How to Check Wall Thickness for 3D Printing in SolidWorks

In SolidWorks, you can check wall thickness for 3D printing using the Thickness Analysis tool found under the Evaluate tab. This tool visually highlights areas of your model that are thinner than a specified value, helping you ensure your design meets minimum thickness requirements for printing.

Syntax

The Thickness Analysis tool in SolidWorks is accessed via the Evaluate tab. You specify a minimum thickness value, and the tool scans your model to highlight walls thinner than this value.

• Evaluate > Thickness Analysis: Opens the tool.
• Minimum Thickness: Set the threshold for wall thickness.
• Color Coding: Visual feedback showing thin areas in red or other colors.

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Evaluate > Thickness Analysis > Set Minimum Thickness > Calculate

Example

This example shows how to check if a model has walls thinner than 2 mm, which is a common minimum for many 3D printers.

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1. Open your 3D model in SolidWorks.
2. Click on the <Evaluate> tab in the CommandManager.
3. Select <Thickness Analysis>.
4. Enter <2 mm> as the minimum thickness.
5. Click <Calculate> to run the analysis.
6. Observe the color-coded results where red areas indicate walls thinner than 2 mm.

Output

The model displays red highlights on walls thinner than 2 mm, indicating areas that may cause printing issues.

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when checking wall thickness include:

• Not setting the correct minimum thickness value for your specific 3D printer.
• Ignoring small thin features that can cause print failures.
• Running thickness analysis on incomplete or non-manifold geometry, which can give inaccurate results.
• Confusing Thickness Analysis with Draft Analysis, which checks angles, not thickness.

Always verify your printer's minimum wall thickness specs before analysis.

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Wrong approach:
Evaluate > Draft Analysis (does not check thickness)

Right approach:
Evaluate > Thickness Analysis > Set correct minimum thickness > Calculate

Quick Reference

Step	Action	Purpose
1	Open model	Prepare your 3D design in SolidWorks
2	Go to Evaluate tab	Access analysis tools
3	Select Thickness Analysis	Check wall thickness visually
4	Set minimum thickness	Define printer-specific limits
5	Run analysis	Highlight thin areas
6	Review results	Identify and fix thin walls

Key Takeaways

Use the Thickness Analysis tool under the Evaluate tab to check wall thickness.

Set the minimum thickness value based on your 3D printer's requirements.

Thin walls are highlighted visually to help identify problem areas.

Avoid using Draft Analysis for thickness checks as it serves a different purpose.

Ensure your model geometry is complete and manifold for accurate analysis.