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Protective Finishes for Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing is fast becoming a valuable part of manufacturing, and it is only set to grow. 3D printing technology allows manufacturers to create an almost limitless variety of complex shapes, which would be impossible to achieve with traditional CNC machining and fabrication, as well as recreating crucial components for defence and other industries – even if the original design blueprints no longer exist. 

While additive manufacturing has revolutionised how we think of metal manufacturing and machining, particularly where metal components are concerned, it is still important to protect your additive manufactured parts to get optimal use out of them.

Why is surface finishing important?

Surface finishing is a critical part of any metal manufacturing process, as it adds extra corrosion, wear and abrasion protection to your parts. This can be especially important if your components’ end use is in hardwearing applications, or they will be used in areas with extreme weather conditions. However, for additive manufacturing, it is also important to add extra protection to the surface of parts, as the ‘stair stepping’ effect used to 3D print them can result in an uneven surface susceptible to damage or contamination. 

As additive manufactured parts naturally feature a rough textured surface, due to the process, which involves compounding layers of fine metal particles to create a larger object. 3D printed metal parts typically have an average surface roughness of 30 microns. For a smooth textured or glossy surface, a finish or coating may be required, as well as pre-treatment to even out the surface prior to coating.

What types of surface finishes are used on 3D printed parts?

Additive manufacturing lends itself to a variety of coatings, including:

  • Sand, shot and glass bead blasting – blasting is an effective pre-treatment for 3D printed metal parts to smooth the surface and prepare them for other coatings
  • Hard anodising – 3D printed aluminium components can be anodised or hard anodised for extra protection
  • Polishing or linishing – this can create a smooth or ‘shiny’ surface
  • Powder coating – powder coating can change the colour of 3D printed parts as well as adding surface protection
  • Cerakote – as ceramic coatings can bond to any substrate, they are another good option for surface protection and colour customization – with the added bonus of being thin-film so as not to compromise moving part tolerances
 
Looking for a surface finish for your parts?

Contact DECO Australia to find out more about our range of industrial finishes and discuss custom or tailored finishing and pre-treatment solutions.

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