Simplify3D User Forum

Hi All,
I am printing a business card mold so I can make concrete business cards. All detail is there. The only problem I am having is only on the top finish surface. I see very small lines going diagonally across the surface. I am using the smaller MONO Printer, have leveled the bed, changed speeds and added 6 to 7 layers on top. Again, everything else looks great just trying to end up with a smoother finish top surface without lines. 1.75mm tip

You're extruding plastic in lines. You're going to get lines. You might be able to reduce them a bit by increasing or decreasing your extrusion by a few percent, and using a less glossy filament. Those actually don't look too bad compared to some prints, though. If you want flat surfaces with no lines, you'll want a different process, like SLS or injection molding.

or carefully get out the sanding paper

dorsai3d wrote:You're extruding plastic in lines. You're going to get lines. You might be able to reduce them a bit by increasing or decreasing your extrusion by a few percent, and using a less glossy filament. Those actually don't look too bad compared to some prints, though. If you want flat surfaces with no lines, you'll want a different process, like SLS or injection molding.

Thank you.. excellent input. Makes good sense.
I'll try decreasing first. Do you think raising the extruder temperature and slowing down may let the cylindrical extruding tubes "lay down" so to speak?

Sanding idea appreciated also.
Thanks again,
Bill

If you are pouring concrete into that, won't you want the text mirrored? Or is it translucent concrete?

I'm doing it both ways. So this is the master, I will be making a rubber mold of this.

it's called polishing or finishing
you can use a vapor chamber with alcohol for abs or chloroform for pla out of a mason jar with a small fan inside
the end result will be a perfectly smooth print

Polishing.. excellent thank you very much I will try this. How long approximately.. Really appreciate the help.
Bill

andrewpeters wrote:it's called polishing or finishing
you can use a vapor chamber with alcohol for abs or chloroform for pla out of a mason jar with a small fan inside
the end result will be a perfectly smooth print

I'm assuming said polishing is done after printing but just want to clarify.

There are also epoxy resins that can be painted on after to fill the voids and give a smooth surface.

For ABS (I'm not sure what filament you're using), an acetone chamber (empty fishtank or something) with a little heat to vaporize the acetone works very well too. You can't really tell it was 3d printed after. Here's a before/after of an acetone treatment: