Available Finished for Rapid Prototype & Rapid MFG process

Overview

The documents contains an explanation of different finished for different RP and RM process

Stereolithography (SLA) - Finished

Standard (class 1a)

Finish applied to all Models

1. Remove supports

Improved (Class 2A)

Finish that is applied to models that are for engineering or product review

1. Remove all supports
2. Sand Entire Model with 220 – 320
3. Beadblast
4. Finish wet sand with 320

Primer  + 2 days  (class 3A)

A primer finish will require that all the build lines on a part be sanded off. The part complexity and geometry will dictate the cost of this step. Typically only the outer facing surfaces will be finished to this level unless otherwise specified. The procedure for Primed finish is as follows:

1. Sand with 220 to 320 until all build lines are removed
2. Lightly coat with heavy build automotive primer then sand with 320 to 600 until the primer is removed and all surface imperfections have been filled.
3. Apply 2 – 3 coats of primer on the part and wet sand with 600 in between coats to create a uniform surface

Presentation  + 4 days or more depending on complexity (class 4A)

A paint job can consist of one color, multiple colors, or customer graphics created via airbrushing or venial graphics. The general adopted color matching systems for paints is Pantone Color Match or, in some cases PPG. For custom graphics customer can supply the RBG numbers that are used in graphics programs to produce the color. The procedure for paintings as follows:

1. Part must be finished to primed level
2. Custom Color Numbers must be provided to color match, if multicolor models are required jpeg’s depicting paint scheme must be provided. Additional is graphics are required the native graphic files is needed (Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel, PDF)

Note: Painting does at a thickness of up to .005” too the parts and design considerations should be made.

Custom Finishes

WaterClear +4 days (class 5A)

WaterClear Models can be produced using the PC Like resins that are clear. These Models can be sanded down and seal with clear coat to produce a transparent part. The procedure is as follows:

1. Sand off all build lines with nothing less than 420 grit.
2. Increase grit to 600 and repeat
3. Seal Part with Clear Coat

Note: this process is very labor intensive and takes many hours of sanding to achieve a quality finish. For parts that do not need to be perfectly clear see quick clear process

QuickClear - + 2 days

QuickClear is an economical alternative to the WaterClear process. With the quick clear procedure all of the build lines are not completely removed. This will result in a part with increased transparency but will not produce a part that is optically clear. The procedure is as follows:

1. Remove supports and sand with 220 – 320 grit
2. Seal with Clear Coat

Dyes +2 Days

All resins can be dyed or tinted. The Clear resins are most popular for this service. The goal is to make them look like a lenses. The issue with dying is that you are introducing water into the part so there is a possibility that this can affect the parts dimensional accuracy. Some SLA Materials can absorb up to 0.25% of their volume in water when submerged for 24 hours

Nickel Plating +3 days

SLA parts can be nickel plated using the following procedure:

1. Remove supports and sand with 320 grit to remove exterior build lines
2. Paint with conductive paint and electroplate with copper coating
3. Electroplate with nickel coating

Note: Nickel Plating can add up to 50 microns of thickness to the part. The newly plated part will now have improved mechanical properties. The metal plating will provide a increased resistant to chemical, improved heat deflection, waterproof model, provided electrical conductivity, and improve the mechanical properties up to 3x the impact strength.

RP Tempering + 2 Days

Any SLA material can have RP tempering applied to it. This coating will increase the mechanical and physical properties of the material up to 3 times. The process infiltrates the prototype changing its properties on a molecular level.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) – Finishes

Natural (Class 1A)

The part is removed from the machine and cleaned of all excess power using light brushes and compressed air. The part will appear to have a light texture on the surface.

Improved (Class 2A)

Part is cleaned and of all excess powders using light brushes and compressed air along with medium grit sanding pads. Any semi-cured material is removed to remotely save process using progressively finer grit sandpaper.

Standard Coated (Class 3A)

The part is cleaned to improve finish. After this is completed that part is coated with the appropriate encapsulate as seen in the chart above.

Primed (Class 3A)

The part is cleaned to an improved finish then encapsulated with infiltrate. After completed the part is then coated with an initial primer coat is added. At this stage the part is not paint ready and additional finishing steps need to be preformed.

Paint Ready (Class 4A)

The part is cleaned to an improved finish, all holes or voids in any surface defects are then filled with a variety of filling agents. The part is then sanded smooth and multiple primer coats are applied over time. At this stage the part will be ready to receive paint.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) – Finishes

Standard (Class 1A)

Finish applied to all Models

2. Remove support material

Improved (Class 2A)

Finish that is applied to models that are for engineering or product review

5. Remove support Material
6. Sand Entire Model with 220 – 320
7. Beadblast
8. Finish wet sand with 320

Primer  + 2 days  (Class 3A)

A primer finish will require that all the build lines on a part be sanded off. The part complexity and geometry will dictate the cost of this step. Typically only the outer facing surfaces will be finished to this level unless otherwise specified. The procedure for Primed finish is as follows:

4. Sand with 220 to 320 until all build lines are removed
5. Lightly coat with heavy build automotive primer then sand with 320 to 600 until the primer is removed and all surface imperfections have been filled.
6. Apply 2 – 3 coats of primer on the part and wet sand with 600 in between coats to create a uniform surface

Presentation  + 4 days or more depending on complexity  (Class 4A)

A paint job can consist of one color, multiple colors, or customer graphics created via airbrushing or venial graphics. The general adopted color matching systems for paints is Pantone Color Match or, in some cases PPG. For custom graphics customer can supply the RBG numbers that are used in graphics programs to produce the color. The procedure for paintings as follows:

3. Part must be finished to primed level
4. Custom Color Numbers must be provided to color match, if multicolor models are required jpeg’s depicting paint scheme must be provided. Additional is graphics are required the native graphic files is needed (Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel, PDF)

Note: Painting does at a thickness of up to .005” too the parts and design considerations should be made.

Custom Finishes

Nickel Plating +3 days

SLA parts can be nickel plated using the following procedure: Remove supports and sand with 320 grit to remove exterior build lines

4. Paint with conductive paint and electroplate with copper coating
5. Electroplate with nickel coating

Note: Nickel Plating can add up to 50 microns of thickness to the part. The newly plated part will now have improved mechanical properties. The metal plating will provide a increased resistant to chemical, improved heat deflection, waterproof model, provided electrical conductivity, and improve the mechanical properties up to 3x the impact strength.

3D Printing (3DP) – Finishes

Standard (Class 1A)

Finish applied to all Models

3. Remove supports
4. Beadblast

Improved (Class 2A)

Finish that is applied to models that are for engineering or product review

9. Remove supports
10. Sand Entire Model with 220 – 320
11. Beadblast
12. Finish wet sand with 320

Primer  + 2 days  (Class 3A)

A primer finish will require that all the build lines on a part be sanded off. The part complexity and geometry will dictate the cost of this step. Typically only the outer facing surfaces will be finished to this level unless otherwise specified. The procedure for Primed finish is as follows:

7. Sand with 220 to 320 until all build lines are removed
8. Lightly coat with heavy build automotive primer then sand with 320 to 600 until the primer is removed and all surface imperfections have been filled.
9. Apply 2 – 3 coats of primer on the part and wet sand with 600 in between coats to create a uniform surface

Presentation  + 4 days or more depending on complexity (Class 4A)

A paint job can consist of one color, multiple colors, or customer graphics created via airbrushing or venial graphics. The general adopted color matching systems for paints is Pantone Color Match or, in some cases PPG. For custom graphics customer can supply the RBG numbers that are used in graphics programs to produce the color. The procedure for paintings as follows:

5. Part must be finished to primed level
6. Custom Color Numbers must be provided to color match, if multicolor models are required jpeg’s depicting paint scheme must be provided. Additional is graphics are required the native graphic files is needed (Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel, PDF)

Note: Painting does at a thickness of up to .005” too the parts and design considerations should be made.

Custom Finishes

WaterClear +4 days 

WaterClear Models can be produced using the PC Like resins that are clear. These Models can be sanded down and seal with clear coat to produce a transparent part. The procedure is as follows:

4. Sand off all build lines with nothing less than 420 grit.
5. Increase grit to 600 and repeat
6. Seal Part with Clear Coat

Note: this process is very labor intensive and takes many hours of sanding to achieve a quality finish. For parts that do not need to be perfectly clear see quick clear process

QuickClear - + 2 days 

QuickClear is an economical alternative to the WaterClear process. With the quick clear procedure all of the build lines are not completely removed. This will result in a part with increased transparency but will not produce a part that is optically clear. The procedure is as follows:

3. Remove supports and sand with 220 – 320 grit
4. Seal with Clear Coat

Dyes +2 Days

All resins can be dyed or tinted. The Clear resins are most popular for this service. The goal is to make them look like a lenses. The issue with dying is that you are introducing water into the part so there is a possibility that this can affect the parts dimensional accuracy. Some SLA Materials can absorb up to 0.25% of their volume in water when submerged for 24 hours

Nickel Plating +3 days

SLA parts can be nickel plated using the following procedure:

6. Remove supports and sand with 320 grit to remove exterior build lines
7. Paint with conductive paint and electroplate with copper coating
8. Electroplate with nickel coating

Note: Nickel Plating can add up to 50 microns of thickness to the part. The newly plated part will now have improved mechanical properties. The metal plating will provide a increased resistant to chemical, improved heat deflection, waterproof model, provided electrical conductivity, and improve the mechanical properties up to 3x the impact strength.

RP Tempering + 2 Days

Any SLA material can have RP tempering applied to it. This coating will increase the mechanical and physical properties of the material up to 3 times. The process infiltrates the prototype changing its properties on a molecular level.

Urethane Casting (RTV) – Finishes

All Standard industry finished apply to plastic parts. This includes but is not limited to Mold-Tech finishes, surface finish in microfiches, and various texture patterns. 

All Metal Parts 

All Standard industry finished apply to metal parts. This includes but is not limited to Mold-Tech finishes, surface finish in microfiches, and various texture patterns.