3D Print Post-Processing: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
(Created Page + Added Basic Sections/Info) |
(Added some more links under the "External Links" section) |
||
| (6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
=Existing Methods= | =Existing Methods= | ||
==FDM Prints== | ==FDM Prints== | ||
===Sanding== | ===Hand Sanding=== | ||
*Pretty straightforward | *Pretty straightforward | ||
*[[Needle Files]] , [[Deburring Tools]] , and [[Sandpaper]] rest is self | *[[Needle Files]] , [[Deburring Tools]] , and [[Sandpaper]] rest is self explanatory | ||
**Also maybe a [[Microfiber Cloth]] / "bath" in the sink or a [[Parts Washing Bin]] to clean off any [[Microplastics]] / burnt bits | **Also maybe a [[Microfiber Cloth]] / "bath" in the sink or a [[Parts Washing Bin]] to clean off any [[Microplastics]] / burnt bits | ||
*A [[Hot Air Gun]] / [[SMD Electronics Rework Station]] can be used for small details like [[Stringing]] related "fuzz" ~~or just a [[Butane Lighter]] if you are desperate~~ | *A [[Hot Air Gun]] / [[SMD Electronics Rework Station]] can be used for small details like [[Stringing]] related "fuzz" ~~or just a [[Butane Lighter]] if you are desperate~~ | ||
*Main Downside is Time Spent | *Main Downside is Time Spent | ||
=== [[Tumble Finishing]] === | |||
*A [[Rotary Tumbler]] or [[Vibratory Tumbler]] can be used for some parts | |||
*Given how much of a "rough process" this is, it cannot be used for more delicate prints | |||
*It is a [[High Volume Batch Process]] though, so that can have it's advantages in time savings | |||
=== [[Media Blasting]] === | === [[Media Blasting]] === | ||
| Line 18: | Line 23: | ||
*In theory could something like [[Plastic Pellets]] / [[Plastic Regrind]] be used? | *In theory could something like [[Plastic Pellets]] / [[Plastic Regrind]] be used? | ||
== [[Solvent Vapor Smoothing]] == | === [[Solvent Vapor Smoothing]] === | ||
*This only works for certain plastics, but a [[Solvent]] (Typically Water or [[Acetone]] ) is vaporized in a chamber, the print is placed in there, and the vapor (partially) dissolves the surface of the material | *This only works for certain plastics, but a [[Solvent]] (Typically Water or [[Acetone]] ) is vaporized in a chamber, the print is placed in there, and the vapor (partially) dissolves the surface of the material | ||
*After a certain time period of exposure, the part (or the solvent if done in some fancy [[Solvent Recovery]] method, Vacuum + [[Bakeout]] ?) is removed | *After a certain time period of exposure, the part (or the solvent if done in some fancy [[Solvent Recovery]] method, Vacuum + [[Bakeout]] ?) is removed | ||
| Line 31: | Line 36: | ||
*[[CNC Kitchen]] et al have documented using [[Plaster]] and [[Table Salt]] (Check if [[Iodonized Salt]] or just straight up [[Sodium Chloride]] (Although [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QgQ9iQo05f0 Did it also contain] [[Anticaking Agents]] ...) ) | *[[CNC Kitchen]] et al have documented using [[Plaster]] and [[Table Salt]] (Check if [[Iodonized Salt]] or just straight up [[Sodium Chloride]] (Although [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QgQ9iQo05f0 Did it also contain] [[Anticaking Agents]] ...) ) | ||
*It needs to be studied, but if something along the lines of [[Chopped Glass Fiber]] / [[Chopped Carbon Fiber]] were used (or to an extent maybe just [[Carbon Black]] ), could something akin to [[Case Hardening]] be achieved? | *It needs to be studied, but if something along the lines of [[Chopped Glass Fiber]] / [[Chopped Carbon Fiber]] were used (or to an extent maybe just [[Carbon Black]] ), could something akin to [[Case Hardening]] be achieved? | ||
=== [[Filler]] / [[Painting FDM 3D Prints | Painting]] / [[Powder Coating]] etc=== | |||
*This does not fix the core issues of [[Layer Lines]] etc, but can achieve the desired [[Surface Finish]] / aesthetics | |||
*Certain processes, especially as shown by [[SLS 3D Printing]] may benefit from the more rough and/or porous surface finish (Perhaps a Synergy Between [[Dissolvable Annealing Media]] and this then) | |||
=Internal Links= | =Internal Links= | ||
* | *[[ASMBL]] (A Process that Solves The Problem of 3D Print Post-Processing in a Manner Similar To How [[Machine Finishing of Castings]] Addresses [[Metal Casting Defects]] . It is done "by layer" (or potentially every 5 layers etc to minimize the amount of toolchanges and thus save time) however to be able to still produce the Novel Designs allowed by 3D Printing | ||
*[[Chemical Dipping]] vs [[Vapor Smoothing]] | |||
**That BigRep Article Mentions the Former, but i haven't heard of it until then, and i wonder how the reaction rate is different (is the "melting" far more drastic?) | |||
=External Links= | =External Links= | ||
* | *[https://bigrep.com/post-processing/ An Article by the Website "BigRep" Titled "GUIDE TO POST-PROCESSING 3D PRINTED PARTS: 16 METHODS" ] | ||
*[https://all3dp.com/2/fdm-3d-printing-post-processing-an-overview-for-beginners/ An Article by "All3DP" Titled "3D Printing Post-Processing: PLA, PETG, ABS & More" ] | |||
**This approaches it from a more Hobbyist [[Single Run Manufacturing]] / [[Low-Scale Manufacturing]] / [[Mid-Scale Manufacturing]] perspective | |||
Latest revision as of 01:13, 10 May 2023
Basics
- This Page Aims to Lay Out The Existing Methods of Post-Processing 3D Printed Things
- It also will organize methods that need further investigation
Existing Methods
FDM Prints
Hand Sanding
- Pretty straightforward
- Needle Files , Deburring Tools , and Sandpaper rest is self explanatory
- Also maybe a Microfiber Cloth / "bath" in the sink or a Parts Washing Bin to clean off any Microplastics / burnt bits
- A Hot Air Gun / SMD Electronics Rework Station can be used for small details like Stringing related "fuzz" ~~or just a Butane Lighter if you are desperate~~
- Main Downside is Time Spent
Tumble Finishing
- A Rotary Tumbler or Vibratory Tumbler can be used for some parts
- Given how much of a "rough process" this is, it cannot be used for more delicate prints
- It is a High Volume Batch Process though, so that can have it's advantages in time savings
Media Blasting
- Also known as "Sandblasting"
- Media Blasting is the more broad concept, and especially given the hardness of (most) FDM 3D Printed Plastics, a less "aggressive" media is most likely required
- Would need to look into the existing literature on all this
- In theory could something like Plastic Pellets / Plastic Regrind be used?
Solvent Vapor Smoothing
- This only works for certain plastics, but a Solvent (Typically Water or Acetone ) is vaporized in a chamber, the print is placed in there, and the vapor (partially) dissolves the surface of the material
- After a certain time period of exposure, the part (or the solvent if done in some fancy Solvent Recovery method, Vacuum + Bakeout ?) is removed
- The solvent then evaporates leaving behind a smoothed (but sometimes deformed, reducing/predicting and accounting for this is key) surface
- (akin to Recrystalization / Zone Melting removing impurities, it does the same but for surface finish impurities)
- Main Downside is Solvent Cost (especially if Solvent Recovery (short of "don't dump the bucket down the drain until all of it was used/evaporated") isn't done) and the potential for part deformation)
FDM 3D Print Annealing
- Given they are Thermoplastics , FDM 3D Prints Can Be Either Re-melted, or Simply Heated Up
- This allows layer lines to "blur" and the part fuse into a single stronger one, or it can simply work in a manner similar to Post-Weld Heat Treatment
- In order to prevent part deformation/drooping etc this is typically done in some sort of media
- CNC Kitchen et al have documented using Plaster and Table Salt (Check if Iodonized Salt or just straight up Sodium Chloride (Although Did it also contain Anticaking Agents ...) )
- It needs to be studied, but if something along the lines of Chopped Glass Fiber / Chopped Carbon Fiber were used (or to an extent maybe just Carbon Black ), could something akin to Case Hardening be achieved?
Filler / Painting / Powder Coating etc
- This does not fix the core issues of Layer Lines etc, but can achieve the desired Surface Finish / aesthetics
- Certain processes, especially as shown by SLS 3D Printing may benefit from the more rough and/or porous surface finish (Perhaps a Synergy Between Dissolvable Annealing Media and this then)
Internal Links
- ASMBL (A Process that Solves The Problem of 3D Print Post-Processing in a Manner Similar To How Machine Finishing of Castings Addresses Metal Casting Defects . It is done "by layer" (or potentially every 5 layers etc to minimize the amount of toolchanges and thus save time) however to be able to still produce the Novel Designs allowed by 3D Printing
- Chemical Dipping vs Vapor Smoothing
- That BigRep Article Mentions the Former, but i haven't heard of it until then, and i wonder how the reaction rate is different (is the "melting" far more drastic?)
External Links
- An Article by the Website "BigRep" Titled "GUIDE TO POST-PROCESSING 3D PRINTED PARTS: 16 METHODS"
- An Article by "All3DP" Titled "3D Printing Post-Processing: PLA, PETG, ABS & More"
- This approaches it from a more Hobbyist Single Run Manufacturing / Low-Scale Manufacturing / Mid-Scale Manufacturing perspective