A basic outline of layer-by-layer printing

In 3D printing technology, the building, or printing, material (concrete, plastic...) is applied (printed) layer by layer using a printing head (extruder). The whole process is controlled by data that describes the printing process for manufacturing the object.

The printing data contains motion information (trajectory) and technical specification (head movement speed, material feed rate, etc.).

Unless subsequent surface treatment is carried out, which is time-consuming for concrete prints, adding to the cost and technical processes. The layers will always be visible, and we must take them into account with our designs.

Layer height

The height of a printed layer refers to the amount of material deposited by the printing head at a single point. It is measured in millimetres and typically ranges from 8 to 20 mm, with 10 or 12 mm being the most common.

Since the concrete objects we produce are generally larger in size, we recommend using higher layer heights, as it provides a better visual appearance at these dimensions.

Furthermore, if layers cannot be fully concealed, it's better to emphasise and make use of their aesthetics. For more information, please see our article on Layers and Patterns.

Print track width

The width of the print layer determines the strength of the walls of your object. It depends on the diameter of the output nozzle of the printing head and the amount of extruded concrete that passes through it. Its width ranges from 15 to 55 mm. We usually use a value of 25 to 30 mm. In some cases, it is appropriate to use a double print layer instead of a single. See the article on Infinite Print Path for more information.