DFM Design Guide · 06
Curved parts experience both gravity and thermal-gradient effects during sintering - controllable, but only with advance planning.
Curved Surfaces & Distortion Control
Failure Scenario
A wearable device's curved back panel wasn't flagged in advance. After sintering, the curve's center sagged and flatness exceeded the assembly tolerance. A dedicated sintering fixture had to be remade - six weeks of delay.Mechanism & Control Methods
- Dedicated sintering fixture (custom support matched to the part's curve profile, eliminating unsupported spans)
- Uniform wall thickness control (reduces inconsistent shrinkage across the curved region)
- Staged temperature ramp (slow ramp-up in the low-temperature range, reducing thermal-gradient shock)
Curved structures are deliverable - we have a track record across wearable and jewelry-category curved projects. The key is DFM-stage evaluation up front. When submitting for DFM, note the curve radius and wall-thickness distribution.