Shotpeening
Nice and smooth.
With SLS 3D printing you get virtually no layer distortion, as is the case with FDM, for example. You know, those wire printers. Untreated, the surface is comparable to that of a peppermint.
Good, but it can be even better. With shot-peening. Yes, indeed. Immediately after printing, parts are blasted with glass beads to remove excess powder. These glass beads also roughen the surface a little. Shot-peening is a second blasting step. We use a different type of bead, leaving a homogeneous and smooth surface.
The advantages are multiple: your part gets a satin gloss, is less porous and even has slightly better mechanical properties. And because of the dense surface, any impregnated color is also a lot more wear-resistant.
If you have had 3D printed parts before, you have probably heard of ‘tumbling’ or ‘polishing’. Shot-peening offers better results, but not at the expense of the dimensions. It is not a process where material is worn off the surface. One less worry. Isn’t that the best feeling?
Need to knows for your design:
| Max. dimensions | 250 x 250 x 500mm |
| Pay attention to | Fragile elements. They can break in the process. |
| Influence on dimensions | Zilch. Nice, isn’t it? |
| Production time | One extra working day |
| POD’s tips | Order it as a standard. Makes you happy! |
Do you have any burning questions?
It may be true that 3D printing hasn’t been used as long for production as turning, milling or injection molding. As an engineer, maybe you don’t really have that ‘feel’ with printed parts yet. And you are not confident about how 3D printed products hold up in your machines. We fully understand that! And we will help ease your mind.
So: do you have a 3D printed application in mind? Use a 3D printed part and taste the pudding? See if it will hold up? Then contact Neil for a free sample. On the house!