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Accuracy in 3D Printing is subject to several factors. When a perfectly flat surface is needed for a surface finish specification or a mold contact surface, there are a few tricks you can use to make sure the face is as flat as possible.

One approach is to take advantage of the flatness of the build plate, such as this mold base printed on a Formlabs Form 3L SLA printer. The surface of the part touching the build plate will be very flat but may experience some additional build-up on the perimeter. A face that is parallel to the build plate but not toughing it will still benefit from the flatness of the system as it will be cured along the bottom on the optical surface.

The other option to achieve perfectly flat and smooth surfaces is to post-process the surface. In this scenario the fill location extends above the parting line so it would be much more difficult to get an accurate treatment in the internal corners without a re-design.

Further design choices and approaches can be used, but this example underscores how 3D Printing requires thoughtful planning to achieve the functional parts and surfaces needed for an application.

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