Get the most out of your Protolabs Partnership with your interactive guide to 3D printing surface finishes
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Version 1.2 | April 2024
Contents
Featured Parts
4-7
DIRECT METAL LASER SINTERING (DMLS)
43.2mm
8-14
STEREOLITHOGRAPHY (SLA)
15-22
MULTI JET FUSION (MJF)
23-25
SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING (SLS)
26-27
POLYJET
28-29
CUSTOM FINISHING: PAINT
0mm
25mm
50mm
30-31
CUSTOM FINISHING: OTHER SECONDARY SERVICES SECONDARY SERVICES: QUALITY CERTIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS
32
97.3mm
Welcome to our guide to 3D printing surface finishes. Depending on the additive manufacturing technology, build direction, resolution, and materials you choose, part aesthetics can be impacted. Use this guide to get a quick look at your finishing options and what you can expect when your 3D-printed parts arrive.
Note, this guide does not show all materials and finish levels. It is intended to be representative of the types of materials and finish levels offered.
0mm
25mm
50mm
75mm 100mm
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3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Material Matrix
Plastic Material
Technology
Unfinished
Natural
Standard
Vapour Smoothing
Production Dye Black
Custom: Paint
Custom: Other Secondary Services
ABS-Like White ABS-Like Grey ABS-Like Black
SLA SLA SLA SLA SLA SLA SLA SLA MJF MJF MJF MJF MJF
• • • • • • •
• • • • • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
ABS-Like Translucent/Clear
PC-Like Translucent (Advanced High Temp)
Ceramic-Like (Advanced HighTemp)
MicroFine™ Green
True Silicone
• •
PA 11 Smooth Grey
•
PA 11 Vapour Smooth Black PA 12 Smooth Light Grey
•
• • •
• •
PA 12 Glass Beads Smooth Grey Ultrasint™ TPU-01-88A Pure Grey
Ultrasint™ TPU-01-88A Vapour Smooth Black MJF
•
PA 12 Smooth White
SLS SLS SLS SLS SLS SLS
•
• •
• •
PA 12 Vapour Smooth White PA12-Glass Filled Smooth White PA12-Carbon Filled Smooth Black
•
• • • • • • • • •
PA 12-Flex Pure Black TPU-88A Pure Black 3DP Silicone (60-65%)
POLYJET POLYJET POLYJET POLYJET POLYJET
Digital Black
Digital Clear/Translucent
Digital OverMold
Digital White
Metal Material
Technology
Standard
Custom: Paint
Custom: Other Secondary Services
Aluminium AlSi10Mg Cobalt Chrome F75
DMLS DMLS DMLS DMLS DMLS DMLS
• • • • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • •
Inconel 718
Maraging Steel 1.2709
Stainless Steel 316L 1.4404
Titanium Ti6Al4V
3
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Direct Metal Laser Sintering
RESOLUTION: High (0.05mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Paint), Custom (Other Secondary Services) Stainless Steel 316L 1.4404
Custom Polish
Standard
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3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
DMLS TEXT FEATURES Min. embossed details 0.5mm high and wide and 0.8mm for readable images Min. engraved details 0.5mm deep and 0.6mm wide; 1.0mm wide for readable text and clear images Stainless Steel 316L 1.4404
5
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.06mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Paint), Custom (Other Secondary Services) Aluminium AlSi10Mg
Standard Supports are removed and part gets blasted to achieve a consistent overall texture. Depending on material and resolution, you can expect roughness values of 0.004 to 0.010mm Ra.
Unfinished part after support structures removal.
Unfinished part with support structures.
6
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Aluminium AlSi10Mg
Custom Polish Surface roughness reduced to RA2.
Custom Anodising
Custom Machined Surface
7
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Stereolithography
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Paint, incl. Clear), Custom (Other Secondary Services), Natural, Unfinished ABS-Like Translucent/Clear
Custom
Standard
Natural
Unfinished
8
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
ABS-Like Translucent/Clear
Custom A clear coat is applied. All part surfaces will appear clear and glossy. Depending on what is requested, layer lines may still be visible (prototyping finish) or removed (design finish).
Standard Parts with standard finish are grit
Natural With natural finishing, you get varying aesthetics based on build orientation. Parts are not grit blasted. All up-facing part surfaces will appear glossy.
Standard With unfinished, you get varying aesthetics based on build orientation. Dots or standing “nibs” remain evident on the bottom of the part from the support structure remnants.
blasted, and will appear matte or frosted in appearance. Standard finish will make this material translucent, not clear.
9
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Paint, incl. Clear), Custom (Other Secondary Services), Natural, Unfinished PC-Like Translucent (Advanced High Temp)
Pre-thermal Cure
10
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
THERMAL CURING Boost heat deflection temperature by thermal curing parts. Once the PC- like advanced high-temp material is thermal cured, part appearance will transition from a light tan to darker amber. Note, Ceramic-Like (Advanced High Temp) parts can also be thermal cured. PC-Like Translucent (Advanced High Temp)
Post-thermal Cure
11
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
ABS-Like Grey RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Paint), Custom (Other Secondary Services), Natural, Unfinished
Standard Supported surfaces are sanded, and the entire part is finely blasted for a consistent look. Note that layer lines are still present.
Natural Supported surfaces are sanded down to eliminate the support nibs.
Unfinished Dots, or standing nibs, remain evident on the bottom of the part from the support structure remnants.
12
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
ABS-Like Black RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Paint), Custom (Other Secondary Services), Natural, Unfinished
Downfacing Our standard process is to paint the downfacing surface after support removal.
Upfacing Upfacing sides will have a glossy appearance.
If final blasting is wanted, this must be specified while ordering (external surface will become grey).
13
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Stereolithography Microfine TM
RESOLUTION: Micro (0.025mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Custom (Other Secondary Services), Natural, Unfinished MicroFine TM Green
Standard Standard finish includes blasting, which may damage the fine structures for which this material usually gets ordered, so it is not suggested in most cases.
Natural Supported surfaces are sanded down to eliminate the support nibs.
Unfinished Dots, or standing nibs, remain evident on the bottom of the part from the support structure remnants.
14
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Multi Jet Fusion
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.08mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Production Dye Black, Custom (Other Secondary Services) Standard (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 10-25 µm; Rz = 60-100 µm) PA12 Smooth Light Grey
Standard
15
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.08mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Production Dye Black PA12 Smooth Light Grey
Tapped and threaded inserts are available upon request.
Production Dye Black
16
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.08mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Production Dye Black, Custom (Other Secondary Services) Standard (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 10-25 µm; Rz = 60-100 µm) PA11 Smooth Grey
Standard
17
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.08mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Vapour Smooth, Custom (Other Secondary Services) Vapour Smooth (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 5-10 µm; Rz = 20-45 µm) PA11 Vapour Smooth Black
Vapour Smooth
18
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.08mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Vapour Smooth with Texture* Wide range of available textures, please specify requirements in an RFQ PA11 Vapour Smooth Black
Vapour Smooth with texture
19
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.08mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Production Dyed Black, Custom (Other Secondary Services) Standard (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 10-25 µm; Rz = 60-100 µm) PA12 Glass Beads Smooth Grey
Standard
20
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.08mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Other Secondary Services) Standard (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 20-30 µm; Rz = 120-160 µm) Ultrasint™ TPU-01 - 88A Pure Grey
Standard
21
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.08mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Vapour Smooth, Custom (Other Secondary Services) Vapour Smooth (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 2-8 µm; Rz = 8-25 µm) Ultrasint™ TPU-01 - 88A Vapour Smooth Black
Vapour Smooth
22
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Selective Laser Sintering
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Production Dye Black, Custom (Paint), Custom (Other Secondary Services) Standard (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 10-25 µm; Rz = 60-140 µm) PA12 Smooth White
Standard Parts are blasted to remove all powder and get a consistent overall texture.
Production Dye Black Parts are dyed black through an high quality dyeing process. The dye possesses several certifications (Biocompatability, both Cytotoxity and skin irritation, colour fastness, scratch resistance and light & heat resistance) and is therefore a great choice particularly for high requirement end-use parts.
23
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Vapour Smooth, Vapour Smooth Production Dye Black, Custom (Paint), Custom (Other Secondary Services) Vapour Smooth (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 5-15 µm; Rz = 25-65 µm) PA12 Vapour Smooth White
Vapour Smooth
Vapour Smooth Production Dye Black
24
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard Standard (surface roughness, depending on orientation: Ra = 10-25 µm; Rz = 60-120 µm) PA12-Glass Filled Smooth White
Standard
25
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Polyjet
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.02mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Other Secondary Services) Digital Photopolymer (Clear Rigid)
26
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.03mm layer thickness) AVAILABLE FINISHES: Standard, Custom (Other Secondary Services) 3D Printed Silicone (60-65%)
Standard
27
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Custom Finishing: Paint
Finishing Options
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) FINISH: Custom blue paint with texture added ABS-Like Grey
Painting Masking Texturing
Custom finishing options are possible for most plastic 3D printing processes. Surface prep is needed in order to eliminate appearance of layer lines through paint. There are many more paint options available. Upon receival of RFQ with specific requirements (e.g. colour, surface roughness, aesthetic surfaces…), Protolabs will review them and prepare an individual offer.
28
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
RESOLUTION: Normal (0.1mm layer thickness) FINISH: Standard finish with red paint PA12 Smooth White
29
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Custom Finishing: Other Secondary Services - Plastics
For plastic materials further Secondary Operations are available upon request, including:
Assembly (e.g. bonding, screwing) Surface finishes (polishing) Surface Textures Dyeing (black and/or all RAL colours) Infiltration (transparent & black) Taps, metal inserts & threads Cut & glue large sized parts Integration of different technologies CAD work
30
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Custom Finishing: Other Secondary Services - Metals
For metal materials further Secondary Operations are available upon request, including:
M achining up to fully 5-axis CNC machining (milling) Manual polishing (depending on geometry) H eat treatment (stress relief, hardening of 1.2709) Reverse engineering, 3D scan (STL files) Assembly Welding Anodising Surface finishes (anodising, TiN-coating) D esign consultations for 3D printing (in-house or at customer site; trainings; workshops) Design of lattice structures (lightweight, etc.) O ther services can be defined with external supplier (laboratory tests, laser marking, etc.)
31
3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
Quality Certifications and Documents
Certified according EN ISO 13485, ISO 9001 & DNV GL-STB203
M easurement reports, First Article Inspections (3D scans) CoC, material certificates Mechanical testing (tensile, porosity, hardness, surface) Form & fit testing Laboratory testing (chemical analysis, micro-structure, CT scans)
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3D PRINTING Surface Finishes
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