{"id":41217,"date":"2020-12-10T16:44:59","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T21:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/?p=41217"},"modified":"2020-12-14T09:41:51","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T14:41:51","slug":"the-finishing-touch-3d-printing-material-and-finishing-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-finishing-touch-3d-printing-material-and-finishing-options","title":{"rendered":"The Finishing Touch: 3D Printing Material And Finishing Options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your 3D printed part isn\u2019t done when the 3D printer finishes its work. Post-processing is an integral part of the additive manufacturing<\/a> workflow, involving everything from removing supports necessary for the 3D printer to produce new geometries to making the completed print to look its best. But what options do you have for the best finish?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shapeways offers different types of finishes to turn your 3D printed part into a final product. These include dyeing, polishing, and vapor smoothing. Each of these finishing techniques can offer a different look and feel — so let\u2019s check out some of the best applications for these options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dyeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most industrial 3D printing plastics are\navailable in these basic colors: white, grey, black. While these color choices\nmay not be the most exuberant, they help ensure the best performance in a 3D\nprinter — and offer some great options to add color just how you want it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dyeing adds color to the original color. Nylon 12<\/a> (also known as Versatile Plastic, PA12, Polyamide, or PA 2200) is one of the most popular materials offered at Shapeways. Produced using a PA12 powder on an SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printer, Nylon 12 is naturally white. Dyeing, though, expands that offering, and we take white to the rainbow with a beautiful variety of colors possible for your plastic print: Black, Pink, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Because the dye is added to the original white\nfinished part, this method is not recommended for things that will need to\nendure constant surface wear. Regular handling will wear through the dye,\nfading the vibrant color added. A few layers of transparent varnish, though,\ncan protect the color and help it last longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most popular applications for Nylon 12 are prototypes,mechanical parts, casings, prosthetics, jigs and fixtures, art, and home d\u00e9cor. For any of these uses, adding color will help differentiate your parts or make your design pop. Especially when it comes to prototypes and art, where the look really matters, dyeing to get the perfect color will add that eye-catching element to suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polishing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a reason \u201cpolished\u201d usually means\ngood-looking. 3D printing can produce a grainy feel, or a part might end up\nwith a layered look from that layer-by-layer production. When smoothness\nmatters, polishing is a great option for both plastic and metal parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the plastic side, Nylon 12<\/a> (Versatile Plastic) is available with a Natural finish that is quite rough, with a powder residue on the surface. That might suit when you\u2019re making an early prototype or a functional part. Premium finishing, though, creates a smooth, suede-like surface with an eggshell sheen. A multi-step tumbling, polishing, and dyeing process creates a consistent color and surface finish that takes away any graininess or layered look. A Premium finished Nylon 12 part will meet the quality expectations of high-end consumers, enabling you to offer unique, customized products with a finished look and feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the metal side, Brass<\/a>, Bronze<\/a>, and Silver<\/a> parts are made with high-resolution 3D printed molds in a lost wax casting process. Popular for creating unique jewelry designs and other fine aesthetic pieces, finishing here is really a choice that comes down to how you want it to look and feel. Rugged and rustic? A Natural finish will suit. Elegant and refined? Think Polished. Finishes available for Sterling Silver, for example, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n