FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

What is RISER 3D?

RISER 3D is a free online tool that lets you design custom skateboard riser pads in your browser. Instead of being limited to the 6mm and 10mm options available in stores, you can create risers at any height and angle to match your exact skateboard setup. Once you design your riser pad, you can export it as an STL file and 3D print it at home or at a local print shop.

Is RISER 3D free to use?

Yes, RISER 3D is completely free. We believe that skateboarders should have the freedom to fine-tune their setup without being limited by commercial constraints. The only cost is printing the riser pads yourself, which is typically much cheaper than buying multiple sets of commercial risers.

Do I need to create an account?

No, you don't need an account to design and download riser pads. Simply use the builder, adjust the sliders to your setup, and export the STL file. If you want to share your designs with the community or view other people's designs, you can sign in with your email, but this is optional.

What information do I need about my skateboard?

To design a riser pad, you'll need to know:

• Wheel diameter: Usually 52mm, 54mm, or 56mm (printed on your wheels)
• Deck width: Usually 7.5"-9" (printed on the grip tape or deck)
• Deck thickness: Typically 3/16" - 1/2" (you can measure this)
• Bushing hardness: The durometer rating of your bushings (you can look this up if unsure)

The RISER 3D builder helps you find the right riser height to prevent wheel bite while maintaining the feel you prefer.

Why do I need to know my bushing hardness?

Bushing hardness affects how much your board leans when you turn. Softer bushings (lower durometer) compress more during turns, which means your wheels move closer to the deck. The RISER 3D calculator takes this into account so that your chosen riser height will prevent wheel bite even during tight turns with your specific bushings.

What does "wheel bite" mean?

Wheel bite happens when your wheel contacts the deck during a turn, usually when you're leaning hard and the truck tilts significantly. This can cause loss of balance and is a common source of unexpected falls. Riser pads create clearance between the wheel and deck, preventing this. RISER 3D's live preview shows you a visual representation of your wheel during a turn so you can see if your chosen height will avoid wheel bite.

What's the difference between flat, wedge, and other riser shapes?

Different riser shapes affect your board's geometry:

• Flat: Keeps your board at the same angle as the deck. Most versatile choice.
• Wedge: Increases the angle between your trucks and the deck, adding more turning response. Good for cruisers and surfskate setups.
• Cruiser: A wider, more stable shape designed for smooth cruising and comfort.
• Cutout: An optimized shape that saves material while maintaining strength.

Choose based on your preferred riding style and the feel you want from your board.

Can I design risers for multiple boards at once?

Yes! Since RISER 3D is browser-based, you can open multiple browser tabs, each with different designs. Save the STL files with descriptive names so you remember which design is for which board.

Can I export my design in formats other than STL?

Currently, RISER 3D exports exclusively in STL format, which is the most widely supported format for 3D printing. STL works with all major 3D printers (FDM, SLS, and more) and can be imported into slicing software like PrusaSlicer, Cura, and others.

What's the advantage of using RISER 3D over just buying commercial risers?

Commercial risers come in limited heights (usually just 6mm and 10mm). RISER 3D lets you:

• Choose any height from 2mm to 20mm (or more)
• Add angles and wedges to customize your setup
• Account for your specific wheel size, deck width, and bushing hardness
• Experiment without spending money on multiple sets of risers
• Share your designs with other skaters

Which 3D printer should I use?

Most FDM 3D printers can print riser pads as long as the build plate fits the part. Personally, I use a Bambu Lab and a FlashForge — both work well for skateboard parts. The Bambu Lab is faster and more automated; the FlashForge takes a bit more setup but produces solid results.

Any printer with a build plate larger than 200mm × 150mm should handle a standard riser without issue. Check the STL dimensions before printing.

What material should I use for 3D printed riser pads?

The best materials for riser pads are:

• PLA: Easiest to print, good for prototyping and casual skating. Less durable in hot environments.
• PETG: Stronger and more durable than PLA, better for real-world use. Slightly trickier to print.
• TPU/Flexible Filament: For shock-absorbing risers. More difficult to print.
• Nylon: Very durable and impact-resistant, but requires special printing conditions.

For most users, PLA is a good starting point for testing designs. Once you're confident in your design, upgrade to PETG for long-term durability.

How long does it take to print a riser pad?

Print time depends on:

• Height and angle: Taller risers take longer
• Printer speed: Typically 50-80 hours per set
• Infill percentage: 15-20% infill is usually sufficient for riser pads

For a standard 4-piece riser set (front-left, front-right, rear-left, rear-right), expect 2-8 hours depending on your design and printer.

How much does it cost to print riser pads?

Filament typically costs $15-30 per kilogram. A full set of riser pads uses approximately 20-50 grams of filament (depending on height and shape), costing around $0.30-$1.50 in material. Add electricity costs (usually less than $0.20 per print), and a full set costs less than $2 in total. This is significantly cheaper than commercial risers, which often cost $10-20 per pair.

Do I need support material for printing?

In most cases, no. Riser pads are relatively small and have a low center of gravity, so they print well without supports. However, if you're using a wedge design with an extreme angle, you might want to enable tree supports to ensure clean print results. Check the print preview in your slicing software before printing.

Can I print risers at a commercial print shop instead?

Absolutely! Services like Shapeways, Sculpteo, and local makerspaces can print your STL file. Commercial printing is more expensive than home printing (typically $5-30 per set depending on material and shop), but it's convenient if you don't have a 3D printer. You simply upload the STL file, choose your material, and wait for delivery.

How durable are 3D printed risers?

3D printed risers made from PETG or nylon can be just as durable as commercial plastic risers, especially if you print with good parameters (20% infill, quality filament, proper temperature). PLA is less durable and may wear faster if you're aggressive with your skating. Most users report that their 3D printed risers last 6-12 months of regular skating before needing replacement.

What if my print fails?

If your first print doesn't work out, don't worry! You can try again with adjusted settings:

• Check your bed temperature and nozzle temperature
• Ensure your build plate is clean and properly leveled
• Try a different infill percentage or print orientation
• Use a different brand of filament

Since riser pads are small, each failed print costs very little in material. Iteration is part of the process!

Can I share my riser pad designs in the community?

Yes! Once you've designed a riser pad you like, you can upload it to the RISER 3D community gallery. This lets other skaters discover your design, rate it, and download it for their own setups. Sharing is a great way to contribute to the skateboarding community and showcase your custom builds.

Can I modify someone else's design?

Yes, absolutely! Download any design from the community, and you'll be able to load it into the builder and adjust all the parameters (height, angle, shape, etc.). This is a great way to learn from other skaters' setups and customize designs for your own board.

What happens if I download a design and modify it?

When you download and open a design in RISER 3D, you can adjust all the parameters to fit your skateboard. The modified version is yours to keep and print. You don't need permission to customize designs from the community—that's the whole point!

Can I sell riser pads I've designed with RISER 3D?

Yes! You're free to 3D print the riser pads you design and sell them. However, if you're sharing a design from the community that someone else created, please respect their contribution—credit them and consider their intentions before commercializing their design. Most community designers are happy to see their work used widely.

Can I use RISER 3D for commercial purposes?

Yes, you can design, print, and sell riser pads created with RISER 3D. You retain full ownership of any designs you create. The only restriction is that you cannot copy RISER 3D itself or claim that you created the tool.

What about the designs I upload to the community?

When you upload a design to the RISER 3D community, you're granting other users the right to view, download, and modify it for personal or commercial use. By uploading, you're agreeing that you have the right to share the design. You retain ownership of your design, but you're allowing the skateboarding community to benefit from it.

Can I use skateboard brand names or logos in my designs?

Be careful with trademarked names and logos. While you can create risers for specific board setups, you should avoid including brand logos or trademarked material in your designs if you plan to share or sell them. This protects you from potential legal issues. You can always reference a board in your community description without embedding logos in the 3D model itself.

Is RISER 3D open source?

RISER 3D is not open source, but the designs you create are yours to use freely. We're working on expanding the tool with community feedback and new features. If you have suggestions or want to contribute ideas, reach out through the contact page!

Can I modify my riser pad designs after uploading them?

Yes, you can update or delete your community uploads at any time through your account dashboard. Keep in mind that if other users have already downloaded your design, they'll have their own copy.

What if my browser doesn't support RISER 3D?

RISER 3D works on all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. If you're having issues, try:

• Updating your browser to the latest version
• Clearing your browser cache
• Disabling browser extensions that might interfere
• Trying a different browser

If problems persist, reach out through the contact page with details about your setup.

The builder is running slowly. What can I help?

The 3D preview in RISER 3D uses WebGL, which requires reasonable GPU performance. If you experience slowness:

• Close other browser tabs to free up memory
• Lower the preview quality (if available) in settings
• Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date
• Try a different browser

On very old devices, the preview may not work perfectly, but you can still adjust sliders and export your design.

I downloaded an STL file. How do I open it?

STL files are opened with 3D printing software called a "slicer." Popular options include:

• PrusaSlicer: Designed for Prusa printers, works with all printers
• Cura: Made by Ultimaker, widely used
• Simplify3D: Advanced features, paid software
• Bambu Studio: Great for Bambu Lab printers

You can also view STL files in free software like Fusion 360, Blender, or online viewers without needing to print.

Can I import my own custom shape into RISER 3D?

Currently, RISER 3D uses predefined shapes (flat, wedge, cruiser, cutout). Custom shape imports are not yet supported. However, once you export an STL file, you can import it into CAD software like Fusion 360 or Blender and make additional modifications if you need more customization.

Is my design data saved if I close the browser?

RISER 3D saves your design to your browser's local storage, so it persists when you close and reopen the page. However, if you clear your browser's cache or use incognito mode, your design will be lost. Always export (download) your design as an STL file if you want to keep it long-term.

Can I access my designs on multiple devices?

If you create an account and sign in, you can access your uploaded community designs from any device. However, locally-saved designs (not yet uploaded) are only stored on the device where you created them. Upload designs to the community to access them across devices.

I have a question not covered here. How do I contact support?

Visit our contact page to reach out with questions, bug reports, or feature requests. We read all messages and do our best to respond within a few days.

Can I request a new feature for RISER 3D?

Absolutely! We're always looking for feedback from our users. Visit the contact page and let us know what features would make RISER 3D better for you. Some of our best features have come from user suggestions.

How often is RISER 3D updated?

We regularly add new features, improve the design experience, and fix bugs based on user feedback. Follow our community to stay updated on new releases and features!