How do 3D printed parts achieve a colorful appearance? How do they meet the increasingly diverse functional and aesthetic needs? This requires talking about the post-processing process of 3D printing – the coloring technology. Here are some common coloring technology:
①Hand colored:
Hand colored is a simple, easy-to-learn and low-cost method suitable for beginners. Generally, a light-colored primer (such as light gray or white) is applied using a brush or roller, and then the main color pigment is applied to prevent color unevenness or color reversal.
Hand colored can achieve delicate and complex coloring effects, but it requires certain painting skills and experience, and is less efficient.
② Dip dyeing:
Immerse the 3D printed parts in the dyeing liquid, and control the immersion time and temperature to make the dye adhere to the surface of the parts. This method is suitable for various materials, such as plastics, metals, and ceramics.
Dip dyeing can achieve a uniform dyeing effect, but it may take longer to achieve the desired color depth and have a lower glossiness than other methods.
③Dye-sublimation ink:
Use a sublimation ink printer to spray the dye directly onto the 3D printed part, and then heat it to sublimate the dye and penetrate into the part material. This method can achieve high-precision dyeing and can achieve good dyeing effects on different materials. However, dye-sublimation ink usually requires professional equipment and dyes.
④Ink :
Ink dyeing is to spray the dye directly onto the 3D printed parts, which is similar to thermal dye-sublimation ink .
However, direct ink dyeing does not require heating, and the dye is directly attached to the surface of the part. This method is suitable for some temperature-sensitive materials, but the color fastness may be poor.
⑤ Electroplating:
Electroplating is a process that deposits metal or alloy on the surface of 3D printed parts through the principle of electrolysis. Through electroplating, a layer of metal plating can be formed on the surface of the part, thereby changing the appearance and performance of the part. It is suitable for metal and ABS plastic.
Electroplating can achieve a metallic dyeing effect, but it requires professional equipment and processes, and the types of electroplating colors are limited.
⑥Nano Spray Plating:
Nano spray plating is a relatively advanced high-tech spraying technology. It usually uses nanotechnology to spray metal or alloy on the surface of 3D printed parts, which can provide the surface of the object with a mirror-like highlight effect in various colors such as gold, silver, and chrome.
Compared with electroplating, nano spray plating is not limited by volume and shape, and can achieve uniform coating on more complex shapes. It can use multiple colors at the same time, with natural color transitions, and can achieve higher gloss and wear resistance.
⑦Spray painting:
Spray painting is one of the main coloring technologies for 3D printing products. Usually, a spray gun is used to evenly spray the pigment on the surface of the part in the form of a spray. It is suitable for a variety of materials and can produce a high gloss effect.
However, painting requires the parts to be dried and polished first. If the details of the parts do not meet the requirements, the details need to be finely optimized and adjusted before painting can be carried out. The operation cycle is about 3-4 hours. In addition, the effect of painting is affected by factors such as manual proficiency, secondary coloring, and spray point connection, and the color is relatively single.
These coloring processes have their own advantages in terms of effect, efficiency, cost, and scope of application, and are suitable for different materials and application scenarios. When choosing a coloring process, it is necessary to consider factors such as the material, size, shape, purpose, environmental protection requirements, and dyeing requirements of the parts, and choose the most suitable coloring process to achieve the best economic benefits and appearance quality. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the selection and use of dyes to ensure the dyeing effect and quality.