Surface Quality and Technology Characteristics

3D printing is not casting or industrial molding. Parts are produced layer by layer, which may result in visible layer lines, slight surface roughness, and minor visual or dimensional deviations. This is especially common with complex geometries such as sharp edges, overhangs, bridges, and other intricate features. These characteristics are a natural part of the 3D printing process and are not considered defects.

Very thin elements may fail to print or may have defects (layer heights of 0.16–0.2 mm are used for small prints up to 20 cm, and 0.24–0.3 mm for larger prints above 20 cm), which is a normal characteristic of 3D printing technology.

Materials and Supports

If required, most of these surface characteristics can be reduced or removed through post-processing, such as sanding. Different materials behave differently: PLA generally provides a cleaner and smoother surface, while PETG and ABS may show more noticeable surface artifacts. When supports are required for printing, small marks typically remain in the areas where the supports were in contact with the part after removal, which is also a normal technological characteristic.

Post-Processing

The standard service includes basic support removal only. Sanding, surface smoothing, painting, chemical treatment, or any other time-consuming post-processing is not included in the base price and must be agreed upon separately in advance.

PETG/ABS/PLA:

During 3D printing with PETG and ABS materials, minor visual imperfections may occur, such as stringing, slight surface waviness, visible layer lines, or marks left by support structures. These effects are caused by the physical properties of the materials and are especially common when printing models with complex geometry, overhangs, bridges, and sharp transitions. For decorative objects, PLA is generally recommended, as it typically produces fewer visual imperfections; however, minor surface irregularities may also occur with PLA prints. The layered structure, small surface inconsistencies, minor dimensional deviations, and slight imperfections on edges or corners are inherent characteristics of FDM 3D printing technology. All of the above are considered normal and do not constitute defects or manufacturing faults. Additional post-processing services, such as sanding or surface finishing, can be provided upon request and are offered as a separate paid service.

Quality of 3D Scanning and Accuracy of 3D Modeling
We use professional 3D scanners with a declared accuracy of up to 0.05 mm. However, it is important to understand that such precision is achievable only under ideal laboratory conditions. In real-world applications, many factors influence the final scanning accuracy. Surface irregularities in paint coatings, dirt, dust, grease, signs of wear, cracks, chips, deformations, and bending can significantly affect results. Dark or glossy surfaces reflect scanning light poorly, which also reduces accuracy. Additional challenges include soft materials that may deform during fixation, complex geometries, deep cavities, threads, small chamfers, and hard-to-reach areas. When scanning large objects, cumulative deviation may occur during the alignment and merging of multiple scan sections.

It should also be noted that a scanner captures the actual current condition of the part. If a component is worn, damaged, or deformed, these imperfections will be reflected in the digital model. Without original technical drawings, reference dimensions, or an undamaged sample, it is impossible to guarantee exact conformity to factory geometry, as reconstruction in such cases involves engineering interpretation and assumptions.

During the 3D modeling stage, we work to minimize potential deviations by cleaning and optimizing meshes, correcting base planes, refining cylindrical elements, restoring symmetry, and rebuilding functional surfaces and threads where required. Nevertheless, without precise technical documentation, absolute dimensional accuracy in all critical areas cannot be guaranteed.

Depending on the condition, size, and complexity of the object, deviations may vary. In cases of heavily damaged or significantly worn parts, deviations can reach up to 10% when reconstructing the original shape. In most standard projects, especially for smaller components, we aim to maintain accuracy within 1 mm and in many cases within 0.5 mm. If higher precision is required, providing drawings, critical dimensions, tolerances, and functional requirements will significantly improve the final CAD model accuracy.