<h2>Clearance</h2>
<p>For parts that slot into one another, you need to include clearance. This clearance depends on your printer configuration and can be between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.</p>
<h2>Calibrate your printer!</h2>
<p>You might want to calibrate your printer and profile to learn what distance of clearance you need for your specific printer.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-17T16:45:43.287Z
2023-10-17T16:45:43.287Z
Trish
<p>You can try reducing the size of the part that goes in by 0.5mm and see how it goes. Also I agree with above comment you might want to tune in your printer to to get better prints.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-16T07:38:00.470Z
2023-10-16T07:38:00.470Z
belloalmu 
<p>I want a cable management tray for my height-adjustable desk.</p>
<p>I came up with the following design: <a href="https://www.tinkercad.com/things/aUADCcVNotf?sharecode=Jyw1OSVmBfHwjXB1S7eIqacKr6VmH6MCha-vOcEbDW4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">CableManagementLarge</a></p>
<p>It appears to fit nicely in CAD but when printed the parts don't fit nicely. You can use force but it distorts the part. I have already snapped 2 of them.</p>
<p>Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
It would have been easier to buy a tray. However, that would have robbed me of the chance to learn more about designing for 3D printing.</p>
<p>Here is an image to show how it distorts the hanger part:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/v7bXh.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Photo of a 3D printed cable management model that is bent and distorted"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/v7bXh.jpg" alt="Photo of a 3D printed cable management model that is bent and distorted" title="Photo of a 3D printed cable management model that is bent and distorted" /></a></p>
<p>As you can see in the image, the hanger part is bent. I have checked the calibration of the printer, it seems fine on both the X and Y-axis. It's 0.2 mm out on the Z-axis.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-15T21:02:58.467Z
To be honest and not trying to insult, the print quality of the parts is really bad. What printer is this?
0scar
<3d-models>
How to design for parts that slot into each other
Ageis
# How to design for parts that slot into each other

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-10-14)

I want a cable management tray for my height-adjustable desk.

I came up with the following design: [CableManagementLarge](https://www.tinkercad.com/things/aUADCcVNotf?sharecode=Jyw1OSVmBfHwjXB1S7eIqacKr6VmH6MCha-vOcEbDW4)

It appears to fit nicely in CAD but when printed the parts don't fit nicely. You can use force but it distorts the part. I have already snapped 2 of them.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
It would have been easier to buy a tray. However, that would have robbed me of the chance to learn more about designing for 3D printing.

Here is an image to show how it distorts the hanger part:

[![Photo of a 3D printed cable management model that is bent and distorted](https://i.sstatic.net/v7bXh.jpg "Photo of a 3D printed cable management model that is bent and distorted")](https://i.sstatic.net/v7bXh.jpg "Photo of a 3D printed cable management model that is bent and distorted")

As you can see in the image, the hanger part is bent. I have checked the calibration of the printer, it seems fine on both the X and Y-axis. It's 0.2 mm out on the Z-axis.

**Tags:** 3d-models
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: To be honest and not trying to insult, the print quality of the parts is really bad. What printer is this?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-10-17. Score: 1

## Clearance

For parts that slot into one another, you need to include clearance. This clearance depends on your printer configuration and can be between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

## Calibrate your printer!

You might want to calibrate your printer and profile to learn what distance of clearance you need for your specific printer.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2023-10-16. Score: 1

You can try reducing the size of the part that goes in by 0.5mm and see how it goes. Also I agree with above comment you might want to tune in your printer to to get better prints.


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