3D Printing Stack Exchange
3D Printing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [post-processing]

Use this tag for questions about post processing, i.e. additional methods and processes after a print has been completed.

Questions about methods and processes used after a part is completed by a 3D printer, including, but not limited to, polishing, cleaning, removal or disposal of printed material.

87 questions
57
votes
9 answers

How do I give 3D-printed parts in PLA a shiny smooth finish?

The surfaces of my printed parts using PLA plastic look rough and uneven. Would changing filament to a better one make any difference? If not, what kind of methods can I use to achieve a smoother finish for my for 3D-printed objects?
kenorb
  • 2,545
  • 2
  • 20
  • 40
23
votes
4 answers

What glues for bonding printed PLA to injection-molded plastic?

I will be creating a small tube styled piece to use as a junction between two pieces of plastic. The idea is to reattach the two pieces and provide strength so they don't break apart again. I plan on using PLA. My question is, will superglue…
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
  • 2,423
  • 3
  • 9
  • 37
20
votes
3 answers

Are there any ways to make a 3D print transparent?

I am aware of several "clear" filaments for a ABS or PLA printer. They, however, have a cloudy or frosted glass appearance. I do not believe this is possible to eliminate but I believe it can be reduced. Are there effective ways to make a print…
kaine
  • 960
  • 1
  • 10
  • 20
18
votes
6 answers

How to remove white marks from PLA

When you cut or break a PLA model (for example to remove support) it often leaves an ugly while mark where the removed piece was connected. Sanding also tend to leave dull white scratches on the sanded surface. What can I do to restore the white…
Nir
  • 2,401
  • 4
  • 18
  • 32
18
votes
6 answers

Drilling 3D-printed plastic

I need to do some post processing of my 3D-printed models that includes adding some holes. For each of PLA, ABS, PETG and other 3D-printing materials: In what ways is drilling a hole in a model made from that material like or unlike drilling wood?…
Tony Hansen
  • 650
  • 1
  • 6
  • 7
17
votes
7 answers

What can I use to "sand" my ABS prints?

I have a 3d printer that uses ABS filament. The software I use will generate vertical supports for my objects before printing that can be easily broken off after they have been used during print to hold sharp angles up that would normally…
Jon B
  • 281
  • 2
  • 6
16
votes
6 answers

Prints are now sticking too well to the bed. What to do?

I'm a beginner. I've a Printrbot Play with a heated bed add-on. I'm using it exclusively with PLA. It worked great initially, but then I took the nozzle out and put it back in, and the Z calibration was lost (and I didn't know the calibration was a…
Florin Andrei
  • 261
  • 1
  • 2
  • 6
12
votes
4 answers

How to easily get rid of rafts and support structures?

My printed parts consist rafts, supports and other extraneous filament when printing with ABS or PLA. What are efficient general techniques of removing them?
kenorb
  • 2,545
  • 2
  • 20
  • 40
10
votes
5 answers

Secure disposal of 3D prints

The company I work for is protective of IP and has security procedures for disposing of anything that could be stolen for industrial espionage. Paper gets shredded and sent to trusted recycling center, all old data storage media gets obliterated,…
Engineer
  • 109
  • 2
9
votes
2 answers

Practical concerns smoothing PLA print with chloroform vapours

One way to give PLA prints a smooth finish is treatment with chloroform vapours (or other solvents, as mentioned in this answer). This method is even featured on Ultimaker website. I would like to try it on some of my prints. What are the practical…
Klara
  • 193
  • 2
  • 7
9
votes
2 answers

Water does not flow through 4 mm hole when there is a small amount, how to let water flow through small hole even when there is low pressure?

I have a 3D print where there are 5 holes with a diameter of 4 mm in a cup, and I would like liquid to flow through all 5 holes at once while slowly draining the cup (by slowly I mean: just take a few seconds and not drain instantly). Therefore the…
Jacob Welin
  • 93
  • 1
  • 5
7
votes
1 answer

Maintaining fine details while applying smoothing methods

I've been reading and experimenting with Acetone vapour smoothing on some printed ABS parts. My problem is that I need to selectively smoothen the printed parts which vapor smoothing doesn't allow. In particular, the cogs, whose sides I was trying…
Samveen
  • 673
  • 6
  • 20
7
votes
1 answer

Bonding PETG to glass

I'm thinking of trying my hand at fabricating microfluidic devices. I'll be using a filament based on PETG (Zortrax's Z-glass filament, which is translucent and resistant to acids and bases). For my plan to work, I'll need to find a good way to bond…
N. Virgo
  • 1,489
  • 1
  • 14
  • 25
7
votes
2 answers

How do I remove a 3D print stuck to the glass build plate

I printed a model and now I can't remove it. I have been chiselling away with a putty knife and made little or no progress. I even heated the bed up to 70 °C. That really didn't seem to help. Last time, I put it in vice, and tried to free it that…
cybernard
  • 265
  • 1
  • 3
  • 8
6
votes
1 answer

Sandable primer suitable for PLA?

What kind of primer should I be using for my PLA prints? I want to be able to sand the object after applying the primer for a smooth finish before painting. Would something like this…
Megasaur
  • 163
  • 3
1
2 3 4 5 6