Additive Manufacturing Guides

1. Introduction: Matching Material to Function

Choosing the wrong material can cause structural failure or unnecessary manufacturing costs. At KRIYA, we assist clients in selecting the optimal engineering polymer based on mechanical demands:

• Bio-PLA: Ideal for indoor aesthetic products, visual prototypes, architecture models, and consumer decor. High stiffness, low thermal resistance (softens above 55°C).
• PETG: The premier balance between tensile strength and chemical resistance. Safe for outdoor enclosures, functional snap-fits, and fluid containers.
• ABS / ASA: Superior impact strength and thermal resistance (up to 95°C). Required for automotive interiors and high-temperature hardware enclosures.
• TPU (Flexible): Shore 95A rubber-like elasticity. Used for gaskets, vibration dampers, protective bumpers, and ergonomic grips.
• Engineering Resins (MSLA): Extreme dimensional accuracy and isotropic strength. Optimal for miniature molds, dental guides, and fine jewelry casting.

1. Accepted CAD & Mesh Formats

KRIYA directly processes:

• STEP (.step / .stp): The industry standard for engineering parts and parametric assemblies. Preserves exact mathematical curves.
• STL (.stl): Standard polygonal mesh. Export with a chord height under 0.02mm to avoid visible faceted surfaces.
• 3MF (.3mf): Preferred modern format supporting multi-body color and orientation definitions.
• OBJ (.obj): Recommended for organic sculpts, characters, and architectural renders.

2. What If You Do Not Have a 3D CAD File?

Through our Idea-to-3D Design service, you can submit:

1. Hand sketches with critical dimensional callouts.
2. Reference photographs from multiple orthographic angles.
3. Mating component specifications or physical samples sent to our Hyderabad studio.

Our engineering team produces the validated CAD model, conducts DFM (Design for Additive Manufacturing) review, and shares a digital approval viewer before running physical production.

The Cost Equation

Injection molding entails significant initial tooling expenses (₹1,50,000 to ₹10,000,000+ for steel or aluminum tooling) and lead times of 4 to 8 weeks.

If your market demand is below 1,000 to 2,500 units, outsourced 3D manufacturing with KRIYA gives you lower total product cost, zero inventory risk, and the flexibility to iterate designs between orders without modifying physical tooling.

KRIYA's "YOU SELL. WE MAKE" Model

You sell directly under your brand name; KRIYA handles the entire manufacturing pipeline: Printing, Support Removal, Sanding/Vapour Finishing, Quality Inspection, and Branded Packing.