3D Printing Surface Finishing Options
3D printing offer high level of design freedom, ability to produce parts in low volume at a rapid speed. At TEAM Rapid, 3D printing is one of our rapid prototyping solutions, we offer a wide range of polymer-based additive manufacturing processes which includes FDM, SLS, SLA and polyjet 3D printing.
3D printing is not capable to produce parts with professional-grade surface finish. So, post-processing is an important part in 3D printing. At Anpllocnc, we offer various surface finishing solutions as a part of our 3D printing rapid prototyping services.
Popular 3D Printing Finishes
Vapor smoothing creates a uniform, sealed surface with a semi-gloss appearance. It can be combined with our color dyeing option. Click here to learn more about vapor smoothing.
A standard offering for:
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
- HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)
Parts are submerged in a dye solution that penetrates roughly ~0.010” into the surface, altering the surface’s color. Coloration may vary slightly from batch to batch.
A standard offering for:
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
- HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) — Black Only
Standard finish with a secondary copper + nickel plating process, adding a 0.004″-0.006″ nickel coating. Nickel plating adds durability, stiffness, and wear resistance but is not considered cosmetic. The finish is rough nickel.
A standard offering for:
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
3D Printing Finishes By Process
Standard
Parts are de-powdered with a sandblasting process and manual powder removal. The standard finish is white matte with a sugar cube-like texture.
Media Tumbled
Standard finish with the addition of abrasive media tumbling. These parts will have reduced growth lines, and sharp edges may be softened by the tumbling process. The parts are left with an eggshell finish.
Color Dyeing
Parts are submerged in a dye solution that penetrates roughly ~0.010” into the surface, altering the surface’s color. There is potential for slight batch-to-batch color variation with all color options, including black.
Media Tumbled, Dyed Black
Dyed black finish with the addition of abrasive media tumbling. These parts will have reduced growth lines, and sharp edges may be softened by the tumbling process.
Vapor Smoothing
An automated post-processing technology (AMT PostPro3D) that achieves a high-quality surface finish. Vapor smoothing brings most surfaces from matte to semi-gloss. Vapor smoothing also seals the surface, enhances mechanical properties, and provides a consistent cosmetic finish for production. Vapor-smoothed parts can be dyed.
Click here to learn more about vapor smoothing.
Nickel Plating
Standard finish with a secondary copper + nickel plating process, adding a 0.004″-0.006″ nickel coating. Nickel plating adds durability, stiffness, and wear resistance but is not considered cosmetic. The finish is rough nickel.
Other
Anpllocnc provides additional HP Multi Jet Fusion finishing options, including but not limited to sanding, painting, and plating to meet your needs. Specify a custom finish for a manual review.
Standard
Parts are de-powdered with a sandblasting process and manual powder removal. The standard finish is gray matte with a sugar cube-like texture.
Dyed Black
Parts are submerged in a dye solution that penetrates the surface, darkening the surface’s color. Although fairly consistent, there is potential for slight batch-to-batch variation.
Vapor Smoothing
An automated post-processing technology (AMT PostPro3D) that achieves a high-quality surface finish. Vapor smoothing brings most surfaces from matte to semi-gloss. Vapor smoothing also seals the surface, enhances mechanical properties, and provides a consistent cosmetic finish for production. Vapor-smoothed parts can be dyed.
Click here to learn more about vapor smoothing.
Other
Anpllocnc provides additional HP Multi Jet Fusion finishing options, including but not limited to sanding, painting, and plating to meet your needs. Specify a custom finish for a manual review.
Standard
Support material is removed and parts are cleaned. Parts are left with a uniform smooth matte to semi-gloss surface.
Upper-face, Glossy
Support material is removed and parts are cleaned. Upward facing faces are left with a smooth glossy appearance, while remaining faces are left with a matte to semi-gloss surface.
Other
Anpllocnc can provide additional processing and finishes, such as sanding, to meet your needs. Specify a custom finish for a manual review.
Matte
Supported surfaces will be lightly sanded with 220 or 320-grit sandpaper and then media-blasted for a uniform matte finish.
Natural
Supported surfaces will be lightly sanded with 220 or 320-grit sandpaper for improved surface quality. Sanding scratches will be visible on supported surfaces.
Strip and Ship
Supported areas may show small grid-like dots or surface blemishes due to support removal.
Quick Clear
Only supported surfaces are sanded. Parts will still have visible layering. A high gloss clear coat is applied to enhance shine.
Other
Anpllocnc provides additional SLA finishing options, including but not limited to sanding, polishing, painting, plating, and post-thermal processing. Specify a custom finish for a manual review.
Standard
FDM parts are built with support material that is removed during post-processing. The part surfaces are left with fine layer lines.
Other
Anpllocnc can provide additional processing (i.e. painting or sanding) to meet your needs. Specify a custom finish for a manual review.
Standard
Parts built with Carbon DLS technology will typically have a matte to semi-gloss surface finish depending on feature direction. Parts are cleaned and stripped of supports after build. Supported surfaces will be lightly sanded with 220 or 320 grit sandpaper for improved surface quality. Sanding scratches will be visible on supported surfaces.
Other
Anpllocnc can provide additional processing to meet your needs. Specify a custom finish for a manual review.
Matte
Supported surfaces will be lightly sanded with 220 or 320-grit sandpaper and then media-blasted for a uniform matte finish.
Natural
Supported surfaces will be lightly sanded with 220 or 320-grit sandpaper for improved surface quality. Sanding scratches will be visible on supported surfaces.
Strip and Ship
Supported areas may show small grid-like dots or surface blemishes due to support removal.
Other
Anpllocnc provides additional SLA finishing options, including but not limited to sanding, polishing, painting, plating, and post-thermal processing. Specify a custom finish for a manual review.
Standard
Support structures are removed, and the part is media blasted to provide a uniform finish. Typical surface roughness is between 150-400 µin Ra.
Other
Additional DMLS post-processing, such as CNC Machining of features and polishing, are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Specify a custom finish for a manual review.
Zirblast
This standard finish results in a bright, matte, bronze-to-gray metallic surface. This is due to a ceramic bead blast (zirconium silicate bead).
Antique Bronze
A heat patina is applied after tumble polishing to produce a copper-like coloration with darker gray striations from features inaccessible to the media. Parts are coated with a sealant before shipping.
Damascus Steel
A heat patina is applied to a media-blasted surface, leaving an even, dark gray, and matte surface. Parts are coated with a sealant before shipping.
Medieval Pewter
A heat patina is applied, then parts are tumble polished, resulting in a dark gray appearance with some bronze shine on protruded features. Parts are coated with a sealant before shipping.
Tumble Polished
Parts are media tumbled to a semi-gloss polish. The part color is bright bronze with darker gray striations from features inaccessible to the media. Small gaps may still hold small grains of polishing media.
Wheat Penny
A heat patina is applied, and then media blasted, resulting in an even, matte, and copper-like finish. Parts are coated with a sealant before shipping.
3D Printed Parts & Prototype Finishes
We offer a variety of in-house finishing, painting, and assembly capabilities for 3D printed parts and prototypes. Our investments in an industry-standard color matching system for in-house painting and finishing expertise allow us to deliver custom finishes to your specifications quickly and accurately.
Depending on your application’s requirements, we offer a range of finish levels for your prototype or production parts:
- Level 0 Finish = Support removal only (Strip ’N’ Ship)
- Level 1 Finish = Support removal and light sand of support surface
- Level 2 Finish = Level 1 Finish plus light sanding and bead blast
- Level 3 Finish = Level 2 finish plus sanding for smooth finish
- Level 4 Finish = Level 3 finish plus exterior build lines removed and primer
- Level 5 Finish = Level 4 finish plus paint (Painted Finish)
- Mold Ready Finish = Level 4 finish with all build lines removed (interior and exterior) for urethane casting or metal casting process
We also offer special clear finishes for processes like SLA’s SL7870 ClearVue material:
- Quick Clear Finish = Level 1 Finish with clear paint coat
- Level 3 Clear Finish = Level 3 Finish (smooth finish) with clear paint coat
- Supreme Clear Finish = Level 5 Finish without fillers or primer and with clear coat paint with buffed finish (Best Show Quality Finish)
At Anpllocnc, we have the additive manufacturing processes (e.g., Carbon DLS, selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)) and materials to produce parts with custom finishes that are closer to production-ready.