Q&A: Post-Printing Finishing
I am going to open up a Q&A category where I can post questions from our customers that might be of benefit to others. Here is the first one:
What is the secret for getting a smooth surface? I am consistently trying to figure out the meaning of all print settings and how to get the raft to separate more cleanly. I notice a couple of objects (3D pre-printed objects) were sent in the original package. How do you get the object’s edge smooth?
I went to a local glass shop and asked them to cut me a couple of squares. They only cost about $3 each. Purchase 1/8” thick glass, 5.5”x5.5” in dimension. To prepare the glass for printing, dissolve a small amount of scrap ABS in Acetone, paint directly on to glass with paintbrush. Approximate ratio: 5” (.4g) of 1.75mm filament dissolved in 10ml of acetone. It should be approximate consistency of white glue. Once it dries, clip coated glass to platform.You can find more information about surface prep options in the PDF we have posted on our support page at http://wri3d.com/main/?
Printing on glass produces a very smooth bottom that detaches easily. Again, it is a matter of experimentation to see what objects print well this way. We printed The Thinker statue and it turned out great! (http://www.thingiverse.com/
Another way to get a smoother finish is to lightly paint the object with acetone. On the earbud savers, we put a light coat on the perf board side of the clips to smooth things out. The key is to apply evenly for a nice finish. We’ve discovered that doing this also seems to strengthen objects. For example, if you have a print with a thin piece, a light brushing with acetone may keep it from breaking as easily.
Getting objects to separate from the raft more cleanly takes a little practice. Matthew, our technical wizard, generally uses a razor blade to make the initial break in the right place between the raft and the object, and then uses the putty knife to carefully wedge under the rest of the way. Move around the edges a section at a time, working towards loosening the middle of the object. Patience pays off when detaching objects. So does wearing the gloves we sent you 🙂 I will see if I can get Matthew to make a video of this process before the end of the weekend because I think it would be very helpful for people to see how he does it. He’s a pro now!
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