Intagly 3D Print Quality Standards

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Intagly is a diversified peer-to-peer 3D printing service meaning each operator has a unique setup that varies slightly. Every operator must follow the below print quality standards in order to be an operator on Intagly.

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As an operator, you are running your own 3D printing business and it is important to make sure your customers are satisfied with your work. This document lays out the expectations for quality 3D prints.

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Support Removal

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Operators are not expected to remove supports unless “Remove Supports” is in the add-on(s) section on the order tile. If the remove supports add-on is selected you are mandated to remove supports in a clean manner. Intagly understands removing supports won’t always be perfect.

However, Intalgy does have an expectation supports are removed in an acceptable manner. Reference the below to see what is acceptable and what is not:

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Acceptable

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This print is an acceptable print. Even though there are slight support marks around the wheels it is clear that care was taken to rotate the model in an optimal manner so that supports were removed easily. There is no extensive scarring.

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This print is also acceptable even though there is more obvious slight scarring. The scarring is not deep and is located on the bottom of the object in a discrete location. This would be an acceptable support removal.

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Not Acceptable

This print is not acceptable because the scarring makes the print unusable. The scarring is very obvious and makes the print look extremely poor quality.

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This is also not acceptable because the scarring marks take up most of the object and are extremely noticeable.

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This print is also not acceptable because, during the support removal process, a piece of 3D print came off rendering the object unusable. In this situation, a new 3D print should be made if gluing does not sufficiently work.

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Layers

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When 3D printing the most common issues with layers are the first layer, last layer, and gaps between layers. It is important to make sure your 3D printer is calibrated often and after any major changes such as replacing a print bed. Prints with bad layering issues should never be delivered to customers.

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Acceptable

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The layers on this 3D print are smooth, event, and have no issues making them an acceptable 3D print.

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The layers on this 3D are smooth, evenly spaced, and well-formed making it a good 3D print.

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Not Acceptable

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There are large gaps between the lines making it very obvious the 3D printer was not calibrated and making the 3D print have large gaps making it unacceptable.

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This 3D print also has large gaps between the layers making the surface unsmooth making it unacceptable.

Stringing

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Stringing occurs when the 3D print head lifts up and moves across the print space to print in a new location. Some stringing is to be expected always. Intagly does not require the operator to clean up the strings as long as it is at acceptable levels. Reference the below images to see what is acceptable for stringing.

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Acceptable

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There are no strings present in the gaps below making this a perfect print in terms of stringing.

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The below 3D print has tiny strings in between the letters. While stringing is present since the stringing is light and mostly unnoticeable it is acceptable.

Not Acceptable

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This 3D print has severe stringing issues making the 3D print unusable. Since the string is clumping, dense, and very noticeable this 3D print is unacceptable.

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This 3D print has stringing that got clumped together on the edges. Since the surface is bumpy and very noticeable this 3D print is unacceptable.

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Rafts

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Rafts help 3D prints stay on the print bed. Rafts are not required by Intagly however if it helps you 3D prints you are allowed to use them. However, if you do decide to use rafts (which is not recommended in most cases) you must remove them cleanly. Rafts should be cleanly cut (no sharp edges) and cut as closely as possible the print. Reference the below images to see what is acceptable.

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Acceptable

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This print is acceptable because there are no rafts present. The edges are all clean and there are no sharp edges.

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Not Acceptable

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This 3D print has sharp edges and rafts are not cut all the way making this an unacceptable 3D print.

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This 3D print did not cut the rafts off all the way making this an unacceptable 3D print.

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Warping

Warping is caused by uneven temperature on your print bed and causes the print to bend upward leaving an unpolished look. Warping can be caused by an uneven print bed, being in a cold room, or the wrong bed temperature among other things.

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Acceptable

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This print is acceptable because the item is perfectly level and not bent in one direction.

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Not Acceptable

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This 3D print is bending upward (warping) making this unacceptable print quality.

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Customer Instructions

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Each order will have a tile which includes the file, quantity, color, add-ons, and special instructions. Every print you do must match the exact file the customer uploaded, the exact color the customer requested, and include the add-ons the customer requested.

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You should do your best to follow any special instructions. Here is a guide of what special instructions to follow and which ones to alert Intagly of.

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Example of Special Instructions to Follow

• Scaling down a print. (When at all possible you should follow this instruction to scale down the print. If the print is too complex and would be impossible at the lower scale print at the scale given and leave a customer comment.)
• The specific shade of color request. (If a customer requests for a light or dark shade of a specific color you should try your best to match this request. However, it is not expected that you buy light and dark shades of filament at this time.)
• Only print a specific part of a file. (If a customer gives a whole STL and requests for only one piece to be printed this request should be followed. If you are unfamiliar with cutting and splitting up objects reach out to Intagly support for help)

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Example of Special Instructions Not to Follow

• Scaling up a print. (You should not follow this instruction because scaling a print will lead to the print costing more money than what Intagly calculated. Instead, you should contact Intagly Support.)
• Remove supports/Infil/Ironing/Line Height. (If Remove supports/Infill/Ironing/Line Height is not in the add-ons section but is in the special instruction section you should reach out to Intagly. This is because this cost is not calculated into the price)
• Paint/Sand the object. (There is no expectation that prints are painted or sanded by operators so this request should be ignored. Contact Intagly to alert customers)

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