Manufacturing Standards

Our Manufacturing Standards

Updated November 2023

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CMM inspection and measurement of part QA

Our Manufacturing Standards

Unless we have agreed to other tolerances in your Quote, we will work to achieve and hold the tolerances noted below, which will vary per the primary manufacturing method you select. Xometry has developed a comprehensive set of Design Guides to assist you in optimizing your design for the manufacturing method selected; please consult them for critical tips and tricks. In the event of a conflict between the Design Guides and this set of Xometry Manufacturing Standards, these will control.

Workmanship Standards

Orders with Xometry will meet the minimum workmanship standards outlined below (as applicable to the process). If your project requires a level of workmanship that goes beyond the standards listed below, please clearly list the requirement in your engineering drawings, purchase orders, or specifications.

Finished Surfaces Cosmetics

Paint coverage on surfaces will be uniform, including adjacent materials of assemblies.
Finished surfaces will be free of defects, including chips, scrapes, or other damage.

Mill Steps, Tooling, and Chatter

Tool marks on as-milled surfaces will be free of defects, including burrs, chatter, tool gauges, and will meet surface roughness specifications.
Indicated critical surfaces will be free of mill steps and marks across the entire surface.
Milled surfaces will meet surface roughness specifications.

Chips, Burrs, and Sharp Edges

All exposed edges will be free of burrs, sharp edges, and metal slivers.**
**Sheet cut parts are not deburred unless specified through a selected finish.

Foreign Object Debris (FOD)

Surfaces will be free of cutting fluid, metal chips, foreign objects, and other debris.

Threads

Threads will be fully formed and cut to specified size and class indicated in provided drawings.
Threads will be free of defects, notable damage, and contamination.

Plated Surfaces

Plated surfaces will be uniform, including adjacent surfaces of assemblies.
Plated surfaces will be free of machining marks, scratches, pits, protrusions, or visible bare metal.
Some minor defects may be permissible in certain situations if they do not compromise the protective finish.

Weld Joints

Weld joints are performed as indicated in the customer-provided drawing.
Welds without specific requirements are cleaned to remove slag or other surface contamination.
Weld joints will not be painted until the welding has been completed and the weld has passed inspection.

Countersinks

Countersinks shall be round and made to print specifications and allow the proper designed fit with the mating screw.
Countersinks will be free of burrs, chatter, or other tooling defects.

Painted Surfaces

Painted surfaces shall be consistent and continuous in the finish.
Painted surfaces shall be free of visible machining marks, scratches, abrasions, dust particles, fisheyes, orange peel, or bare metal.
Painted surfaces should be reviewed against this standard at a distance of 18" at 1X magnification.

CNC Machining and Turning

For features of size (Length, width, height, diameter) and location (position, concentricity, symmetry) +/- 0.005” (metals) or +/- 0.010 (plastics and composites) following ISO 2768 unless otherwise specified.
As machined surface finish is 125 Ra or better. Machine tool marks may leave a swirl-like pattern.
Sharp edges will be broken and deburred by default. Critical edges that must be left sharp should be noted and specified on a print.
Clear or transparent plastics will be matte or have translucent swirl marks on any machined face. Bead blasting will leave a frosted finish on clear plastics.
Xometry cannot guarantee tolerances on foam or similar compressible materials.
General tolerances for orientation and form features are outlined below unless we have agreed to other tolerances in your Quote. These features include parallelism, perpendicularity, cylindricity, flatness, circularity, and straightness.

Isometric illustrations of CNC turning and milling processes.

CNC Orientation and Form General Tolerances

Table: Parallelism, Perpendicularity, Cylindricity, Circularity, Flatness, and Straightness over Part Length

Part Length	Orientation and Form Tolerance	Angularity Tolerance
Part Length 0 to 12"	Orientation and Form Tolerance +/- 0.005"	Angularity Tolerance Angularity +/- ½ degree
Part Length 12" to 24"	Orientation and Form Tolerance +/- 0.010"	Angularity Tolerance Angularity +/- ½ degree
Part Length 24" - 36"	Orientation and Form Tolerance +/- 1/64" (0.016")	Angularity Tolerance Angularity +/- 1 degree
Part Length 36" - 60"	Orientation and Form Tolerance +/- 1/32" (0.031")	Angularity Tolerance Angularity +/- 1 degree
Part Length Over 60"	Orientation and Form Tolerance +/- 1/16" (0.063")	Angularity Tolerance Angularity +/- 1 degree

Form tolerances apply to metal machined components. Plastic and composite materials are typically double the tolerance amount.

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Die Casting

Typical mold machined tolerances are +/- 0.010" when machining the mold and an additional +/- 0.001" per in. when calculating shrink rate.
Tighter as-molded tolerances can be requested and may increase the cost of tooling. Additionally, many tight tolerances require the mold to be manufactured, sampled, and groomed. Xometry will mill to a steel-safe condition on critical features.
Critical toleranced features and surface finishes may require post-machining and should be noted in the quote prior to order. Post-machined features will follow Xometry’s CNC manufacturing standards.
Xometry will produce die cast components according to the net-shape (as-cast) model provided by the customer. These models must contain appropriate material for any additional post-processing efforts, such as post-machining. It is recommended to provide the as-cast 3D model as well as the final model with any accompanying technical drawings.
Part-to-part repeatability is typically under +/- 0.004".
As-cast surface finish is typically 64 μin. The standard finish for die-casting is as-cast and cannot guarantee a specific Ra value without additional processing.
The lead time is for the first article shipment (T1 shipment). The remaining production time is confirmed after the first article approval.
Typical first article shipments are five pieces but may vary based on size, origin, and material.
All quotes are based upon the assumption that designs have an adequate draft, radii, and coring for manufacturability.
Cores, side actions, and tooling strategy are determined by Xometry unless explicitly discussed.
Gating, ejection, knit lines, and parting lines are at the discretion of Xometry unless explicitly discussed.
Parting line(s) on die cast parts will be visible as a thin ridge traveling across the part.
Cast parts may have one or many gate vestiges, which are trimmed, sheared, or ground off.
Ejector pin marks will be present on die cast parts, resembling round flats.

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Plastic Injection Molding

Typical mold machined tolerances are +/- 0.005" when machining the mold and an additional +/- 0.002" per in. when calculating for shrink rate.
Tighter tolerances can be requested and may increase the cost of tooling. Additionally, many tight tolerances require the mold to be manufactured, sampled, and groomed. Xometry will mill to a steel-safe condition on critical features.
Part-to-part repeatability is typically under +/- 0.004".
Lead time stated is for first article shipment. Remaining production time is confirmed after first article approval.
Typical first article shipments are 10 pieces but may vary based on size, origin, and material.
Xometry cannot guarantee a perfect color match per Pantone color.
All quotes are based upon the assumption that designs have an adequate draft, radii, and coring for manufacturability.
Cores, side actions, and tooling strategy are determined by Xometry unless explicitly discussed.
Gating, ejection, knit lines and parting lines are at the discretion of Xometry unless explicitly discussed.

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Metal Extrusion

All quotes are based upon the assumption that designs have adequate wall thicknesses, radii, and feature sets designed for manufacturability in this process.
Critical-to-function tolerances should be discussed at the time of quoting to ensure that tooling strategy, check gages (if applicable), and other quality controls are encompassed in the quote.
Linear cross-section dimensions are +/- 0.010", or +/- 0.006” per inch, whichever is greater, excluding wall thickness.
Wall thickness is +/- 10% of the specified dimension.
Cross-section angularity for external corners is +/- 1 degree, and +/- 2 degrees for internal angles.
Critical toleranced features and surface finishes may require post-machining and should be noted in the quote before order. Post-machined features will follow Xometry’s CNC manufacturing standards.
Customer-provided models must contain appropriate material for additional post-processing efforts, such as post-machining. Xometry recommends providing the extruded 3D and final models with any accompanying technical drawings.
The surface roughness of as-extruded features is 125 μin Ra.
Twist not to exceed 0.5 degrees per 12” length is typical.
Straightness not to exceed 0.0125” per 12” length.
Sharp corners will have a radius of at least 0.016”.
Corner radii up to 0.188” will have a +/- 0.016” standard tolerance. Any radii over 0.188” will have a +/- 10% tolerance.

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Metal Extrusion Services

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Plastic Extrusion

All quotes are based upon the assumption that designs have adequate wall thicknesses, radii, and feature sets designed for manufacturability in this process.
Critical-to-function tolerances should be discussed at the time of quoting to ensure that tooling strategy, check gages (if applicable), and other quality controls are encompassed in the quote.
Critical toleranced features and surface finishes may require post-machining and should be noted in the quote before ordering. Post-machined features will follow Xometry’s CNC manufacturing standards for plastics.
Customer-provided models must contain appropriate material for additional post-processing efforts, such as post-machining. Xometry recommends providing the extruded 3D and final models with any accompanying technical drawings.
Wall thickness is typically +/- 10% of the specified dimension.
Angularity is typically +/- 3 degrees for rigid materials and +/- 5 degrees for flexible materials.
Twist typically does not to exceed 0.5 degrees per 12” length. Camber and bow not to exceed 0.025” per 12” length.
The surface roughness of plastic extrusions will be 125 μin Ra or better.
Sharp corners will have a radius of at least 0.016”.
Lumens within extruded tubes will be limited to four unless otherwise agreed upon.
Dimensions inside of hollows are difficult to control and will require tolerances considerably greater than the standard tolerances.

Standard Plastic Extrusion Tolerances By Feature Size

Size of Dimension	Standard Tolerance *
Size of Dimension < 0.125”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.010”
Size of Dimension 0.125” - 0.500”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.020”
Size of Dimension 0.500” - 1.00”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.030”
Size of Dimension 1.00” - 1.50”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.035”
Size of Dimension 1.50” - 2.00”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.040”
Size of Dimension 2.00” - 3.00”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.045”
Size of Dimension 3.00” - 4.00”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.065”
Size of Dimension 4.00” - 5.00”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.085”
Size of Dimension 5.00” - 7.00”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.100”
Size of Dimension 7.00” - 10.00”	Standard Tolerance * ± 0.125”

* General tolerances strongly depend on the material extruded and cross-section complexity. Specialized tooling can be used to obtain tighter tolerances than those listed above.

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Custom Plastic Extrusion Services

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Sheet Cutting Service

Thickness tolerances are independent of cutting tolerances, as they rely on the raw stock material’s tolerance range.
Edge to edge tolerances is +/- 0.010” nominal on the top face of the plate/sheet.
Thicker materials may have a tolerance deviation on the bottom face due to tapers inherent in laser cutting, waterjet cutting.
Xometry cannot guarantee flatness call outs for sheet cut materials except on ground stock or tooling plate (e. g. MIC6).
Holes of 0.100” or smaller in diameter may be slightly larger on the top face than standard tolerances due to the cutter piercing the material near the hole's cut line.
A small bump or divot in the material or a different edge condition may be present at the lead-in and lead-out in a cutting profile.
Pre-finished or textured sheets, such as brushed or polished stock may have only one side with the cosmetic finish.
Protective film may be shipped on cut products to prevent damage of cosmetic finishes.
The edge condition of sheet cut materials will have vertical striations versus smooth edges. This affects the transparency of edges on clear plastics cut with waterjet.
Some cut materials may show a small halo discoloration from backsplash (waterjet) or overspray near the cut edges (laser).

For further information regarding de-tabbing, deburr, and surface finishing, please refer to our FAQ page.

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Sheet Metal Fabrication

Forming and bending: +/- 0.030"
Bend to hole or feature: +/- 0.010"
Linear dimensions excluding locations to bends: +/- 0.010"
Angularity: +/- 2 degrees
Surface roughness (blank material): Ra 125 uin max
Surface roughness (timesave): Ra 100 uin max
Sharp edges will be broken and deburred by default. Critical edges that must be left sharp should be noted and specified on a print.
Specific sheet metal designs require custom tooling and will be flagged for a manual quote: hems, curled flanges and rolled sheets, stamped parts, and welded assemblies. If your part includes these features, please allow our manual quote team to review and provide you with an accurate cost and lead time.

Sheet Metal Tolerances Continued

Flat Parts

Sheet metal parts that utilize stock material gauge thicknesses and require no bending or milled features. All flat sheet metal parts can meet a +/-0.010” tolerance.

Simple Bend / One Surface

When designing parts with some type of bend with a standard bend radius, sheet metal tolerances are required to open. For simple bent parts, Xometry can offer a +/- 0.010” tolerance for dimensions across a single bend. The bend radius itself is constrained to a +/- 1.0°.

Multiple Surface Bends

For dimensions measured over multiple bends, Xometry can offer a +/- 0.030.

Sheet Metal Tolerances Reference Table

Dimension Detail	Tolerance	Image Reference
Dimension Detail Edge to Edge, Single Surface	Tolerance +/- 0.010"	Image Reference A
Dimension Detail Edge to Hole, Single Surface	Tolerance +/- 0.010"	Image Reference B
Dimension Detail Hole to Hole, Single Surface	Tolerance +/- 0.010"	Image Reference C
Dimension Detail Hole Diameter, Single Surface	Tolerance +/- 0.010"	Image Reference D
Dimension Detail Bend to Edge / Hole, Single Surface	Tolerance +/- 0.010"	Image Reference E
Dimension Detail Edge to Feature, Multiple Surface	Tolerance +/- 0.030”	Image Reference F
Dimension Detail Over Formed Part, Multiple Surface	Tolerance +/- 0.030”	Image Reference G
Dimension Detail Bend Angle	Tolerance +/- 1 deg	Image Reference H

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Sheet metal parts with hems and other formed features.

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Metal Stamping

All quotes are based upon the assumption that designs have an adequate draft, radii, relief cuts, and feature sets for manufacturability in this process.
Critical-to-function tolerances should be discussed at the time of quoting to ensure that tooling strategy, check gages (if applicable), and other quality controls are encompassed in the quote.
Raw material such as coiled strip is not flat by nature and can show through on flat stamped or coined components.
Dimensions apply to the inside of the formed feature.
Angular tolerances of +/- 1 degree are typical.
Stamped parts will be free of splits and other forming defects.
Punch and die-cut features, such as edges, will have a straight wall with a small burr on the bottom edge approximately ¼ to ⅓ down the wall thickness.
Large burrs and tabs will be removed, but parts are not manually fully deburred before shipment with a standard, as-cut finish selection.
Linear dimensions for internal holes will be measured at the shear, or smallest portion of a cut feature.
Tooling marks are a normal part of the metal forming process. Marks can be minimized with secondary processing or tooling strategy. It is important to identify cosmetic features with Xometry during the quoting or kick-off phase.
The material thickness will vary across formed and drawn features.
Part-to-part repeatability is typically under +/- 0.004" (+/- 0.002” typical).

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Laser Tube Cutting

Thickness tolerances are independent of cutting tolerances, as they rely on the raw stock material’s tolerance range.
Edge-to-edge tolerances are +/- 0.010” nominal on the outer face of the tube.
Thicker materials may have a tolerance deviation on the bottom face due to tapers inherent in laser cutting.
Holes of 0.100” or smaller in diameter may be slightly larger than standard tolerances due to material pierce happening near the hole’s profile
A small bump of material or a different edge condition may be present at the lead-in and lead-out in a cutting profile.
A protective film may be shipped on cut products to prevent damage to cosmetic finishes.
Large burrs and tabs will be removed, but parts are not manually fully deburred before shipment with a standard, as-cut finish selection.
Some cut materials may show a small halo discoloration from the backsplash or overspray near the cut edges.

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Tube Bending

Tube bending manufacturing standards reflect draw or mandrel bending techniques. Compression bending, roll bending, or other bending methods will require functional specifications agreed upon at the time of order.
Thickness tolerances are independent of cutting tolerances, as they rely on the raw stock material’s tolerance range. Tolerance measurements will assume a maximum material condition of the stock.
Overall tube sheath envelope tolerance is +/- 0.125” typical.
Tolerances are cumulative across bent tube feature.
Linear dimensions excluding locations to bends: +/- 0.010".
Simple bend, planar, +/- 0.010”.
Multiple surface bends, multi-planar, +/- 0.030”.
Angularity: +/- 2 degrees.
Tube end diameter tolerancing is +/- 0.020”.
Ovality at a tube bend should not exceed 10% (5% to 8% typical) of averaged measured OD vs.. nominal OD. The equation for ovality is ((Max Ø - Min Ø) ÷ specified Ø) x 100.
Thicker materials may have a tolerance deviation on the bottom face due to tapers inherent in cutting.
Holes of 0.100” or smaller diameter may be slightly larger than standard tolerances due to material near the hole’s profile.
A small bump of material or a different edge condition may be present at the lead-in and lead-out in a cutting profile.
A protective film may be shipped on cut products to prevent damage to cosmetic finishes.
Large burrs and tabs will be removed, but parts are not manually fully deburred before shipment with a standard, as-cut finish selection.
Some cut materials may show a small halo discoloration from the backsplash or overspray near the cut edges.

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A tube bending machine in operation. Image Credit: Dmitry Kalinovsky

Tube Bending Services

Xometry offers tube bending and tube fabrication services for metallic pipe and tube stock to meet your needs.

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Urethane Casting

Tolearance are +/- 0.010” or +/- 0.003” per inch, whichever is larger, is typical. Irregular or overly-thick geometries may cause deviances or deflection due to shrinkage.
A shrinkage rate of +0.15% can be expected due to thermal expansion of the liquid, and the response of the flexible mold.
Surface finish is externally smoothed to a satin or matte surface. Grow lines may be present on internal or difficult-to-access features. Polishing or custom finishes must be clearly defined and agreed upon at the point of order.
Sharp corners and text may appear slightly rounded.

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Metal Binder Jetting 3D Printing

Metal binder jet parts are made in ExOne 420i metal, which is roughly 60% 420 stainless steel and 40% bronze infiltration.
Depending on the part’s size and geometry, parts may shrink 0.8% - 2.5% after processing.
Internal geometries, such as slots and holes, may shrink as much as 5%.
Xometry does not guarantee tolerances on the first order of a new design.
Improved tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, after successful completion of a prototype build, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Metal binder jet machines print in layers of 0.004” (0.1 mm) and parts are typically oriented in the lowest Z direction.
Parts with features below 0.03” (0.75 mm) will need to be thickened for successful processing. It is recommended the minimum feature size be above 0.04" (1 mm).
Modeled threads or precision features may have limited functionality as printed.
Tumble polished parts may have trapped walnut media between thin gaps or text features.
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified.

Isometric illustration of the metal binder jetting process.

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Carbon DLS™ 3D Printing

+/- 0.003” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.010” for every inch thereafter. However, Xometry does not guarantee tolerances on the first order of a new design. Tolerance expectations can vary across materials (e.g., elastomeric versus rigid). See the table below, General Accuracy for DLS Prints, for material-specific information.
Stresses during build, support strategy, and other geometry considerations may cause deviation in tolerances and flatness.
Parts with thicker geometries, flat or broad parts, and parts with uneven wall thicknesses may be prone to significant deviations or warp.
Modeled threads or precision features may have limited functionality as printed. Tapping or the addition of threaded inserts is recommended for best function.
Improved tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, after successful completion of a prototype build, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified.
Areas with support structure may show raised bumps where the structure was removed. In certain materials, like EPX, SIL, and EPU, supported areas may be more visible because post-processing options are limited.

General Accuracy for DLS Prints

Resin	General Accuracy	Production Repeatability
Resin UMA 90	General Accuracy ±0.003 in + 0.001 in/in	Production Repeatability ±0.002 in
Resin RPU 70	General Accuracy ±0.003 in + 0.011 in/in	Production Repeatability ±0.002 in
Resin FPU 50	General Accuracy ±0.002 in + 0.011 in/in	Production Repeatability ±0.002 in
Resin EPX 82	General Accuracy ±0.003 in + 0.013 in/in	Production Repeatability ±0.002 in
Resin EPU 40	General Accuracy ±0.003 in + 0.010 in/in	Production Repeatability ±0.003 in
Resin SIL 30	General Accuracy ±0.005 in + 0.018 in/in	Production Repeatability ±0.003 in

Source: Carbon3D

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Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) makes production parts without tooling

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Nexa3D LSPc® 3D Printing

+/- 0.005” in the XY-plane and +/- 0.010" in the Z-plane for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter. However, Xometry does not guarantee tolerances on the first order of a new design.
Tolerance expectations can vary across different materials (e.g., elastomeric versus rigid materials). Tolerances on flexural materials, such as xFLEX or xPP405, cannot be guaranteed on the first run.
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified. Guaranteed tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Upward facing surface may experience 0.010-0.020" of additional growth due to required support style for printing.
Modeled threads or precision features may have limited functionality as printed. Tapping or the addition of threaded inserts is recommended for best function.
Some materials, such as xCE, may become translucent in thin walled sections. Clear materials, such as xMODEL17, will print with a frosted-like appearance and are not typically suitable for applications requiring optical clarity.
Some materials, such as "xFLEX" materials, may exhibit off-gassing or an odor which may lessen over time.

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DMLS 3D Printing

+/- 0.005” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter. However, Xometry does not guarantee tolerances on the first order of a new design. Tolerance expectations can vary across different materials (e.g. stainless steel versus aluminum).
Internal stresses during build, support strategy, and other geometry considerations may cause deviation in tolerances and flatness.
Items and geometries which require strict flatness are not a good fit for this process.
Modeled threads or precision features may have limited functionality as printed. Tapping or the addition of threaded inserts is recommended for best function.
Expected surface roughness is 150-400 µin RA, depending on build orientation and material used for the build.
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified.

Isometric illustration of the direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) printing process.

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Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) 3D Printing Service

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FDM 3D Printing

+/- a single build layer thickness for the first inch and +/- .002” for every inch thereafter.
0.010” layer thickness is used for parts fitting within a 14” X 16” footprint (Fortus 450)
0.013” layer thickness is used for parts exceeding 14” X 16” footprint (Fortus 900)
0.008" layer thickness used for Prototyping PLA (9.8" x 8.2" x 8.2", Prusa MK3S desktop FFF)
Guaranteed tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Xometry chooses optimal build orientation taking into consideration overall surface quality and minimum build time unless otherwise specified.
Minimum resolvable feature size, including positive text features, is at least 0.035” (0.045” or greater is safest).
Modeled threads or precision features may have limited functionality as printed. Tapping or the addition of threaded inserts is recommended for best function.
Holes smaller than 0.040", horizontal holes and protrusions will build slightly oblong due to stair stepping from layers.
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified.

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HP MJF 3D Printing

+/- 0.012” up to 4" is typical, plus +/- 0.003” for every inch thereafter.
Parts with thicker geometries, flat or broad parts (>7”), and parts with uneven wall thicknesses will be prone to significant deviations or warp due to variable thermal shrinkage and stress.
Modeled threads or precision features may have limited functionality as printed. Tapping or the addition of threaded inserts is recommended for best function.
Natural grey color may be inconsistent depending on feature size and build orientation. Dyed black is recommended for production parts.
Guaranteed tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified.
Holes smaller than 0.040", irregular, or deep holes may shrink or sinter shut.

Isometric illustration of the HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) printing process.

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Polyjet 3D Printing

+/- 0.004” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter.
Minimum feature size of 0.050” can be built with consistency.
Rubber-like materials represent an approximation of shore A values and may vary between geometries.
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified.

Isometric illustration of the Polyjet printing process.

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PolyJet 3D Printing Service

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SLA 3D Printing

Guaranteed tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Modeled threads or precision features may have limited functionality as printed. Tapping or the addition of threaded inserts is recommended for best function.
Tolerances for Standard and High Resolution options are described in the table below
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified.

Isometric illustration of the stereolithography (SLA) printing process.

Tolerances for SLA, Standard and High Resolution

Feature	Standard Resolution	High Resolution
Feature Tolerance, XY Plane	Standard Resolution +/- 0.005” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter.	High Resolution +/- 0.005” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter.
Feature Tolerance, Z Plane	Standard Resolution +/- 0.010” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter.	High Resolution +/- 0.010” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter.
Feature Minimum linear feature size	Standard Resolution Under 0.030” are at risk and under 0.020” will not build.	High Resolution Under 0.020” are at risk and under 0.010” will not build.
Feature Minimum radial feature size	Standard Resolution 0.035"	High Resolution 0.030"
Feature Layer height	Standard Resolution 0.004"	High Resolution 0.002"

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Stereolithography SLA materials have a variety of engineered properties for function and cosmetics

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Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing Service

SLS 3D Printing

+/- 0.010” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter is typical for most materials. Nylon 12 CF +/- 0.015” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter.
Parts with thicker geometries, flat or broad parts (>7”), and parts with uneven wall thicknesses will be prone to significant deviations or warp due to variable thermal shrinkage and stress.
Modeled threads or precision features may have limited functionality as printed. Tapping or the addition of threaded inserts is recommended for best function.
Guaranteed tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified.
Standard size holes will be drilled out if accessible, holes smaller than 0.040", irregular, or deep holes may shrink or sinter shut.

Isometric illustration of the selective laser sintering (SLS) printing process.

Learn More About SLS

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D Printing Service

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Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D Printing Service

General Manufacturing: Mating and Flexible Features

Xometry is not responsible for the fit of mating parts.
Xometry is not responsible for the function of snap tabs, clips, or living hinges.

Change Log

October 7, 2020

Added change log. Improved page formatting. Updated injection molding tolerances to reflect initial tooling tolerances.

November 19, 2020

Added plastic tolerances to CNC machining.

May 7, 2021

Updated notes for 3D printed threads, clarified tolerances on FDM, HP MJF, and SLS.

June 14, 2021

Related FDM tolerances to layer height based on platform used. Adjusted HP MJF and SLS notes on parts with uneven wall thicknesses or large geometries.

June 28, 2021

Added metal binder jetting manufacturing standards.

July 15, 2021

Incorporated language around PLA under FDM 3D Printing

July 21, 2021

Added layer height to SLA guidelines. Incorporated workmanship standards.

December 9, 2021

Introduced sheet cutting manufacturing standards.

March 11, 2022

Updates to SLS and SLA general tolerances. Added the following language to 3D printing processes: "General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified."

March 25, 2022

Added CNC tolerance clarity on foam and plastics.

June 10, 2022

Updated sheet metal and sheet cutting flat distance tolerances from 0.005" to 0.010" to reflect industry standards.

June 30, 2022

Added die casting, metal extrusion, laser tube cutting, tube bending, and stamping manufacturing standards.

July 22, 2022

Added support remnant language under Carbon DLS.

October 28, 2022

Changed forming and bending tolerances on sheet metal to match lookup chart.

January 13, 2023

Added plastic extrusion manufacturing standards.

August 17, 2023

Added standards regarding small holes for FDM, SLS and MJF.

September 22, 2023

Updated Sheet Cutting standards

September 29, 2023

Updated SLS tolerances for Nylon 12 CF.

October 3, 2023

Added material-specific accuracy and updated general tolerances for Carbon DLS based on Carbon3D data.

November 17, 2023

Updated sheet cutting standards related to de-tabbing and deburring.