Elevating design with advanced vapor smoothing technology
After years of studies and technological developments, 3dnextech has now announced a new cost-effective solution for easily smoothing and polishing the surface of plastic objects, including 3D printed ones.
Materially helps companies in the development and promotion of sustainable innovation starting from materials. We work with a focus on circular economy and materials innovation through a design thinking approach. Our team’s expertise and our network rely on 20+ years of international projects and experiences.
WebsiteInstagramLinkedin3dnextech, an Italian innovative startup, is headquartered in Livorno, Tuscany. It originated as a spin-off from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa.
When experimenting with 3D printing, plastic parts often need a lot of extra attention to boost both their strength and appearance. This could mean anything from sanding to adding resins or primer enhancing the component’s performance prior to final assembly or use. However, these manual processes come at a significant cost for companies and don’t always fully solve the issue, while consistent quality is troublesome to achieve. These challenges have been major roadblocks to the widespread use of 3D printing for mass production, until today.
3DFINISHER by 3dnextech:
What is it
3DFINISHER technology by 3dnextech is a smart solution that in this context offers interesting benefits for businesses and individuals alike. It consists in a plug-and-play device suitable for existing 3D printing equipment which does not require additional infrastructures such as fume hoods. Once installed and configured, the device induces a patented chemical-physical process which transforms the surface’s morphology thanks to custom-set values of time and temperature, depending on the type of plastic.
Notably and compared to other treatments, this smoothing technique has the advantage of keeping the solvent during the entire process in gaseous form. This means that the plastic material inside the chamber is never in contact with liquid or droplets which might cause unwanted local surface defects or porosity.
Properties
The transforming process lasts between 1 and 2 hours, depending on the material and the size of plastic parts. That’s because the molecules of plastics on the surface need the time to detangle and rearrange in the preferred, aligned orientation. The resulting object, beside having an extremely smoothed surface, becomes waterproof, dirt resistant, paintable and easier to metalize. It can also showcase improvements in its mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, meaning an increase in the tensile breaking load, its hardness and its impact strength.
Applications
The system is currently compatible with ABS, ASA, PETG and Cellulose Acetate parts. Future developments focus on nylon and composite materials. The original manufacturing process of the part is not decisive: it can be filament deposition, SLS, or even traditional processes like those used for making cellulose acetate eyewear frames (cutting and bending from sheets). Machines currently have a maximum capacity of 30x30x30cm.
Overall, the 3DFINISHER technology developed by 3dnextech could be a game-changer in the world of design and manufacturing. With its ability to refine complex geometries with ease, its wide range of materials, and its cost savings potential, it helps the development of new ideas and definitely supports creativity in the inspiring but challenging landmark of additive manufacturing.
