The challenge of printing clear/transparent parts.

I've taken on the challenge of trying to print something which is clear but only had minimal success. I know that it won't be 100% clear but I have read reviews saying that it's possible to get it to be around 90% which is acceptable.

The best results so far have been with PETG & PCTG. A 1.5MM nozzle was used but the print quality was unacceptable. The larger the layer height the clearer it gets but it loses layer adhesion once the layers are too thick. My standard 0.4 MM nozzle prints with great layer adhesion but the filament looks like a frosty white or off white.

To sum it up, clear filament being extruded needs to be as thick as possible to remain clear but lacks layer adhesion & print quality. I'm trying to find the perfect balance of layer adhesion, transparency, and print quality. Could anybody recommend the correct nozzle size & slicer settings?

 

While doing more research online, many sources have posted good results because they used a solid infill. I'm doing a test print with a solid infill, and it appears to be much better. I'll see how it goes with a large print since the print quality changes after it's been printing for a while.

 

My test print seemed to be a little better as far as the resolution, and the quality of the print but it still wasn't as clear as I wanted. The actual thickness is about an inch so the thick infill blocked most of the light going through it.

 

Will XTC-3D work with any PETG or just with Colorfabb?

 

Is XTC-3D made by the same company as ColorFABB? Will acetone have a similar effect?

 

Are headlight restoration polishes similar?

 

I ordered XTC-3D on Amazon. They are going to cancel the Smile program soon. It was good while it lasted for 10 years.

 

The XTC-3D came today. I tested it on plain, cheap PETG. One sample was cloudy, and printed with a 0.4mm nozzle while the other sample was a little clearer because it was printed with a 1.5mm nozzle. Several coats were applied, and it's sitting for around 45 to 60 minutes. Some parts were a little clear while the rest looks the same. It might improve when it hardens in a couple of hours according to what I've read.

 

It looks like XTC-3D helps a little, so every bit counts. Here's what I've learned from experimenting with clear PETG:

1. Use the largest nozzle available so the filament isn't compressed while being extruded. I had good results with a 1.5MM nozzle.

2. A large layer height allows a lot of filament to go out from a large nozzle. Reducing the layer height improves the quality of the print at the expense of clarity. I set the height to 1.5MM to match the nozzle. The print quality was rough compared to a 1MM height but was slightly clearer.

3. Articles online suggested that a solid infill was the best. My results were the opposite. Thin walls with less infill seemed to be better.

4. While experimenting with various infill patterns, infill in one direction worked the best since it enabled unobstructed light to pass in one direction. Infill in two directions blocks light since it creates an obstruction when two lines pass. A pattern called octagramspiral in Matter Control with a Slic3r engine, and 10% infill worked the best.

5. Reduce printing speed to 10MM/S for outside perimeters. Inner perimeters, and infill could be 20MM/S.

6. This applies to 3D printing in general. Reduce the speed for non printing travel, and increase the Z lift height so that there is sufficient space after each retraction. This will help minimize the chance of shifted layers to keep the print straight.

7. PETG loses layer adhesion when the temperature is too low. It could extrude at a lower temperature but when you have a thick layer height of 1MM or 1.5MM, it needs a higher temperature compared to a 0.3MM height.

 

I wanted to upload a photo but I received an error message stating that the file is too large. It's 3.13 MB. What's the maximum size?

 

https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachments/20230217_134340-jpg.439175/

 

I had to design & print tiles for a job. It was an old bathroom with an odd size tile. I wasn't able to match the color but it's the closest that I could get it. The surface was rough no matter how I adjusted the settings, so I added XTC-3D epoxy coating. It came out very shiny & smooth with one coat but is still sticky a couple of days later. It should harden in 24 to 48 hours but didn't. Maybe there wasn't enough hardener added?