at the right level of fidelity. It is waste when the team prints first and decides what to learn later.
Read article →11 // 3D PrintingWhen Is a 3D-Printed Fixture Good Enough? A Risk-Based Qualification Framework
A practical way to qualify printed workholding without inventing universal tolerance or cycle-count rules.
Read article →12 // 3D PrintingCan I Get Just One Part 3D Printed?
One part can be the right order for a fit check, design decision, or low-risk replacement. Scope the question first, then quote the actual geometry.
Read article →FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION