J3DPA accepts original research articles, systematic or narrative reviews, short communications, case studies in applied engineering, and perspectives that advance additive manufacturing practice. Research articles should present novel data or validated computational models with clear methodology, statistical analysis when appropriate, and a strong connection to manufacturing outcomes.

Reviews should provide structured synthesis of current knowledge, identify gaps, and outline practical implications for materials development, process optimization, or application deployment. Short communications are suitable for early but impactful results, method improvements, or rapid technology comparisons that offer immediate value to practitioners.

All manuscripts must be written in clear English and framed for an interdisciplinary audience that includes materials scientists, mechanical engineers, biomedical researchers, and manufacturing specialists. The editorial team expects authors to define acronyms, explain specialized terms, and provide sufficient technical detail for reproducibility.

Manuscripts should be prepared in a clear, logical structure with numbered sections where appropriate. Use SI units and standard scientific notation. Define all symbols and variables at first use. If you report process parameters, include units and tolerance ranges so other researchers can reproduce your build conditions accurately.

Figures and tables must be cited in the text and provided with descriptive captions. Avoid embedding text in images when possible. Provide vector graphics or high resolution raster files for diagrams and microscopy images. Color should be used to improve clarity, but ensure that figures remain interpretable in grayscale.

Reference formatting should be consistent and complete, including all authors, title, journal, volume, pages, and DOI where available. If your work builds on proprietary systems or commercial equipment, disclose the manufacturer, model, and firmware versions to support technical validation.

J3DPA expects complete reporting of build conditions and material provenance. Please include printer model, nozzle or laser specifications, energy input, layer thickness, scan strategy, build orientation, and environmental controls such as chamber temperature and humidity. For powder systems, state particle size distribution, recycling history, and storage conditions. These details are essential for reproducibility and for validating claims about performance or microstructure.

When presenting mechanical or functional results, report sample size, test standards, and statistical methods. If you follow ASTM or ISO procedures, cite the standard number. Provide error bars and explain how outliers were handled. For simulations, disclose boundary conditions, meshing details, and validation datasets. Transparent reporting helps reviewers and readers evaluate reliability and compare results across studies.

Supplementary files strengthen your manuscript and improve reuse. Authors may include CAD models, STL files, slicing profiles, sensor logs, or short videos of the printing process. Label files clearly and provide a brief description of content and software requirements. If a repository is used, share the persistent link and specify any access restrictions.

The cover letter should explain why your manuscript fits J3DPA and highlight the specific innovation in materials, process control, or application impact. Indicate whether the submission aligns with a special issue and list any relevant prior versions or preprints. A strong cover letter helps editors route the paper to reviewers with the right technical expertise.

Authors may suggest potential reviewers who are free of conflicts of interest and have published in related areas. Provide institutional email addresses and short descriptions of relevant expertise. The editorial team may or may not use these suggestions, but they help accelerate reviewer selection.

All listed authors must have contributed significantly to the study design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript preparation. The corresponding author is responsible for confirming that all coauthors approve the final submission. J3DPA supports the CRediT contributor roles and encourages a brief statement of each author contribution.

Before final submission, confirm that the abstract reflects the main findings, all figures and tables are cited in the text, and references are complete. Verify that units and symbols are consistent throughout, and that the data availability statement is accurate. Ensure that the cover letter is uploaded and that any supplementary materials are labeled clearly for reviewers and readers. Include a brief statement on limitations and future work where appropriate. Confirm that abbreviations are defined at first use.

J3DPA follows recognized publication ethics standards. Authors must confirm that the submission is original, not under review elsewhere, and that all contributors meet authorship criteria. Any potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed, including financial relationships, consulting roles, or patent ownership.

When human or animal subjects are involved, provide ethics committee approvals and describe how consent was obtained. For biomedical printing and implant studies, include safety and regulatory considerations. J3DPA uses similarity checks during editorial review to ensure originality and to protect research integrity.

After acceptance, authors receive production proofs for review. The editorial office will provide the APC invoice and payment instructions. J3DPA applies APCs only after acceptance, and no submission or peer review fees are charged. Authors should review proofs carefully to confirm that figures, equations, and units are correct.

Once production is complete, the article is published as open access with a Crossref DOI and structured metadata. Publication ensures that your work is discoverable through scholarly search platforms and reference databases. We encourage authors to share the published link with collaborators, industry partners, and professional networks.