3D Printing Surface Finishes

SLS

Standard Finish

Selective Laser Sintered (SLS) parts naturally come in a fine-textured matte surface finish. Parts are depowdered through media blasting, resulting in a bright white color with a slightly grainy texture. The surface is durable, uniform, and functional, making it ideal for both mechanical and aesthetic applications. While intricate details are well-defined, the porous nature of SLS PA12 can lead to a slightly rough feel, which can be improved through post-processing techniques.

Surface Texture

Fine-textured Matte Finish

Appearance

Bright White

Details

Clear & refined

SLS

Deep Color Dye

Deep color dying provides a rich, uniform color, improving the overall aesthetics. Suitable for both functional and visually appealing applications. The dye also enhances scratch resistance, making the parts more durable in handling and use. This process ensures consistent color uniformity across the entire part, even for complex geometries or intricate designs.

Surface Texture

Fine-textured Matte Finish

Appearance

Rich, uniform color coverage

Details

Clear & refined

SLS

Vapour Finishing

Vapour finishing uses controlled chemical vapour to smooth the surface texture of SLS parts, reducing the characteristic powder grain while maintaining dimensional accuracy. This process creates a more refined surface feel and appearance, making it ideal for parts requiring improved aesthetics or user interaction. The result is a smoother touch feel while preserving the structural integrity and detail definition of the original part.

Surface Texture

Smoothed Matte Finish

Appearance

Refined White with Reduced Grain

Details

Clear & refined

SLS

Performance Paint

Painting offers a highly durable, automotive-grade coating that enhances the aesthetics and durability of 3D-printed parts. Each part is hand-finished to ensure smooth surfaces and a premium quality appearance. Using professional-grade coating equipment, this process allows for precise application and exceptional adhesion. Custom color matching is available, making it ideal for applications that require specific branding or visual impact.

Surface Texture

Matte to Semi-Gloss

Appearance

Custom color matching

Details

Clear & refined

MJF

Standard Finish

MJF parts are delivered with a standard bead-blasted finish in natural grey. This process removes excess powder and slightly smooths the surface while maintaining the material's natural matte texture.

Surface Texture

Uniform, matte grey finish with subtly grainy texture

Appearance

Matte Grey

Details

Well represented

MJF

Deep Color Dye

Specialized dye bath creates deep, uniform black color that chemically bonds with the nylon material. Unlike painted finishes, the dye fully penetrates the surface and won't chip or wear off over time.

Surface Texture

Black dye fully saturates the material for professional finish

Appearance

Matte Black

Details

Well represented

MJF

Vapor Smoothing

Advanced chemical smoothing technique that enhances surface quality by slightly melting and redistributing the surface material, eliminating grainy texture and sealing porous areas.

Surface Texture

Removes the powdery texture of MJF parts

Appearance

Smoother, semi-gloss finish

Details

May soften

MJF

Performance Paint

Automotive-grade coating that enhances aesthetics and durability. Hand-finished for smooth surfaces with professional-grade equipment. Custom color matching available for precise branding needs.

Surface Texture

Matte to Semi-Gloss

Appearance

Custom color matching for precise branding

Details

Clear & refined

FDM

Standard Finish

FDM 3D printed parts have a visible layer-by-layer texture with slight ridges and striations, resulting in a rougher surface finish compared to other 3D printing technologies like SLS or SLA. Soluble supports are dissolved in an ultrasonic cleaning tank, while physical supports on high-temperature materials are removed by hand if required.

Surface Texture

Visible layer-by-layer texture with slight ridges and striations

Appearance

Natural material color

Details

Layer-height dependent

FDM

Vapor Smoothing

Vapor smoothing dissolves the outer layer, causing it to smooth out and blend, reducing layer lines and enhancing the part's appearance. This process creates a glossy, sealed surface with improved strength, reduced porosity, and increased chemical resistance, making it ideal for functional and aesthetic applications.

Surface Texture

Layer lines are diminished

Appearance

Gloss finish

Details

May soften

FDM

Performance Paint

Painting offers a highly durable, automotive-grade coating that enhances the aesthetics and durability of 3D-printed parts. Each part is hand-finished to ensure smooth surfaces and a premium quality appearance. Using professional-grade coating equipment, this process allows for precise application and exceptional adhesion. Custom color matching is available, making it ideal for applications that require specific branding or visual impact.

Surface Texture

Matte to Semi-Gloss

Appearance

Custom color matching for precise branding or aesthetic needs

Details

Clear & refined

FFF

Standard Finish

FFF parts have visible layer-by-layer texture with support removal marks. Suitable for concept validation and non-customer-facing applications.

SLA

Standard Finish

Parts are washed, post-cured and have their supports removed, leaving the smooth, finely detailed surface SLA is known for. Sharp edges, small text and fine features hold their shape, and the surface is ready for fit checks, assembly and presentation, or as a base for paint.

Surface Texture

Smooth, fine-detailed surface

Appearance

Natural resin colour

Details

Sharp & crisp

SLA

Deep Color Dye

Select SLA resins, including Accura 25, can be dyed black after post-curing. The dye penetrates the surface for an even, deep colour that will not chip like paint, while keeping the smooth surface and fine detail of the standard finish.

Surface Texture

Smooth, fine-detailed surface

Appearance

Even, deep black

Details

Sharp & crisp

SLA

Performance Paint

Painting offers a highly durable, automotive-grade coating that enhances the aesthetics and durability of 3D-printed parts. Each part is hand-finished to ensure smooth surfaces and a premium quality appearance. Using professional-grade coating equipment, this process allows for precise application and exceptional adhesion. Custom color matching is available, making it ideal for applications that require specific branding or visual impact.

Surface Texture

Matte to Semi-Gloss

Appearance

Custom color matching

Details

Clear & refined

DMLS

Standard Finish

Support structures are carefully removed, and parts undergo shot peening to create a uniform, matte surface and help relieve residual stresses. Critical features may receive light machining for tighter tolerances.

Surface Texture

Uniformly matte surface

Appearance

Matte Grey

Details

Well represented

DMLS

Machining & Polishing

Precision machining and polishing processes enhance surface quality, achieving tighter tolerances and smoother finishes for critical applications.

Surface Texture

Smooth, polished finish

Appearance

High-gloss metallic

Details

High retention

DMLS

Anodizing

For aluminum parts, anodizing forms a protective oxide layer, significantly enhancing corrosion resistance and hardness while improving appearance.

Surface Texture

Matte with reduced texture

Appearance

Matte protective coating

Details

Preserved

DMLS

Performance Paint

Automotive-grade coating that enhances aesthetics and durability. Each part is hand-finished with professional-grade equipment for exceptional adhesion and custom color matching.

Surface Texture

Matte to Semi-Gloss

Appearance

Custom color matching available

Details

Clear & refined

PolyJet

Natural Finish

PolyJet Matrix parts feature exceptional surface quality straight from the printer with minimal layer lines and smooth finish. The natural finish maintains fine detail resolution while providing a slightly off-white color with matte texture. This finish is ideal for functional testing and design validation without additional processing.

Surface Texture

Smooth matte with minimal layer lines

Appearance

Slightly off-white, natural resin color

Details

Clear & precise

Post-Processing

Support removal only - ready to use

PolyJet

Performance Paint

Professional automotive-grade painting provides highly durable coating with custom color matching capabilities. Parts are hand-finished to high quality standards using professional coating equipment. Available in matte to semi-gloss finishes with precise color matching for branding requirements.

Surface Texture

Matte to semi-gloss professional finish

Appearance

Custom color matching available for precise branding

Details

Slightly softened by coating

Durability

Enhanced wear resistance and UV protection

Hybrid Manufacturing

As-Machined

Parts deburred and cleaned straight from the machine with visible tool marks. Ideal for functional components and internal features where cosmetic appearance is not critical.

Surface Roughness

Ra 1.6 - 3.2 micrometers

Appearance

Visible tool paths and matte finish

Applications

Functional parts and prototype assemblies

Hybrid Manufacturing

Anodized

Anodizing adds a controlled oxide layer to compatible aluminum components, improving corrosion resistance, surface durability, and cosmetic consistency on finished hybrid metal parts.

Surface Roughness

As built baseline with anodized coating applied

Appearance

Clear or various colored finishes

Applications

Aluminum housings, brackets, and customer-facing metal hardware

Hybrid Manufacturing

Post-Processed

Includes bead blasting, anodizing, electropolishing, painting, and part marking tailored to your specification.

Surface Roughness

Process dependent

Appearance

Uniform cosmetic finish or coated surface

Applications

Customer-facing products and regulated hardware