Follow a complete Ergono3D workflow—from choosing the use case and collecting measurements to reviewing the design, exporting the STL, printing in TPU and recording fit feedback.
New here?
Follow the first-pair route in order: choose a use case, measure and prepare, design and review, print and finish, then complete a short fit check.
Confirm measurements, shoe space and the intended activity before you start changing settings.
2
Generate & review
Use the guided flow, then review the shape and key parameters before export.
3
Print & finish
Use a suitable TPU baseline, check the first layer and finish the pair for the shoe.
4
Fit & iterate
Wear-test thoughtfully, note what happened and make one useful change at a time.
Shape anatomyNamed zones make changes easier to compare
Review the whole shape.Use named areas to discuss what changed before you export or print.
Use this as a reference, not a prescription
Use this documentation as a design and production reference. Ergono3D does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or prescriptions. Read Safety & scope before beginning a wear test.
The first version is a baseline to learn from. Keep the workflow simple: prepare, answer the guided questions, review the shape, then make a controlled first print and fit check.
Before you begin
Choose the shoe and activity you want the first pair to serve.
Have the relevant foot and shoe measurements ready.
Plan enough room for printing, cooling, finishing and a short first wear test.
1. Generate a starting design
Open the guided Ergono3D flow and work through its inputs without chasing a perfect answer. The aim is to create a reviewable starting shape, not to solve every possible fit question on the first screen.
Check the overall outline, arch area, heel cup, forefoot shape and expected shoe volume. If something appears materially wrong, return to the input or parameter that most directly relates to it rather than changing several controls at once.
Keep a record.
Name the file, date, shoe and intended activity. This makes later fit feedback usable.
3. Export, print and learn
When the design is ready, export the STL and move into the printing guide. Keep the first material and slicer settings conservative so you can tell whether a later change came from the design or the production process.
Good inputs remove guesswork. Before designing or printing, make sure the reference measurements, intended shoe and expected use all agree with each other.
What to collect
Reference
Why it matters
Foot length and width
Helps establish a proportional starting point and avoid obvious scale errors.
Shoe model and size
Different footwear leaves different volume and changes where an insole can sit comfortably.
Intended activity
Walking, running, work shifts and hiking ask different things of the same shape.
Current insole or fit notes
Useful context for what already works, crowds the shoe or feels uncomfortable.
Check the shoe, not only the foot
Remove the existing liner where possible and look at the usable footprint, heel shape and available depth. A design that looks plausible in a preview can still be unsuitable for a shoe with limited volume.
Confirm scale before a long print
Use the intended footwear and the relevant print preview to check the length, width and thickness expectation. It is cheaper to find a scale mismatch here than after a long TPU print.
An insole type is a starting conversation between the wearer, their footwear and their activity. Use it to focus the design review—not as a label that replaces fit testing.
Common starting points
Use case
Start by considering
Useful guide
Everyday walking
Daily footwear, existing liner thickness and general comfort over time.
Comfort, support and printability interact. The same adjustment can feel different across shoes, materials and people, so use a clear baseline and record the context around any feedback.
Explore more starting points
Browse additional comfort- and condition-focused pages, then return here to compare the design with the intended shoe and fit check.
Parameters let you describe and review a shape more precisely. Each control changes geometry; none is a universal clinical setting or diagnosis.
Parameter workspaceChange one control, then review the model
Keep controls and geometry together.Compare the model after each intentional parameter change.
Arch profile
Arch controls influence the contour through the midfoot. Review it alongside the wearer’s comfort, the intended shoe and the rest of the design rather than in isolation.
Heel cup & rearfoot features
Heel-related controls affect the shape around the rearfoot and the space it occupies in the shoe. Check that the design remains compatible with the footwear before increasing detail.
Posting, skive & flange
These controls change targeted parts of the shell. Make a single, intentional change, then compare it to the prior version in the same shoe and activity where possible.
Forefoot, thickness & scale
Forefoot features and overall scale affect both geometry and usable shoe volume. Re-check the expected fit whenever one of these is adjusted.
Design reference.
For a fuller explanation of each available control, use the detailed parameter reference.
The next design improves when the feedback is specific. Start with a calm, short wear test and capture the shoe, activity, location and timing of what the wearer notices.
Make a first fit check
1
Check the pair in the shoe.
Confirm it lies flat, stays in place and does not create obvious crowding.
2
Wear-test gradually.
Use the intended footwear and a controlled period before treating it as an all-day solution.
3
Record the observation.
Note where it happened, when it happened and how the feeling changed with time or activity.
Revise with one clear question
Relate feedback to the part of the design that may be responsible, then change one considered variable at a time. Keep the printed version and its notes together so the next comparison is meaningful.
Know when to stop self-adjusting
Do not use this workflow to manage persistent pain, injury or a clinical concern. Pause and consult a qualified healthcare professional where appropriate.
A downloaded STL still needs material, slicer and finishing decisions. Begin with a stable baseline, watch the first layer and make the first print a learning step rather than a production deadline.
Production checkTPU print in progress
Watch the production signal.Bed adhesion and first-layer behaviour are worth checking before a long print.
Before you slice
Confirm the exported file is the intended version.
Check the expected scale against the relevant shoe and foot reference.
Choose a suitable TPU and a profile your printer can handle reliably.
Set up the slicer
Start from a tested TPU profile, then use the manufacturer’s material guidance and your printer’s known limits. Orientation, adhesion and first-layer behaviour matter more than copying a universal setting from another machine.
Watch the first layer
Stay nearby at the start. Catching poor adhesion, excessive stringing or a feeding issue early can save a long failed print and makes troubleshooting more precise.
Cool, trim and try on
Let the part cool, remove any temporary material carefully and check the edges before placing it in the shoe. A short fit check comes before extended wear.
Material affects feel, support, printability and the available room inside a shoe. Choose a reliable baseline for the printer and expected use before testing more specialised combinations.
Choose a TPU baseline
Consideration
Question to ask
Hardness
What balance of feel, shape retention and printer handling suits this first version?
Printer capability
Has this printer and extruder run the material reliably before?
Shoe volume
Will the finished material and any top cover fit in the intended footwear?
Wear surface
Will a top cover or finishing layer make the pair more suitable for the intended shoe and use?
Top covers & finishing
A finishing layer can change feel, friction and total thickness. Keep its effect on shoe volume in mind, and test your chosen adhesive and material combination on a small, controlled sample where possible.
Compare material choices
The hardness selector is a useful starting tool; the filament maker’s specification and your printer’s observed behaviour remain important.
A failed TPU print can come from the material, printer, slicer or model setup. Start with the visible symptom, make one targeted check and record the result before changing more settings.
Common first signals
What you see
First checks
Poor first-layer adhesion
Clean bed, bed preparation, first-layer setup, material dryness and the correct profile.
Inconsistent extrusion
Filament path, extruder grip, print speed and the material condition.
Excessive stringing
Material preparation, temperature behaviour and movement/retraction settings for that printer.
Weak or uneven layers
Material, extrusion consistency, speed, cooling and the suitability of the profile.
Use a controlled retry
Change the smallest relevant setting, then repeat a short test. If several settings move at once, the result is harder to interpret and harder to reuse on the next pair.
Use Ergono3D alongside your existing assessment and production process. The platform helps turn guided inputs and named design parameters into reviewable STL files; clinical decisions remain with the qualified professional.
1. Prepare the case
Confirm the intended footwear and activity, collect the relevant measurements, and record the left and right requirements before generating a design. Use a case identifier that fits your privacy and record-keeping process.
2. Generate and review
Review the outline, arch profile, heel cup, posting, skive, flange, forefoot and available shoe space. Record the design or file version before moving to production.
3. Export and produce
Confirm the version, scale, material and print setup before sending the STL to an in-house printer or production partner. Keep the production settings with the case record.
4. Follow up and revise
Collect specific fit observations in the intended shoe and activity. If a revision is appropriate, change one clear variable at a time and retain the prior version for comparison.
Professional responsibility.
Ergono3D supports design-file creation. It does not replace clinical assessment, professional judgement, informed consent, record-keeping or applicable local requirements.
Use the same account when you create, review and download a design. Clear project names and version notes make it easier to find the correct file later.
Sign in and open the dashboard
Sign in with the account used for the design, then open the dashboard to view the projects and history available under the current plan.
Project dashboardNames and dates help identify the intended version
Keep projects recognisable.Use clear names and dates before reopening or downloading a file.
Keep projects easy to recognise
Use a clear project name that identifies the shoe, activity and version. Before continuing an older design, confirm that the measurements, intended footwear and latest notes still apply.
Download the intended version
Open the relevant design and verify its version before downloading or sending an STL to production. Download availability, saved history and re-download options depend on the current plan and credit rules.
Access, payment or credit issue?
Include the account email and a concise description of the issue when contacting support. Never send a password or complete payment-card details.
1 credit starts a new insole design and includes 5 design updates.
After those 5 updates, 1 additional credit unlocks 5 more updates.
On Lite, each credit includes 1 STL export and 5 updates.
Free Preview users can add one STL download for A$9.90 without buying a credit pack.
Lite and Pro credits are valid for 3 months. Studio credits are valid for 6+ months.
Pricing is the source of truth.
Check current prices, availability, download rules and validity before purchase.
Need help choosing?
If you are planning a lab, clinic or high-volume workflow, share the approximate volume and how you intend to use the output. The team can point you to the most suitable current option.
Ergono3D is a design tool for comfort-focused and sport-wellness insole work. It is not a medical device and does not provide medical diagnosis, treatment, prescriptions or clinical advice.
When to seek qualified care
Consult a qualified healthcare professional for acute or persistent pain, a recent injury, circulatory concerns, neuropathy, a non-healing wound, reduced sensation, or any concern involving skin integrity. Do not continue self-adjustment when clinical assessment is needed.
Stop use if something feels wrong
Discontinue use and seek professional advice if discomfort or symptoms persist. A printed insole should be checked for scale, shoe space, surface condition and comfort before extended wear.
Professional use
Qualified professionals remain responsible for assessment, clinical decisions, manufacturing, labelling, record-keeping and compliance with applicable local requirements.
