However, make sure not to over-apply the chemical as it may eat through the top layer of the print if left too long with too much Methylene Chloride. This method is a very quick way of achieving super-smooth texture on the PLA surface very easily. Once the part is fully soaked in the chemical, take it out and leave it in any well-ventilated area till it is dry. For best results, directly apply the methylene chloride to the PLA 3D print with either a brush or simply dip the PLA part in a vat of the chemical.
Methylene Chloride, similar to acetone for ABS, is chemically corrosive to PLA. Always wear a suitable chemical respirator, eye-goggles and chemical resistant nitrile-rubber gloves when working with toxic substances. Smoothing the PLA 3D print with Methylene Chlorideīefore getting started with this step, do note that Methylene Chloride is highly toxic when ingested, so please for your own safety and the safety of others around you, do this in a well-ventilated, sufficiently isolated area. If the visible layer-lines are okay for you at this stage, then you can jump to step 3.Īlternatively, if you want a super-smooth surface for your finished piece, you should perform the optional step 2: Step 2.
#Best 3d filament professional
Giving the 3D print a light sanding helps the filler/primer stick much better to the 3D printed part which in turn helps with a nice smooth, professional looking paintjob at the end. Do the same for any protruding support structure remnants. Take a medium grit sandpaper (between 100-200) and sand away any apparent imperfections or flaws in the print. Once you’ve got your PLA 3D print off the print bed and the support structures removed, a good first step is to sand it. But for those that want a smooth finish, it is best to follow the tried and tested multi-step method for post-processing 3D printed parts: Step 1. If that is the look you are after, then that is fine. But be aware that the natural layer-lines tend to become more visibly pronounced when painted. Painting bare PLA will, in most cases, give you okay results. PLA can be painted with acrylics, enamels, and it can also be coated with varnish and other similar clear coats. PLA tends to be a very forgiving 3D printing filament not only during the printing process, but also in post-processing. It is much better to spend your money on a reliable spool of filament and good paint supplies, instead of paying more for fancy colored or speckled filaments. Applying a coat of primer is highly recommended before painting, and the primer would hide the base color anyway. If you are going to be painting your PLA 3D prints, a good idea would be to stick to neutral shades such as gray, white or even black for the filament color. Choosing the ideal filament color to paint over If, however, it does spread into at least a convex-lens shape – and ideally into an almost flat film on the flat surface – then that paint would stick well and provide good results with that filament. If the paint drop remains mostly spherical and doesn’t spread, then that paint will not stick well to 3D prints made with that particular filament. Simply put a drop of the paint you want to use, onto a flat surface – 3D printed with the filament that you are going to use for the final part. The surface tension test is kind of an empirical litmus test to see whether or not a paint of your choosing would stick to the surface being painted on. The surface tension test for material and paint selection There’s no real order to this list, we tend to get the one that’s on sale at the time. While other brands should also be worth your attention, the filaments we like to get for painting are listed below. PLA also tends to be the easiest of the three to be painted on.Īll things considered, PLA is by far the best 3D printing filament for painting. That being said, however, the ideal 3D printing filament must also be easy-to-print with, and this is where ABS start to lag a lot, whereas PETG lags a little behind pure PLA. ABS also have the advantage of being easier to smooth via acetone vapor treatment. That leaves us, then, with the three most commonly used 3D printing filaments: Pure or colored PLA, PETG and ABS.īoth PETG and ABS are good for painting.
The easiest 3D printing filaments to paint with
However, owing to their industrial use, you may find overlapping specialized painting tools and paints for these materials from other industries. Polycarbonate, polyamide and other high-strength engineering grade 3D printing filaments are also not easy to paint.