How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
I'm wondering the best ways to get an ultra smooth finish on a PLA printed part.
Sanding?
Primer?
What has worked for the veterans here?
Sanding?
Primer?
What has worked for the veterans here?
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
well i paint for a living. if you want a super smooth finish on a 3d printed part then sand it smooth, spray a primer/surfacer, sand that smooth and paint the part.
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
Yep, start sanding with something like 120 or 180 wet and dry and go up to 220. Spray with filler primer, sand again at 220 or higher. Repeat until smooth.
Some pla takes sanding better than others; I found colorfab pla to take sanding quite nicely, other I have had to use it wet or the pla tends to gum up rather than sand down, and the water or fluid tends to help avoid this by keeping the part cooler.
Finish with a final coat of primer before topcoat.
Some pla takes sanding better than others; I found colorfab pla to take sanding quite nicely, other I have had to use it wet or the pla tends to gum up rather than sand down, and the water or fluid tends to help avoid this by keeping the part cooler.
Finish with a final coat of primer before topcoat.
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
Someone suggested that I sand plastic with wet paper and submerge the part in water while sanding, to avoid fine plastic dust in the air you are breathing. I have no idea how important this is, so it sounded sensible to me at the time, and that is what I've done the few times I've tried.
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
haha if that was the case i would have been dead a long time ago.
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
ketil wrote:Someone suggested that I sand plastic with wet paper and submerge the part in water while sanding, to avoid fine plastic dust in the air you are breathing. I have no idea how important this is, so it sounded sensible to me at the time, and that is what I've done the few times I've tried.
I must say I have never heard of that! I work as a modelmaker, so I like to think I have heard it all when it comes to sanding techniques. All this does is sound...inconvenient.
The water or polishing fluid is there to lubricate the surfaces and cool down the part to prevent any...ugliness. if you are sanding something and creating so much dust it becomes and issue, use a dust mask. that won't get in the way of your...wrist action...like working against water would.
if you are sanding flat sided elements, put the paper on a level block/table and work the piece on top of it, in a figure of eight movement. it maintains the flatness and should stop you from creating a bias to one side.
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
I spray on Rustoleum Triple Thick Glaze, (see attached example) usually four coats. The trick is to apply it as thickly as possible without allowing it to run.
- Attachments
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- 2 Coats Gloss plus 2 Coats Matt.jpg
- PLA .1mm resolution. Approximately 4.25 inch long. 2 coats Rustoleum Triple Thick Glaze Glossy + 2 coats Matte
- (331.63 KiB) Downloaded 2711 times
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
That's a gorgeous finish, Jim!
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
yes very nice!
Re: How to get a smooth finish on a PLA printed part
@ jimschanz
do you have an image what your print looked like before you did that glaze? that looks killer. any tips on spraying on this rustoleum?
do you have an image what your print looked like before you did that glaze? that looks killer. any tips on spraying on this rustoleum?