Before we go any further, this is a good point to reflect on the thoughts from Chapter 1, Thinking About Design Requirements, and to size our piece appropriately for the function and the printing process you have in mind. Looking at pendants I already own, I'm thinking a suitable size for this pendant would be 1 1/2" tall. This is an item that may look fantastic in cast metals from a 3D Printing Service Bureau. If I did decide to go that route, I would make the piece thinner to save on cost.
My starting dimensions would likely be as follows:
Dimension | Service Bureau (Shapeways Plated Metals) |
At home (FFF/FDM) |
Length | 1 1/2" (38.1mm) | 1 1/2" (38.1mm) |
Width | Proportional to length | Proportional to length |
Height (thickness) | 0.8mm | 2mm |