How to Design Snap-Fit Enclosures for 3D Printing (3D CAD Guide)

Designing cantilever snap joints for 3D printed electronics housings requires careful consideration of layer orientation, material elasticity, and clearance tolerances.

1. Tolerance Offsets

Always leave a 0.2mm - 0.3mm gap between mating snap faces on FDM prints to account for perimeter extrusion swelling.

2. Material Choice

PETG and Nylon offer far higher fatigue resistance for repeated snap assembly compared to brittle PLA.