alt Hacker NewsOne thing they don’t mention is that smooth G2/G3 corners will print horribly (with FDM) if added to vertical corners, there just aren’t enough layers even with a 0.2mm nozzle. You can see they use a straight chamfer on the example piece.
While dreaming up Apple-like objects I quickly discovered 3D-printing them with good surface finish is nearly impossible. Best we can do is Mac mini-like flat tops. Like most other manufacturing methods, its limitations heavily influence the design.
Replies
I mostly agree, but it also depends on the size and the shape of the fillet. Large sweeping curves that stay close to horizontal for a long distance are bad, but a tight corner can still look better in G2/G3 than just G1. On the top at least, because fillets on the bottom create sharp overhangs that don't print well.
Also, if you have that option, filler + sanding + paint can hide the layers completely, but preserve the overall shape.
Apple is 3D-printing Apple-like objects (https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/11/mapping-the-future-wi...), so one can hope this will trickle-down to hobbyist price points some time in the future.