Finishing and Post Processing
- Sanded, primed, and ready for you to finish
- Clear coated, dyed, or painted
- Vaccuum Plating, Electroplating, and Electromagnetic (EMI) Shielding
Laser Sintering Finishing Levels
The following are standard finishing levels for Laser Sintering. To find out more about Laser Sintering or to discuss which level is the best solution for your project, email one of our Solution Managers.
Level
Process
Description
1
Excess powder removed and lightly bead blasted
Standard finish. Parts have visible layer lines and sandstone texture.
2
Excess powder removed, lightly bead blasted, and sealed to lessen porosity
Sealed finish. Parts have visible layer lines, sandstone texture, and a slight gloss. Parts have a watertight finish.
2 +
Excess powder removed, lightly bead blasted, and cosmetic surfaces sanded to 180 grit
Functional finish, removes some layer lines. Parts have a light texture from sanding.
PostPro3D
Excess powder removed, lightly bead blasted, and smoothed using PostPro3D
PostPro3D equipment is used to perform physiochemical smoothing. Smoothed parts have an air-tight, injection molded like finish
3
Sealed, primed, or smoothed with PostPro3D and sanded to 320 grit
Near show quality finish, removes layer lines. Parts may have very fine scratches from sanding. Parts are prime and paint ready.
Multi Jet Fusion Finishing Levels
The following are standard finishing levels for Multi Jet Fusion. To find out more about Multi Jet Fusion or to discuss which level is the best solution for your project, email one of our Solution Managers.
Level
Process
Description
1
Excess powder removed and lightly bead blasted
Standard finish. Parts have visible layer lines and sandstone texture.
2
Excess powder removed, lightly bead blasted, and sealed to lessen porosity
Sealed finish. Parts have visible layer lines, sandstone texture, and a slight gloss. Parts have a watertight finish.
2 +
Excess powder removed, lightly bead blasted, and cosmetic surfaces sanded to 180 grit
Functional finish, removes some layer lines. Parts have a light texture from sanding.
PostPro3D
Excess powder removed, lightly bead blasted, and smoothed using PostPro3D
PostPro3D equipment is used to perform physiochemical smoothing. Smoothed parts have an air-tight, injection molded like finish
3
Sealed, primed, or smoothed with PostPro3D and sanded to 320 grit
Near show quality finish, removes layer lines. Parts may have very fine scratches from sanding. Parts are prime and paint ready.
Stereolithography Finishing Levels
The following are standard finishing levels for Stereolithography. To find out more about Stereolithography or to discuss which level is the best solution for your project, email one of our Solution Managers.
Level
Process
Description
1
Supports removed and support faces lightly sanded
Standard finish, supported surfaces appearing dull and non-supported surfaces appearing glossy. Parts will have visible layer lines.
2
Supports removed, support faces lightly sanded, and entire part bead blasted
Even surface finish, gloss removed from non-supported surfaces to create a more consistent finish. Parts will have visible layer lines.
2 +
Supports removed, support faces lightly sanded, cosmetic surfaces sanded to 180 grit, and entire part bead blasted
Functional finish, removes some layer lines. Parts have a light texture from sanding.
3
Supports removed, support surfaces lightly sanded, cosmetic surfaces sanded to 320 grit, and entire part bead blasted
Show quality finish, removes layer lines from cosmetic surfaces. This finish is recommended for priming, painting, and urethane mold masters.
4
Supports removed, support surfaces lightly sanded, cosmetic surfaces wet sanded to 600 grit
Highest quality finish, recommended only for plating and optically clear parts.
Digital Light Processing Finishing Levels
The following are standard finishing levels for Digital Light Processing. To find out more about Digital Light Processing or to discuss which level is the best solution for your project, email one of our Solution Managers.
Level
Process
Description
1
Supports removed and support surfaces lightly sanded
Standard finish, supported surfaces appearing dull. Parts will have visible lines.
2*
Supports removed, support surfaces lightly sanded, and entire part bead blasted
Even surface finish, more consistent matte finish. Parts will have visible layer lines.
2 +*
Supports removed, support surfaces lightly sanded, and cosmetic surfaces sanded to 180 grit and bead blasted
Functional finish, removes some layer lines. Parts have a light texture from sanding.
3*
Supports removed, support surfaces lightly sanded, and cosmetic surfaces sanded to 320 grit
Show quality finish, removes most visible lines. Parts are prime and paint ready.
4*
Supports removed, support surfaces lightly sanded, and wet sanded to 600 grit
High gloss finish, recommended only for plating.
* Elastomeric materials can only be finished to Level 1. For a higher quality finish, these materials may be coated in soft touch.
Fused Filament Fabrication Finishing Levels
The following are standard finishing levels for Fused Filament Fabrication. To find out more about Fused Filament Fabrication or to discuss which level is the best solution for your project, email one of our Solution Managers.
Level
Process
Description
1
Supports removed
Standard finish. Parts will have prominent layer lines.
2
Supports removed and part sealed
Sealed finish. Parts have prominent layer lines.
2 +
Supports removed and cosmetic surfaces sanded to 180 grit
Functional finish, removes some layer lines. Parts have a light texture from sanding.
PostPro3D
Supports removed and part smoothed using PostPro3D
PostPro3D equipment is used to perform physiochemical smoothing. Smoothed parts have an airtight, injection-molded like finish.
3
Supports removed and cosmetic surfaces sanded to 320 grit
Near show quality finish, removes layer lines. Parts may have very fine scratches from sanding. Parts are prime and paint ready.
Material Jetting Finishing Levels
The following are standard finishing levels for Material Jetting. To find out more about Material Jetting or to discuss which level is the best solution for your project, email one of our Solution Managers.
Level
Process
Description
1
Supports removed
Standard finish, supported surfaces appearing matte and non-supported surfaces appearing glossy. Parts will have slight layer lines.
2
Part built using matte build settings and supports removed
Standard finish, parts built surrounded in support. All surfaces appear matte. Parts will have slight layer lines.
3*
Supports removed and cosmetic surfaces sanded to 320 grit
Show quality finish, removes layer lines. Parts are prime and paint ready.
4*
Supports removed and cosmetic surfaces wet sanded to 600 grit
High gloss finish, recommended only for plating and optically clear parts (note that clear-coat and light bleaching is necessary for optimal clarity).
* Elastomeric materials can only be finished to Level 1 and Level 2. For a higher quality finish, these materials may be coated in soft touch.
Additional Finishing Processes
We have a lot of customers who have the capability to finish parts in-house. However, if you don’t, here are a few advanced finishing techniques at Midwest Prototyping. If your project needs special finishing considerations, please let us know when you fill out the form for a quote or contact one of our Solutions Managers via email to see if we can accommodate your project’s desired finishing.
Finish
Applicable Technologies
Description
Primer
All technologies
Prepares parts for application of paint or other coatings.
Paint
All technologies
Color matching can be performed upon request.
Soft Touch
All technologies
Soft, rubberlike part coating.
Clear Coat
All technologies
Gloss and matte finish available.
Light Bleaching
MJ
UV treatment used to enhance the clarity of Vero Clear material.
Dyeing
LS, MJF*
We offer the following colors:
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Burgundy
- Green
- Orange
- Purple
- Red
- True Blue
- Yellow
Vacuum Plating
SL, other AM technologies upon consultation
Aluminum
Electroplating
SL, other AM technologies upon consultation
Copper and nickel are available.
Electromagnetic (EMI) Shielding
All technologies
Conductive paint coating is applied to the part.
