How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
Hi, I came across this blog: https://blog.prusaprinters.org/improve-your-3d-prints-with-chemical-smoothing_36268/
It states that acetone smoothing does not work well on Prusament PLA. So, what works well?
As for PETG, the author suggested dichloromethane but it can only be bought with special permission since it is a dangerous dissolvent. So, what else would work and is easy to purchase? Acetone bath won't well well on Prusament PETG?
RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
All of these methods - at least the few I know about - require vapor abrading the surface. The real issue with achieving a great result is that gravity will interfere, and unless planned for and carefully controlled, sucks material from the upper surfaces to the lower surfaces.
As a practical matter, using the highest layer resolution possible is really the best way to obtain the best possible surface. Raising/lowering the print temp and slowing the print speed then controls final surface quality and sheen.
If you need a part with shine, injection molding or casting is best.
Then again, I have problems making printed nuts and bolts that actually fit and work together.
RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
@tim-m30
Do you mean using Layer height of 0.05mm? Currently I am using 0.15 mm (Quality).
RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
You might want to check out Polysmooth filament by Polymaker. It is supposed to be PLA-like but can be smoothed with alcohol vapor. It's not cheap but they show some nice results. It is also supposed to be very nice filament to work with even without smoothing. I have a spool but have not yet gotten around to testing it.
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RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
@peter-c20
Yes, 0.10, 0.07, 0.05 ... anything to get the surface below what you can nominally see holding the part an arms length away.
The other way to go is to apply a clear coat to the finished part. The coating will generally fillin the layers and do some amount of self leveling to provide a nicer finish.
RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
@tim-m30
What kind of coating? Do you have recommended product?
RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
You can try the "ironing" function in the latest slicer version (on the Infill tab). I have (only) tried it on a couple of PLA prints. The difference between that and a rectangular top layer (on an optimally adjusted machine) is very subtle, i.e., not much. I will try ironing an ABS print to see what it does, but an acetone vapor bath will likely give better results and has the advantage of "getting to" all surfaces, including undercuts. Acetone does almost nothing on PLA, which is kind of surprising since it aggressively attacks so many other plastics. You can try "limonene" (the active ingredient in adhesive softener/removers such as "Goof-Off" and "Goo Gone"), but even these work pretty slowly on PLA, and just putting your print in a vapor "tent" of either of these is probably not going to get the job done. You can try brushing or spraying on directly, but I would practice on some spoiled prints to develop a technique before committing a long, expensive print
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RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
This is one thing that I have been struggling with.
The printer will do flawless prints but I'm trying for a smoother surface with at least a bit of a sheen.
Best I've been able to do is with ABS, sanding first, then polishing with a soft wheel and white rouge and then gently brushing with a mop brush dipped in acetone.
I've been told you can do more or less the same with PLA using methylene chloride but I have not tried it yet.
I just can't seem to get the same degree of sheen that lotsa commercial plastic products have.
I've thought of trying one of the conformal coatings but just haven't done it yet.
RE: How to make the surface of PETG and PLA printed models smooth and shinny looking?
You won't get the same degree of sheen you see on many commercial products without a lot of work, commercial products are normally injection moulded rather than printed.