Introduction To Surface Treatment Processes for Rapid Prototypes(2)

Following the previous text, in addition to polishing, electroplating, anodizing, and sandblasting, Volkan also uses other surface treatment processes.

1. Painting

Surface painting is one of the most widely used surface processes. Spraying has the following advantages.

(1) Can cover surface defects of the molded workpiece.

(2) The surface of the workpiece can obtain various colors, glossiness, visual effects, and tactile sensations through spraying.

(3) Enhanced the hardness and scratch resistance of the workpiece surface.

The spraying effects include matte, semi matte, glossy (high gloss), various colors, textures, etching patterns, brushed effect (metal color can be brushed), leather effect, elastic tactile effect (rubber paint), etc.

2. Brushed/Drawbench

Brushed treatment is a surface treatment method that forms lines on the surface of the workpiece by grinding the product, achieving a decorative effect. Brushing can effectively reflect the texture of metal materials and give the metal surface a non mirror like metallic luster. According to different surface effects, it can be divided into straight threads (hairline) and tangled threads (snowflake).

The quality of silk patterns is highly subjective. Each user has different requirements for surface lines and preferences for line effects, so it is necessary to have a drawing template to produce the desired effect that the user likes. Arc (the junction between the curved surface and the straight surface is very unsightly, with uneven drawing) and paint surface (small threads can be drawn on metal colored surfaces) are not suitable for drawing.

3. Powder coating

Electrostatic powder coating uses the phenomenon of corona discharge to adsorb powder coating onto the workpiece. The process is as follows-the powder coating is fed into the spray gun by the powder supply system through compressed air gas, and a high-voltage electrostatic generator is added at the front end of the spray gun to generate high voltage. Due to corona discharge, dense charges are generated near it. When the powder is sprayed from the nozzle, charged coating particles are formed, which are attracted to the workpiece with the opposite polarity by the electrostatic force. As the amount of powder sprayed increases, the charge accumulates more. When it reaches a certain thickness, due to the electrostatic repulsion effect, it no longer absorbs, so that the entire workpiece obtains a certain thickness of powder coating. Then, through heat, the powder melts, flattens, and solidifies, forming a hard coating on the surface of the workpiece.

The advantages and disadvantages of electrostatic powder coating include: no need for thinner, no toxicity, no environmental pollution, good coating quality, very high adhesion and mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, short curing time, no need for primer, low technical requirements for workers, high powder recycling rate. The coating is very thick, and the surface effect has ripples and is not smooth. It can only be processed into two appearance effects: semi matte and glossy.

4. Silk screen and pad printing

5. Laser engraving

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