About the importance of following 3Dresyns Instructions for Use (IFU)

3Dresyns® materials are process-dependent material systems. Final performance is determined by the full material–printer or process–processing strategy–post-processing chain, not by the liquid resin, powder, binder, slurry, putty, adhesive or auxiliary material alone.

For this reason, following the applicable Instructions for Use (IFU), engineering-control documents, calibration logic and process-validation framework is essential to achieve consistent manufacturing quality, reproducible properties and controlled safety margins across the different 3Dresyns® technologies.

In most cases, poor or inconsistent outcomes arise from workflow deviations rather than from the intrinsic capability of the material system. IFUs exist to prevent these avoidable failure modes and to align users with the process logic required by each technology.

Quick guidance

• No cutting corners: processing and post-processing are part of the material system.
• Use the right IFU level: general IFU framework + core technology IFU + process-specific or application-specific IFU when relevant.
• Use engineering-control tools where available: some technologies require calibration, process mapping, dimensional validation or optimization workflows beyond the main IFU.
• Document your workflow: material version, printer or process platform, key settings, conditioning and post-processing.
• Ask for support early: many issues are resolved quickly when the workflow is reviewed as a system.

Start here: Instructions for Use (IFU) & Printing Parameters.

Why IFU matters across all 3Dresyns technologies

Vat photopolymerization (SLA, DLP, LCD/MSLA)

In vat photopolymerization, final part properties depend on formulation version, optical power, exposure strategy, layer thickness, geometry, washing chemistry, drying conditions and post-curing. Reported values are therefore workflow-dependent outcomes, not intrinsic constants of the liquid resin alone.

Inkjet photopolymerization

In inkjet workflows, final quality depends on the interaction between the material and the full jetting system, including printhead type, temperature, waveform, droplet formation, spreading, intermediate curing and final post-curing. A material may be chemically compatible with light curing and still fail if the jetting and curing workflow are not correctly implemented.

Two-photon polymerization (2PP)

In 2PP, the final structure depends on laser power, scan speed, focal conditions, writing strategy, overlap, development workflow and geometry fragility. Results are therefore highly dependent on threshold control and structured optimization of the writing window.

Volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM)

In VAM, print success depends on the interaction between material reactivity, optical architecture, dose distribution, background cure suppression, development and post-curing. Final dimensional fidelity and resolution depend on the complete volumetric process, not only on nominal material sensitivity.

Powder-based additive manufacturing (SLS and Cold Fusion)

In powder-based workflows, final behavior depends on powder composition, particle-size distribution, bed packing, energy or binder interaction, thermal history, debinding or consolidation route and downstream post-processing. The material designation alone does not define the final outcome.

Indirect additive manufacturing, slurries and sintering routes

In lithography-based sintering routes, feedstock slurries, mold-based injection/casting workflows and LMM binder systems, final success depends on the complete chain: wetting, solids loading, flow, green strength, debinding logic, shrinkage control and final thermal conversion.

Adhesives, putties, gels, fillers and sealants

In bonding, sealing, filling and local repair workflows, final performance depends on substrate compatibility, cure depth, bond-line geometry, light source, application method and service environment. The material must always be validated in the intended use context.

What do 3Dresyns IFUs define?

3Dresyns IFUs define qualified reference workflows and recommended process logic for the selected material family and technology. Where relevant, 3Dresyns also provides engineering-control documents for calibration, optimization, dimensional verification and process validation.

The objective is not to suggest that one fixed setting works everywhere, but to provide a technically grounded workflow framework that improves reproducibility, reduces trial-and-error and supports fair technical evaluation.

What are the most common causes of poor results?

• Using the wrong IFU level for the selected technology or intended application.
• Assuming that the material alone determines final performance.
• Changing critical parameters without documenting them.
• Using non-qualified cleaning, curing, development, debinding, sintering or conditioning routes.
• Comparing results across workflows without reporting the real process conditions.
• Testing materials outside their intended process window and attributing the result to intrinsic material failure.

Typical examples of workflow-dependent failure

Example 1 — Sacrificial systems are temporary functional materials, not universal structural materials

Water-soluble or solvent-soluble sacrificial materials are designed to perform under controlled handling, storage, printing and removal logic. If the relevant sacrificial IFU is not followed, parts may appear fragile, unstable or inconsistent. In that situation, the problem is often not the material family itself, but the absence of the correct workflow.

Example 2 — Optical materials depend strongly on post-processing

Transparency, gloss and optical appearance are strongly influenced by cleaning chemistry, solvent exposure, drying method and post-curing. A transparent or glossy material evaluated under an inappropriate post-processing route may look poor even if the underlying formulation is suitable.

Example 3 — Powder or sintering routes depend on full downstream validation

In direct-printing sintering routes, Cold Fusion workflows, LMM binders and powder slurries, no fair conclusion should be drawn from the build step alone. Green-part handling, debinding logic, shrinkage and thermal conversion are integral parts of the process.

What should I report when testing or benchmarking a 3Dresyns material?

• Material name and exact version / SKU / lot.
• Printer, process platform or manufacturing architecture.
• Technology-specific settings:
  • exposure strategy and layer thickness for vat photopolymerization,
  • waveform and printhead conditions for inkjet,
  • power-speed-overlap conditions for 2PP,
  • dose-distribution logic for VAM,
  • thermal, energy or binder conditions for powder-based routes.
• Cleaning, development, debinding, curing, post-curing or sintering conditions as relevant.
• Geometry, orientation, support strategy and relevant downstream process steps.
• Conditioning and testing conditions.

What should I send 3Dresyns for faster troubleshooting?

• Material name, version / SKU, lot and storage conditions.
• Printer or process platform model and software version where relevant.
• Screenshots or records of key settings.
• Cleaning, development, debinding, post-curing or sintering workflow.
• Photos of the issue or representative failed parts.
• A short description of what changed relative to the last successful run.

Use the right IFU structure

3Dresyns IFU documentation is organized as a layered system:

• General IFU framework — overall implementation philosophy
• Engineering control, calibration and process validation — where such methods are available
• Technology-specific IFUs — core processing rules for each manufacturing platform
• Process-specific and application-specific IFUs — downstream workflow logic and end-use guidance

For most real projects, the correct approach is to start with the relevant core technology IFU and then add the required process-specific or application-specific IFU.

Before publishing results involving 3Dresyns®

To ensure traceability, fair interpretation and technically meaningful comparison, follow the applicable IFUs and comply with:

• Legal terms
• Permission to publish
• Non-defamation & non-disparagement

Governing principle

3Dresyns® materials should be interpreted as qualified process systems, not as isolated raw materials. Final performance depends on the complete workflow, including the selected technology, the processing route, the post-processing sequence and the intended application conditions.

Need help or want us to review your workflow?

Email the 3Dresyns team with your material name/version, printer or process platform, key settings, processing route and photos or data related to the issue at info@3dresyns.com. In many cases, root causes can be identified quickly when the full workflow is reviewed as one engineering system.