EDITOR ’ S CHOICE CUSTOMISED POST PROCESSING
3DPRINTUK
By Nick Allen , Managing Director , 3DPRINTUK
In the final article in this series on post processing , I just want to take the time to round up with some post processing options that are available for 3D printed parts that we do NOT offer here at 3DPRINTUK . In the previous article (
Part 2 ), we focused on
automated post processing solutions that support higher volumes of 3D printed parts and reducing the cost per part with quality finishes . That said , sometimes high volumes are not the prerequisite and a more customised approach is required .
Bespoke finishing options for single or very small volumes of parts do not fit within our remit , but for clients that want our price / quality for the production of their parts there are specialised and bespoke post processing solutions available to them . The following is not an exhaustive list , but I think it covers the most popular bespoke post processes , namely painting , hydrographics , texturing , CNC milling / machining , electroplating .
PAINTING
As bespoke finishes go , painting a 3D printed part can provide a very accurate , almost “ photo-realistic ” finish . This is particularly important for marketing prototypes and small volume — or singular — artistic models .
There is no getting away from the fact that the results can be absolutely astonishing , but the trade-off here is that a finish of this levels requires a great deal of time and effort per-part ( not to mention mess and technical skill ), whereby the outcome is more relevant than the cost-perpart economics of mid- to high-volume production .
Whichever 3D printing process you select to produce parts for painting they will require post processing to achieve the smoothest possible surface finish . This can include filling , sanding and priming the part . This is generally to remove support materials and / or refine the surface finish to smooth it and / or eliminate any defects present on the surface of the part .
If you are using a filler material , some fillers do not set completely and can affect the paint .
Another thing to bear in mind , is sanding a 3D printed part by hand removes material
34 PECM Issue 59