May 22, 2015 | By Simon

Despite all of the recent advancements in additive manufacturing technologies - particularly those that are geared more towards consumers such as desktop FDM 3D printers - it’s still difficult to obtain perfect results directly off of a print bed.  For this, there have been a variety of finishing tools and chemical solutions for obtaining more desirable results.    

Among other tools we’ve seen include the Retouch3D, which recently found funding on Kickstarter and is the world's first heated tool to finish 3D prints through the use of variable heat and interchangeable heads designed for specific 3D retouching tasks.  We’ve also seen how solutions such as XTC-3D by Reynolds Advanced Materials - a brush-on, liquid coating that fills striations and smooths the surface of any 3D print, which ultimately aims to eliminate 90% of post-finishing work.  

While options like the Retouch3D and XTC-3D are great for gaining smoother surfaces and more finished results than what a 3D printer might be capable of on its own, the prices for these tools can add up quickly over time and we’ve been yet to see any viable DIY solutions … until now at least.   

Created by Instructables and Thingiverse user “northernmenace” - AKA “Rob - with the goal of creating “the most useful accessory to 3D printing”, the Glue is a sort of all-in-one solution that can be used for a variety of 3D printing projects that are made using ABS plastic.  Among other applications for the Glue include the ability to bond, color, smooth and straighten any 3D printed object (or objects).  

To create the solution, very little is needed up-front compared to some other 3D printing projects we’ve seen on Instructables.  According to Rob, all that is needed to create and store the solution are empty nail polish bottles (he was able to purchase his from a beauty salon supply store), acetone (which can be sourced from most hardware stores), scrap plastic material (from discarded 3D prints or snips of filament) and finally, an optional syringe and 4 milliliter fish tank air line hose.    

Once the materials have been sourced, creating the solution is as easy as filling the empty nail polish bottles to about two-thirds of the way full and adding the scrap plastic pieces (all the same color and material) until no more can be inserted.  Once this is done, screw the lid on tightly and let the acetone melt the plastic overnight and it’s ready to be used on 3D prints that are the same color and material as the solution.  To make a thicker solution, the process can be repeated each day by adding more scrap pieces of the filament or discarded 3D prints.  

 

As for using the material, Rob has outlined specifically how to apply the material:

For gluing, paint the solution onto both sides of the parts that you want to joined.  Follow this by pressing the parts together for at least ten seconds.  Depending on the parts, full strength can be achieved after about an hour.  

For smoothing, the solution can be painted over all surfaces of the 3D print.   Using a thinner mix  - or the acetone itself - will yield better results and help preserve the resolution of the printed object.  

For coloring, the solution can be used similar to existing paints; simply paint the solution onto any existing 3D print that is made from a contrasting color.  To create a full collection of colors, multiple solutions can be made and used together on a single 3D printed object.  

For strengthening, the solution can be applied to a thin part in layers (allowing each layer to dry before applying the next) to build up the material volume of the thin part.  Once the process has been done over a few consecutive layers, the part will be much stronger.   

While the solution might not work for every 3D printing finishing job, it’s a pretty clever solution for a lot of problems that come along with fixing a 3D print without resorting to 3D printing an entirely new object.  

You can read the Instructable in-full over at the project page.  

 

 

Posted in 3D Printer Accessories

 

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