Polishing PLA plastic?
Hi, first time poster here and novice 3d printer. Hope this is the correct place to post this.
Does anybody have any hints for polishing PLA plastic?
I'm trying to do some small jewelry pieces, so I got some silver PLA filament.
Usually I've been able to polish plastics using a little bit of red or white rouge and a very soft wheel on the Dremel, but for some reason these printed pieces just don't want to take a shine?
I know PLA is a vegetable based plastic and is very low temperature, so maybe I'm breaking up any shine with the slight heating of the polishing wheel?
Should I maybe be using a different kind of plastic for these pieces?
Has anybody ever done things like this and had any luck?
Thanks in advance.
RE: Polishing PLA plastic?
3D printing creates tiny voids in the surface,
It is likely your rouge will get embedded in these voids and make polishing difficult,
I am not aware of a way to vapour smooth PLA.
Some folk use ABS and Vapour smooth it. I believe this seals the pores.
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: Polishing PLA plastic?
Polymaker has filament that can be polished with alcohol, their Polysmooth series. There are also filament with metal particles like copperfill, bronzefill and brassfill that can be polished and oxidized. I am not sure you can polish PLA to high shine on its own, I have never seen it TBH. As an alternative you can try clear epoxy resin coating which fills gaps and smooths surface, still not sure about shine though.
RE: Polishing PLA plastic?
Search youtube with this,
3d print polisher
then you see more examples.
RE: Polishing PLA plastic?
Thanks everyone!
Joan, that makes sense. I just can't get any kind of shine on it.
I realize that I won't get a true mirror finish, but I would like a smooth surface with at least some surface reflection.
I just ordered some silver ABS filament and I am gonna try smoothing. I know someone who does it using a paint can and acetone.
Has anyone ever tried the same thing with PLA using methylene chloride? It's a solvent for PLA and I know I can get a small amount locally.
RE: Polishing PLA plastic?
Have you checked the MSDS for Methylene Chloride?
https://www.acplasticsinc.com/media/documents/MSDS_MethyleneChloride.pdf
Take care!
Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: Polishing PLA plastic?
To answer the question as to the MSDS, the answer is "probably" at some time. I used to work in the hospital lab and I'm quite familiar with properly handling solvents and reagents.
I'll probably try acetone on ABS if I go that way as the ABS I just got seems to have more of a solid surface.
Right now I'm working on a larger piece and when I get home I will continue sanding and then see if it will take more of a polish than the PLA will.