Prototype Print Layout

Rules

• do not leave multi-part print exports scattered around the bed when a tighter layout is possible
• do not choose a visually neat orientation if it creates avoidable supports, trapped internal support, or a larger footprint than necessary
• do not place open channels, grooves, plug pockets, or other cavity faces down unless there is no better stable orientation
• do not lay hose plugs horizontally when a vertical bore-up orientation is practical
• do not use arbitrary large gaps between parts; keep spacing small and justified
• do not place assembly letters on exposed finished-facing support surfaces when the same cue can live on the buried joint faces
• do not add large or aggressive snap hooks to PLA prototype joints when a shallow detent will locate the part just as well
• if two parts cannot both be packed tightly and printed cleanly in one bundle, split the export intentionally instead of shipping a support-heavy compromise

Best Practices

Orientation First

• Put the broadest flat, low-risk exterior face on the bed whenever that avoids supports.
• For split cold-block halves, prefer the smooth external face down and keep the split-face features up.
• Keep open cavities, channels, seal grooves, and plug-capture geometry facing up whenever possible so the slicer does not fill them with support.
• Keep long internal bores vertical when practical. For the aquarium hose plugs, the default should be hose axis vertical with the hose end up and the trapped-head side on the bed.
• If a part has one face that is flat but functionally delicate, decide whether a support-free orientation still wins for the prototype phase. For this project's PLA-first fit parts, support avoidance and footprint reduction usually outrank cosmetic surface quality.

Packing Strategy

• Treat the bundle like one manufactured print job, not a loose collection of unrelated parts.
• Start with the largest two-dimensional footprints first, then fit the smaller parts into the remaining envelope.
• Prefer layouts that minimize the final bounding rectangle rather than layouts that merely look symmetric.
• Keep all parts on the same bed plane at z = 0; never leave floating geometry in an export bundle.
• Keep the origin simple and positive so regenerated STLs are predictable and easy to compare.
• Use one consistent gap for the bundle unless a specific part needs more. For this project's PLA bundles, 4 mm is the default starting point and should only increase when geometry truly needs it.

Project-Specific Defaults

• Cold-block base: print with the broad flat outer base face down. Do not flip the O-ring groove or split face onto the bed.
• Cold-block lid: print with the broad flat top face down. Do not place the channel face or split face on the bed.
• Hose plugs: stand them upright so the 14.5 mm bore stays vertical and the hose side points up.
• Repeated hose plugs: keep like parts in a simple row-and-column arrangement with identical orientation.
• Mixed bundles: keep the large body parts tightly packed first, then place the hose plugs in the smallest leftover band that does not increase the bounding box more than necessary.
• Interlocking support parts: keep mirrored witness letters on both sides of the mating joint and make sure those marks disappear once the joint is fully seated.
• PLA detents: prefer very small alignment bumps or pockets on the mating tongues, tabs, or stems instead of exposed hooks; they should help dry-fit alignment and glue-up without fighting clamps.

Release Checks

• Confirm every part is resting on the intended bed face after any mirror or rotation step.
• Confirm no part requires hidden internal support in a bore or cavity that should have printed open.
• Confirm the packed export really reduced the footprint; do not assume the new layout is better just because the parts are closer together.
• When a print-layout convention changes materially, update the RFQ docs and the relevant agent guidance in the same pass.