The best way to Paint 3D Printed Eyeglass Frames Your Favourite Shade

If you wish to learn to add ending touches to your merchandise post-production earlier than delivery to your clients or remodel your individual 3D printed designs to a extra vivacious colour you are able to do so by following a couple of easy steps. On this tutorial, Steven and Jeremy Gonzalez of The Tremendous Maker Bros exhibit methods to paint eyeglass frames printed in Multi Jet Fusion Plastic PA12 in a number of colours, a course of that may be utilized to many different tasks of the identical 3D printed materials.

3D printed eyeglass frames in MJF PA12, 220/400/600 grit sandpaper (Picture by The Tremendous Maker Bros)

Primers and paints (Picture by The Tremendous Maker Bros)

Here’s what you will have:

3D mannequin printed in Multi Jet Fusion Plastic PA12 (additionally relevant for Versatile Plastic)
220 grit, 400 grit and 600 grit sandpaper
Spray paint primer
Spray paint in your required colour(s)
Clear coat matte or gloss spray paint
Reusable drop cloths or newspaper to guard your work space from paint
Extremely Advisable: A respirator with replaceable filters won’t solely shield you from spray paint fumes however will final you thru many extra future paint tasks.

Upon getting these supplies you might be able to get began. Observe the steps under and take a look at this video to see every step in motion.

Step 1:

Put together your workspace by inserting newspaper or a drop material over the world to cowl any furnishings or flooring area in vary of your spray portray sample. Defend sufficient area to spray from totally different angles.

Step 2:

Put in your respirator. Spray paint fumes are poisonous and sanding generates mud particles which can be harmful to inhale, so be sure you sand and spray in a effectively ventilated space and put on your respirator.

Step 3:

3D printed eyeglass frames, sanded (Picture by The Tremendous Maker Bros)

Begin by sanding the glasses items to easy out their surfaces. This may also assist the paint adhere to the plastic. Makerbro Tip: The most effective sandpaper to make use of is moist/dry or waterproof paper as a result of getting the paper moist helps cool the plastic whereas sanding in addition to retains small dislodged plastic particles underneath management. Waterproof sandpaper is black as a substitute of tan or beige.

Start with a rougher, 220 grit sandpaper to take away any cumbersome texture after which transfer on to 400 grit and 600 grit to buff the floor easy. The decrease the quantity, the rougher the paper is. Make sure you rinse and dry the items to take away free particles.

Makerbro Tip: To offer your sandpaper extra longevity, apply spray adhesive to the again of your quarter sandpaper sheet and fold it over to make an additional thick one-eighth sheet. This will provide you with the flexibility to make use of extra stress with out tearing a gap within the paper.

Step 4:

Prime the frames utilizing a twig primer just like the Dupli colour filler primer. Spray the glasses utilizing a sweeping movement, protecting the spray can at a distance of about 6 to 12 inches. Spraying too intently will coat the item in an excessive amount of paint and trigger dripping and even trigger the coat to crack when dry. Make certain all seen floor space is roofed and let the items dry earlier than spraying the opposite facet.

Makerbro Tip: Spray paint takes about half-hour to dry to the touch however wait between 1 to 2 hours to deal with it. It will likely be totally dry after 24 hours.

Step 5:

As soon as the glasses are primed, sand the surfaces as soon as extra utilizing the 600 grit paper to attain most smoothness and wipe away any ensuing mud.

Step 6:

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted (Picture by The Tremendous Maker Bros)

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted (Picture by The Tremendous Maker Bros)

Utilizing the identical spray portray technique as with the primer, spray each bit within the colour of your selection and let totally dry for twenty-four hours.

Makerbro Tip: Need to use a couple of colour on the identical piece? Use masking tape to cowl elements of your mission you need in a unique colour. As soon as the primary colour dries, cowl that portion and paint the remainder.

Step 7:

As soon as the glasses have had 24 hours to totally dry, it’s time to seal up the paint with a topcoat. Utilizing the identical spray portray technique, apply two layers of topcoat, leaving 1 to 2 hours of drying time in between. This helps shield the paint and enhances the shine or matte end desired. It additionally provides a buffer between paint and pores and skin contact.

Step 8:

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted in blue and brown (Picture by The Tremendous Maker Bros)

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted in inexperienced and purple (Picture by The Tremendous Maker Bros)

Now assemble the items and also you’ve acquired a model new pair of glasses! You possibly can have a pair in each colour.

Try The Tremendous Maker Bros on Instagram (the place they’ll be posting extra photographs and movies) and YouTube for extra enjoyable 3D printed tasks.