Glazing, filling in gaps post processing.

So, im working on some parts for work right now that require smooth surfaces. I am prototyping a resin shoe for a carbon fiber winding machine. basically the part is a block with little valleys in it that the fiber travels through and gets soaked in resin. so its important these valleys are very smooth.

my question to you guys is: what do you do to smooth parts. im not talking anything atheistic im talking about maybe a glaze or enamel you recommend with pla/pha.

 

see that was what i was thinking. actually note to printed as well, the pla/pha does actually react to acetone but only slightly so the acetone must be applied to the surface directly, and it really only works on rounded edges, but non the less its an option.


any ways, here is what im dealing with any ideas?
http://imgur.com/a/9TLJo

 

Looks like under extrusion. Possible causes:

Filament diameter out of spec and needs to be more accurate
Step per mm are wrong and need to be recalibrated
Clog in the nozzle
poor cooling on the cold part of the hot end and it's causing material swelling before it can reach the nozzle.

 

Well I just put a .6 mm nozzle on and changed the value in my slicer (simplfy3d)

 

I know this

I know this to be true. I think it must be that I've changed out my nozzle for a .6mm. I did change in in my slicer but maybe it was mislabled idk. I'll do a little more digging whut I get home

 

If you Must salvage that part, tiny tools and bondo is a technique used by some restorers for frames, etc. but it requires sanding and shaping after application. It works a treat, but it requires practice. Personally, I'd find a way to get it to print better...
Good luck!

 

Its looking like my best bet is to reprint the part with my original nozzle.

 

Hey check out pressure+acetone post processing of that piece.

surprise! acetone works on pla pha surprising well because only the pha. so I dipped a cotton cloth in acetone and just rubbed it until it wore down to this. it only took a couple minuets. its a slow moving process so its not very easy to over-do. very controlled process.

 

Another thing that I would recommend with Simplify 3D is changing the number of solid layers on the top/bottom under the layer controls of your profile. I was having similar effects, but changed each of these to 5 and they're gone. Yeah it uses more filament, but I've been printing like a madman and I bought a few new spools 2 weeks ago, still got a bit left on the black one I've been using almost exclusively. I figure I can spare a few layers being full if it means it looks a bit better.

Before I found out that acetone was primarily only useful for ABS, I tried using it on a few PLA prints. I'd get widely varying results from the same filament, which I found weird. Overall I deemed acetone as not very useful for PLA.

 

I read somewhere you can vapour bath PLA using MEK?
@Mike Kelly ?

 

Smoothing PLA. I've seen people use those Rock Tumblers. It seems to smooth PLA as good as anything else.

 

PrintedSolid is also on the end of the "Chemicals are bad, avoid at all cost" spectrum.

I think having a family to look out for will do that to you