FDM Unsupported Hole Test

grabcad

I have engineered a component with the explicit purpose of determining whether reinforcement is required in horizontal through-holes within FDM 3D printed parts. To that end, I fabricate two distinct versions (slender and robust) without any added support structure for each machine/material/layer thickness configuration of significance. These prints are preserved as a ready-reference guide, serving as a visual cue to facilitate the evaluation process, ultimately allowing me to decide whether or not support is necessary for a specific hole diameter.