Post-processing

Post-processing activities

As the saying goes: we save the best for last. That is why the final machining of your components requires true professionals. This is where personal experience and manual dexterity count for a lot more than in all the previous manufacturing steps. Most finishing technologies are not performed by machines, they remain the domain of genuine craftsmanship. While we continue to drive the further development of our industrial processes in additive manufacturing, we maintain a factory culture in the post-processing department. Precision and perfection are the name of the game, as this is the only way to deliver on our mission to produce the perfect component for you.

Depending on the size of the component and the intended use, we can therefore reliably navigate through our numerous options to reach the goal in cooperation with you. We would be pleased to provide advice to help you decide on which technology is best suited for meeting your requirements.

Take advantage of our finishing service for conventionally manufactured and 3D printed components. Test us out. Send us your inquiry and we will get back to you with a quote shortly.

Metal coating

Metal coating is the optical or functional coating of 3D printed plastic and metal parts by electroplating. Our four galvanizing tanks allow components to be partially or completely coated with copper, nickel, or other materials. Metal coating is used to improve the mechanical and electrical properties, for example, it increases the long-term dimensional stability, strength, and stiffness, ensures outstanding conductivity and appealing metallic esthetics.

Heat treatment

Heat treatment hardens metal components through heating and quenching. We provide the T6 design level for aluminum parts as well as the thermal design for tool steel parts up to 52 ± 2 HRC.

Infiltrating

Infiltrating improves the product properties of plastic components from selective laser sintering (SLS) by applying epoxy resin and subsequent hardening. The resin penetrates into the surface and creates a higher stability, stiffness, and moisture resistance in the component.

Blasting

Blasting is a mechanical procedure for finishing surfaces, e.g. to clean and homogenize. Various blasting material is available, glass beads for roughening, corundum for harsher roughening, and steel balls for smoothing.

Painting

Primarily used to visually refine plastic parts from selective laser sintering (SLS) by immersing them in a dye bath. In contrast to lacquering, in this case the dye penetrates into the surface making the component less sensitive to scratches.

Polishing

Polishing improves the surfaces of metal and plastic parts. Depending on the customer requirements, we can use polishing pastes in a range of granulations for mechanical or manual processing. Polishing is used as an intermediate step for further post-processing techniques or as a final processing step.

Barrel finishing

Barrel finishing refers to mechanical wet grinding for smoothing (edge rounding, polishing) the surfaces of plastic and metal parts.

Smoothing

Smoothing is a method for smoothing the surfaces of plastic parts (primarily SLS) by etching with acid.

Finishing

The term finishing is used to summarize a range of post-processing activities. These include priming, filling, grinding, preparing ready for lacquering, deburring, etc. They are generally used as the basis for further post-processing, such as metal coating, etc.

Assembly

At the customer's request, we can also assemble single parts, e.g. by inserting threaded bushes, screw mounting, adhering, or welding plastic parts, etc.

Varnishing

One or two-component varnish is applied to a primed surface with a selection of different gloss levels (matte, gloss). The surface quality ranges from smooth to structured; additives may be added for more structure, such as grit particles or fibres. Color or clear varnish applies a coat to the surface of the component.

Vaporing

A surface finish that gives components a metallic look, but which does not achieve the durability and electrical/mechanical properties of metal coating. Possible coating metals are aluminum and chrome.

Turning and milling

Turning and milling is a mostly standard post-processing activity in 3D printing. This should not be confused with our service for cutting plastic parts from a solid part, which is a manufacturing rather than a post-processing activity. Milling and turning can be assigned separately for special purposes.