Technologies

Post-processing

What is Post-processing in 3D printing?

Check out the relevant products

01 Industrial Post-processing Equipment

02 Professional Post-processing Equipment

In 3D printing, post-processing is mostly used to improve the appearance and/or functional properties of the objects created. Most 3D printed parts require post-processing at various stages before they can be used. By cleaning powder residue, heat treating the parts, cutting and machining. The finishing process must be matched to the print media, the printing process, and the part geometry, and it is occasionally possible to finish a part using many alternative processes. The different types of post-processing are:

Cleaning

As the name implies, part cleaning includes all procedures.

Making our part clean, such as desoldering, removing carriers, rinsing, brushing, blowing, etc..

Whether it is powder or resin, the goal is to remove all excess material. The time required for this phase depends on the printing process used.

Curing

This involves raising the temperature of a part to improve its mechanical properties. These include, for example, heat resistance, traction, UV protection, or strength and thermal stability. This phase primarily relates to polymer parts; curing equipment for resin processes, for example, is manufactured specifically for use with a particular printer, as is the case with Nexa3D® solutions. In the case of powder bonding or indirect 3D printing processes with metal, a debinding and then a sintering phase must be carried out in a special oven.

Surface finishing

All techniques used to improve appearance are part of surface finishing, including smoothing, grinding, polishing, sandblasting, infiltrating and milling. Today, the surface of a part can be altered by a variety of methods, either adding or removing material. Grinding, for example, can smooth surface irregularities, while spraying adds a layer of substance to increase gloss.

Coloring

Dyeing and painting are two processes commonly used today, and the choice depends mainly on the printing material used. For example, coloring is more popular with powder-based processes such as the AM Efficiency CCP-2 and CCP-10, which use colored abrasives.

While painting is more popular for parts produced with FDM/FFF processes.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Post-processing of 3D Printed Components

  • Short process times
  • High throughput
  • Better surfaces
  • Wide range of colors
  • Improve mechanical properties
  • From component to product
  • Additional work step
  • Internal process must be adapted
  • Extends the production time of the component

Industrial Post-processing Equipment

AM Efficiency

CCP-2

An industrial post-processing station for powder 3D printers that ensures a higher level of automation and the best ROI on the market. The AM Efficiency CCP-2 process delivers de-powdered, clean and dust-free parts without static build-up.

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Sinterit

Powder Handling Station

The Sinterit PHS is an efficient post-processing of 3D printed parts and quickly recovers up to 95% of the unsintered powder during Selective Laser Sintering. It can be used with other SLS 3D printing systems and is compatible with Sinterit's ATEX® industrial vacuums.

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Sinterit

Sandblaster SLS

With the SLS Sandblaster you have the possibility to process the object with both hands, using a fixed nozzle or a manual blast gun. All SLS systems are compatible with the Sandblaster, which was specially developed for the finishing of SLS components.

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Sinterit

Atex Vacuum Cleaner

When processing powders for Selective Laser Sintering, the ATEX®-compliant vacuum cleaner for plastic dust ensures an ideal workflow. With the associated cyclone separator, powder can be collected, which is then mixed in the powder sieve or prepared for the subsequent printing process.

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PostProcess®

DEMI 4000™

The PostProcess® DEMI 4000™ series of automated submersion systems are designed to meet the demands of high volume production.

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PostProcess®

DEMI 800™

The DEMI 800™ removes additional resin or PolyJet and FDM carriers using PostProcess™Technologies' patented SVC (Submersed Vortex Cavitation) technology. Using a moving flow and "sink-float" technique, PostProcess' SVC technology efficiently removes PolyJet and FDM carriers.

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PostProcess®

DEMI 400™

For SLA, CLIP and DLP technologies, the PostProcess™ DEMI 400™ Support & Resin Removal Submersion Device enables automatic removal of PolyJet and FDM supports and excess resin. PostProcess™ Technologies' Submersed Vortex Cavitation (SVC) technology is already integrated in the DEMI 400™ version to ensure a uniform cleaning effect.

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Nexa3D®

xWash

xWASH from Nexa3D® matches the build volume and process requirements of the ultra-fast Nexa3D® NXE/NXD 3D printer and is designed for resin 3D printers. Bidirectional agitation of the fluid at variable speeds ensures efficient cleaning regardless of part geometry.

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Nexa3D®

xCure

Nexa3D® xCure combines heat and UV to cure 3D printed parts. xCure has a capacity of 16 liters and is designed to process the entire build space of the Nexa3D® NXE/NXD printer. The chamber can hold up to three build plates at a time and allows parts to cure directly on the build plate.

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Stratasys®

UV800

The Stratasys® UV800 is designed to allow parts produced on Neo® SLA printers to undergo the final post-cure process. During post-cure, the final strength and performance of each part is optimized and improved.

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Professional Post-processing Equipment

AM Efficiency

CCP-10

Designed for post-processing of 3D printed parts made by SLS, MJF, SAF and HSS printing process in confined spaces. AM Efficiency CCP-10 allows you to get de-powdered, dust-free and clean printed parts.

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Sinterit

Powder Sieve

The automatic Powder Sieve is used for mixing, since lumps of several centimeters to a few millimeters in size can occur during the printing process, sieving is essential for uniform powder quality. To produce "fresh" powder (such as Sinterit PA12 Fresh), the unit can be used to sieve previously used but unsintered powder. This allows the material to be reused.

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Sinterit

Sandblaster

Sinterit's compact Sandblaster is suitable for simple surface finishing of components manufactured by Selective Laser Sintering. The small machine is suitable as an entry-level unit for the post-processing of small components and fits on a workbench or desk.

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Nexa3D®

Wash+Cure

The Wash+Cure has been specially developed for cleaning and post-curing printed parts printed on the Nexa3D® XiP printer. An automatic post-processing solution that has it all. The Wash+Cure is a modular system that can either wash or cure depending on which attachment is mounted on the Wash+Cure.

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Advice

Our team of experts will be happy to support you with your project. Our specialists can not only support you in selecting the right 3D printing technology, but also take over the selection and implementation of the post-processing.

Our application team can advise you on the selection and validation of post-processing steps. Among other things, we can provide cost and time calculations as well as sample parts. In our showroom we have the possibility to validate the whole project together with you!

Ahmed Abo Seada Account Manager