By Amber Bosket April 9, 2024 at 8:38 AM PT

Finishing a 3D print may not be as simple as just pulling it off the build plate once it is made. It can be a complex art of post-processing methods that require advanced techniques and knowledge in order to complete. Whether a 3D print is being fabricated with spools of plastic filament or tanks of liquid resin, there are usually steps that need to be taken for the 3D print to be considered a final product. For prints that emerge from FFF (fused filament fabrication) printers, it is possible for them to be ready to go right off the build plate. But that depends upon the type of print. Something that adheres to the build plate with a flat design and is built upwards in a mostly vertical fashion can be printed without requiring supports, meaning there should be no excess filament that needs to be removed once the print completes. So depending upon the quality of the printer’s extrusion, resolution, adhesion, and a few other factors, no post-processing may be necessary. However, if an FFF print requires the use of supports to build the print, those supports will need to be removed, which often leave behind many imperfections and places where the print may need to be filed, trimmed, or smoothed in some way. There are a variety of ways to achieve these results, although skills training and an understanding of how different types of filament will respond to the post-processing method are required for safety reasons and also because completed prints can be damaged in the process.

For resin-based 3D printing, a finalized print can go well beyond the moment the 3D printer flashes “print complete.” First, resin prints must undergo a washing process to remove excess resin that coats the print upon completion. This is often done by washing prints in a substance that helps remove the sticky residue, which also requires safety and skills training prior to engaging in the task. Once the print is washed, the next step is to cure the resin 3D print as it comes off the build plate in a relatively fragile state, susceptible to cracking and breaking, even with little pressure. The process of curing the print involves exposing the print to certain spectrums of UV light for specified amounts of time. This helps the print harden, creating a stronger, more durable print. However, during the curing process, it is important to note that some materials and colors can undergo unwanted changes while exposed to UV light, which should be considered prior to curing. Also, just as with FFF prints, if the 3D print was built with supports, these supports must be removed during post-processing, although whether to remove them before or after washing or curing depends upon the print and the method used to create the print. For example, a resin print that relies heavily on supports for structural integrity may require that supports are removed post-curing to avoid warping that can happen when exposed to lights and heat. This approach may always require additional smoothing techniques to help achieve the finished product.

Some resin-based 3D printing companies offer supplementary machines that can be purchased along with the 3D printer to perform the tasks of washing and curing completed prints. This can help facilitate these processes to save time and produce a more refined final print. Regardless of the style of 3D printing used to create objects, there is an amount of artistic skill and technique needed to create professional results. Different filament and resin materials can react very differently to various smoothing, washing, and curing processes, so it is important to understand the materials that are being used and what is expected for the end result.