3D print smoothing

lukold

lukold

Member
RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
Hello all!

Question that i've always wanted to know, i'll be getting my 3D printer in amonth from now and want to start printing a couple of stuff
I know that the prints will all have lines since it prints line by line
What should i coat it with and how do i get the smooth effect before painting over? By sanding? I'm completely new at this so will appreciate whatever help is given this way.

Cheers!
 
Pla or abs? Makes a huge difference. Abs can be smoothed with acetone but abs printing is more problematic. Pla is easier to print reliably but you can't do the acetone trick... I myself print with Pla and spent a good chunk of today sanding spot putty off my print to hide the print lines. Depending on how you orient your print, you could get away just sanding pla directly, starting at around 300 grit and moving up. You could also combine this technique with scratch primer or the aforementioned glazing putty. Basically, whatever gets you to a happy place.
 
Thanks for the replies! It will be PLA, so there is a possibility to sand PLA till its smooth? What about plastering it over to paint?
 
I've used Testors green putty and red Bondo glazing putty (sands/feathers better). I hope you don't have too many details that will get in the way.
 
Yeah i would stay away from the harsh Chemicals to smooth parts. its really not that hard. first thing is dont use such fine sandpaper. i use minimum 150 to start. you need a good surface for a mechanical bond. then i either putty the areas that primer cant fix on its own. then i smooth it out with 180-220 then primer the heck out of it. let it dry and then use finer sandpaper and shoot another finish coat of primer. and you should be good. i do it everyday and it works great if you want i can post pics.

Al
 
I'd like to see pics of that.

TazMan2000

IEDBOUNTYHUNTER said:
Yeah i would stay away from the harsh Chemicals to smooth parts. its really not that hard. first thing is dont use such fine sandpaper. i use minimum 150 to start. you need a good surface for a mechanical bond. then i either putty the areas that primer cant fix on its own. then i smooth it out with 180-220 then primer the heck out of it. let it dry and then use finer sandpaper and shoot another finish coat of primer. and you should be good. i do it everyday and it works great if you want i can post pics.

Al
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