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3D Printing Post-Processing: What You Need to Know

Introduction

Post-processing is necessary for almost every 3D-printed item. While prototypes can be left in a rough-and-ready state, 3D prints are increasingly used as the final product. As well as improving the general finish and appearance of the piece, the right post-processing can make a print more durable and improve its physical properties. In this article, you’ll learn about post-processing’s importance and its methods that can be used to optimize your 3D print.

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Importance of 3D Post-processing

Once the 3D printing process concludes, the journey toward a refined and impeccable final product begins. Post-processing plays a pivotal role in transforming raw prints into finished objects, ensuring not only enhanced aesthetics but also improved functionality. With a myriad of techniques at hand, each tailored to address specific needs and materials, the post-processing stage offers ample opportunities for customization and optimization.

Post-processing plays an important role in 3D printing, not only in improving the overall visual aspect of the final product but also in its final features or characteristics. 3D processing uses different techniques that make the printed item be used to its fullest potential or sold as end-use parts. 

With the help of 3D post-processing, users can camouflage the 3D aspect and correct different defects by eliminating any feature that may portray printed layers. Regarding covering the printed layers, post-processing can make some plastic parts have the same characteristics as metal parts (using different coloring techniques). This is important, especially when you want a considerably reduced price. 

One of the biggest challenges the 3D post-processing exercise is facing and trying to solve is the amount of time taken to finish the whole process. The process takes too much time, making it hard for companies to enjoy the full advantage that 3D printing offers. Because of that, many organizations and professionals have been busy looking for automated processes. Through automation, employee safety is guaranteed and important labor can be freed and used in other crucial positions. 

In general, quality 3D post-processing offers many benefits that can be summarized:

  • Higher cost-efficiency thanks to automated operation

  • Increased productivity because of shorter processing times

  • Reduced cost per piece led to the development of new business opportunities

  • Facilitate 3D printing implementation

  • Creation of new application fields thanks to the improved part performance

3D Post-processing methods

Once a piece is prepped, it can be finished. Various techniques can be used to change the appearance and properties of a 3D print. Some finishes are purely cosmetic, while others add durability or additional functionality to the piece.

Color Touch and Color Resist

This is basically a dyeing finish using the DyeMansion technology. This process takes advantage of the efficiency and reliability DM 60 dyeing machine offer. With Color Touch, your 3D item will get a satin look, making it look like a finished product. 

Before the Color Touch finish is applied on a 3D part, a post-printing treatment procedure is carried out to ensure the item gets enough resistance to external conditions, rubbing and scratching. Therefore, it is recommended to dye your part if you plan to expose it to external conditions for a long time.

Another advantage of Color Touch finish using DyeMansion technology is that it creates skin-safe parts. Additionally, your part will have great longevity with a high-quality finish.

With Color Resist finish, your 3D printed parts become high-quality finished products, with great longevity. Your 3D printed items will seem matte and be friction-resistant with this finish. Your 3D parts become durable enough to be exposed to the elements and withstand scratching and rubbing thanks to the post-printing treatment process we use before adding the Color Resist finish.

Smoothing

To get a really smooth surface on a 3D print, abrasives are not always the final answer. Using a solvent such as acetone or isopropyl alcohol can produce a much more uniform surface. This kind of smoothing works with plastics and is an effective way to get rid of layer lines and other imperfections. Various types of chemical smoothing are on offer, enabling the production of high-quality finished pieces.

Thanks to the effort placed into developing new techniques, there is a process that can improve the quality of 3D-printed parts. This new patented process uses laser-sintered plastics to offer solutions that make prototypes look like the finished product. 

Chemical smoothing on Selective Laser Sintering plastic material works by initiating a chemical reaction that results in a fully smoothed surface on any 3D-printed parts.

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Painting

If the aesthetic appearance of a piece is important, a coat of paint might be required. The piece must be prepped and smoothed before any painting is done. A coat or two of primer is usually applied, followed by one or more coats of paint for a quality finish. White plastic is the best material for painting as it doesn’t affect the color. Interlocking parts can’t be painted since it is exclusively for white plastics. Therefore, the painting process uses the available paints to give different colors to 3D printed material with specific RAL.

The preferred color is applied on the 3D printed material using a spray gun (a spray gun offers smooth and uniform paint application while maintaining the initial object characteristics and details). The good thing about painting as a post-processing technique is that it only adds a paint layer of 200 microns in thickness. 

Epoxy coatings

Epoxy resins use two substances that are mixed before application: the epoxy resin itself and a secondary hardener. The substances react chemically to create a strong material that’s highly resistant to water and chemicals. While epoxy coatings tend to be thicker than paints and can obscure very fine details, they have some advantages over standard paints. They are more durable and can provide more effective waterproofing if the piece has porous areas that need to be sealed. Epoxy coatings also give the finished piece more strength, especially if there are delicate or fragile sections.

Polishing

Sometimes a truly smooth and glossy finish is required. In this case, polishing might be a better option than painting. Polishing creates a mirror-like finish that can be visually impressive. Polishing may also be useful in reducing friction between moving parts.

Hydro-dipping

Hydro-dipping is used to apply labels, logos or other graphics to the surface of a finished 3D print. It’s generally used for large-scale projects but can also be done for smaller items. Hydro-dipping uses water to transfer images printed on a special paper to the item. Hydro-dipping can be used to customize items in various ways and allows for a range of colors and detail in visual elements that are difficult to accomplish with other methods.

Electroplating

In some cases, a product requires additional strength or a metallic appearance. Some products may also need an electrically conductive coating. That’s where electroplating comes in. This is a process where a very thin layer of metal is deposited on the surface of an object. Some 3D printing materials are conductive and can be electroplated directly. For non-conductive materials such as plastics, a coating of conductive paint will need to be applied.

For metal-like finishes or color enhancement, electroplating offers a sophisticated solution. Through the deposition of metal coatings onto printed parts, a metallic appearance is achieved, along with increased durability. Similarly, vacuum foiling enables the application of decorative foils onto surfaces, adding texture and visual appeal.

Many different metals can be applied in this way, including both precious and non-precious metals. Electroplating can transform a plain 3D print into a bronze statue or give a conductive element a layer of copper or gold.

Dyeing

Dyeing is a great process to obtain a finish quite similar to mass-colored plastic. The parts are simply immersed in a heated dye bath before being dried. Dyeing gives the plastic a richer color than painting, which only coats the part’s surface. The product conforms most closely to the original design because there isn’t any extra thickness to prevent detail loss. Additionally, dyeing covers every surface of the component, even the deepest crevices, producing a finish that is remarkably homogeneous.

Throughout the post-processing journey, attention to detail is paramount. From filling gaps and smoothing surfaces to applying coatings and finishes, each step contributes to the overall quality and functionality of the final object. By leveraging the diverse array of post-processing techniques available, operators can unlock the full potential of FDM-printed parts, SLS-printed parts or any plastic or metal printed parts, achieving results that exceed expectations.

While it’s possible to undertake some of these post-processing operations yourself, it’s better to get your 3D-printed products professionally cleaned and finished. This avoids the risk of damaging your product. Leaving the work to experts also eliminates the need for specialist equipment and materials, some of which can be hazardous if not handled properly. As well as providing a comprehensive range of 3D-printing services, Sculpteo offers expert 3D print post-processing. After helping you to design your items and printing them, we can clean, prepare and finish your products to your exact specifications, providing you with outstanding results every time.

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