3D Printers - XTC-3D Coating?

Has anyone tried it yet?

Sounds awesome for stuff printed with our powder based 3D printer!
(Which @toptekkie might be fixing btw fyi zing!)

No, but I’ve been wanting to play with various post processing techniques. Automotive primer was the first thing I wanted to try. Comes in a spray can so feels like it would be easier to apply than this brush on stuff. But if you’re thinking of ordering some, I’ll go in with you.

I need to get my Tantillus running first, but I might pick up a can if nobody’s tried it.

What’s not working on your Tantillus?

Everything works up until Step X of the build… where X is the last step I completed :stuck_out_tongue:

I bought all the parts and started the build then had to shelve it due to Life. IIRC it is mechanically complete but needs firmware and tuning. I plan on bringing it down on a Saturday morning but I couldn’t make the last one and it was cancelled this week Maybe next week.

LOL. If it’s just a matter of firmware and tuning, we should be able to get it up and running. I’ll be there again next weekend. Bring it down. I really want to see a working Tantillus.

I’ll have a read through the build instructions and see, but I seem to remember finishing the mechanical side before work got ridiculous and I set it aside.

Looking at it now, none of the wiring is done yet either. Extruder, guide rails, motors, etc, and RAMPS are installed, LCD is still in the box. So I’m guessing wiring, firmware, tune.

Well you can pretty much just copy the Tantillus at the space. It works except for needing a new hobbed bolt (which means it doesn’t actually work as a printer, but technically everything else works).

I just bought an automotive primer and i’m testing it now, the parts are drying atm.

I did a bunch of research and was hoping to get Dupli-color brand High Build Filler Primer. I saw photos on another forum and the results looked amazing. http://forum.typeamachines.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=195

However that brand isn’t available in Canada so I went to Lordco and i’m trying something equivalent, a spray can of Flex Fill for ~$10. There were two other brands that went for ~$13 and ~$18, which I may go back for if this one doesn’t turn out.

Cool. Post pics!!

It’s dry now, but it looks like it’ll take a couple more applications. 2 coats (wet) wasn’t enough to fill the groves between layers, I’ll probably need 3 or 4 coats with drying time in between.

I was hoping to get Tetrahydrofuran (THF) for smoothing PLA parts like acetone does to ABS, but it’s been very hard to source. I think maybe one company in Quebec might sell it to me, but it’ll cost like $100 for 500ml because shipping hazardous substances comes with extra fees.

High build auto primer does work but needs several coats with sanding for fdm parts. It's also not gloss or clear so always needs post processing.

I suspect, without having looked at the msds that the smooth on product is just an epoxy with a surfactant in it to make it self level nicely.

It is indeed an epoxy… http://www.smooth-on.com/msds/files/XTC-3D.pdf

You can likely get the same result with some cheapass west systems 403 thinned out even further with a bit of isopropyl. Should have a similar set time. Any laminating or resin infusion resin should work perfectly IMO.

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@Gonazar, I just bought Dupli-Color Filler Primer from Canadian Tire. Although the can doesn’t say “High Build”.

@MarkHarris, fiberglass resin, is that typically epoxy or polyester resin? I’ve got a can of the standard Bondo stuff sold everywhere.

I’m pretty sure the high build is recommended. It fills in the grooves with fewer coats.

I’ve done 4 coats now, and i thought it wasn’t working because after each coat, the grooves were still visible. But it just occurred to me that a paint layer would have the same topology as the surface below it so I’ll get back to you after I’ve sanded it.

Cheers,

Doug

You want an epoxy resin, not a polyester. polyester is very low quality in comparison.

In aerosol cans, I dont find any difference between a filler primer and high build filler. In pots of it that you use with a sprayer, there is. With aerosol cans you must sand it back to the point you can just see the plastic each layer.

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