Brass Masterbatch

**IanJohnson** · 2013-12-04 01:08:09

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Topic: Brass Masterbatch

Brass masterbatch with MG94 at 50:1. I ground the masterbatch a bit, but it still came out with some uneven color. I also had some clear ABS left over that didn't purge as quickly as I thought it would, so a changing ratio between clear MABS and white MG94 contributed to some color difference. In the shot of the spool, the piece of filament laid over the top of it was from early in the job which had more clear mixed in, giving it more of a bright gold color.

I vapor smoothed the robot, and then tumbled it for about 4 hours. Fine powder from tumbling was embedded in the texture of the plastic, so I buffed it with a fluffy cotton wheel to clean it off. Tight corners kept their gloss because the ceramic tumbling media was too big to reach them. I suspect I could have skipped the tumbling and achieved the same satin finish with just the buffing.

**Briggs** · 2013-12-04 02:32:16

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

Awesome!

**2n2r5** · 2013-12-04 03:44:24

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

This looks so cool!

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

**techbuilder2175** · 2013-12-12 22:19:19

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

Ian,

How long did you vapor bath for and did you do it multiple times?

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

**IanJohnson** · 2013-12-12 22:34:49

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

Once the vapor covered the top, I let it sit for maybe 10 more seconds, two times. It was printed at .1 or .15 layers.

**techbuilder2175** · 2013-12-12 22:41:58

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

IanJohnson wrote:

Once the vapor covered the top, I let it sit for maybe 10 more seconds, two times. It was printed at .1 or .15 layers.

Yeah I noticed that I had to do it in increments otherwise it would ruin the features
I find doing it 3 times provides the smoothest for me, which get's rid of those lines you can still vaguely see
in your print.

How long do you let it cool down between re coats?

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

**IanJohnson** · 2013-12-12 22:54:37

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

Probably about 5-10 minutes. It's better to wait longer, but I was exxcited to see how it would turn out, and there isn't much fine detail to mess up with that one.

**techbuilder2175** · 2013-12-12 23:23:47

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

Sweet thanks for the info

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

**CraigRK** · 2013-12-15 20:15:03

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

IanJohnson wrote:

Once the vapor covered the top, I let it sit for maybe 10 more seconds, two times. It was printed at .1 or .15 layers.

Hi Ian,

Is this process elaborated somewhere else? I have tried vapour smoothing myself before, but not with much success...

Thanks,
Craig

PS: Looks great!!!

Masterbatch, ABS and PLA Pellets available for UK and Europe.
http://www.emakershop.com/Seller=1324

**techbuilder2175** · 2013-12-15 22:01:54

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/448/diy- … tation-ii/

This is what Ian and a lot of us use here for the process

I like to do a vapor bath at 15 to 20 seconds 3 times at 40 minute intervals

Works like a charm

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

**CraigRK** · 2013-12-16 07:20:09

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

techbuilder2175 wrote:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/448/diy- … tation-ii/
This is what Ian and a lot of us use here for the process
I like to do a vapor bath at 15 to 20 seconds 3 times at 40 minute intervals
Works like a charm

Thanks, I'll try that next time. Not being a solidoodle owner, only filastruder means I don't normally think to search the rest of this forum.

C

Masterbatch, ABS and PLA Pellets available for UK and Europe.
http://www.emakershop.com/Seller=1324

**CraigRK** · 2013-12-16 07:20:18

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

techbuilder2175 wrote:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/448/diy- … tation-ii/
This is what Ian and a lot of us use here for the process
I like to do a vapor bath at 15 to 20 seconds 3 times at 40 minute intervals
Works like a charm

Thanks, I'll try that next time. Not being a solidoodle owner, only filastruder means I don't normally think to search the rest of this forum.

C

Masterbatch, ABS and PLA Pellets available for UK and Europe.
http://www.emakershop.com/Seller=1324

**wahada** · 2014-02-28 03:40:18

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

What is the minimum % of infill that is needed when doing vapor smoothing? I tried it once and the printed piece kind of melted quite a bit. I think that printed with 10 % infill.

**IanJohnson** · 2014-02-28 05:38:23

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Re: Brass Masterbatch

It's more about the # of perimeters I think. It is less likely to deform if the shell is thicker, and watertight. Acetone will dissolve infill almost instantly if it manages to get inside.

Brass Masterbatch

Posts: 14

1 Topic by IanJohnson 2013-12-04 01:08:09

Topic: Brass Masterbatch

2 Reply by Briggs 2013-12-04 02:32:16

Re: Brass Masterbatch

3 Reply by 2n2r5 2013-12-04 03:44:24

Re: Brass Masterbatch

4 Reply by techbuilder2175 2013-12-12 22:19:19

Re: Brass Masterbatch

5 Reply by IanJohnson 2013-12-12 22:34:49

Re: Brass Masterbatch

6 Reply by techbuilder2175 2013-12-12 22:41:58

Re: Brass Masterbatch

7 Reply by IanJohnson 2013-12-12 22:54:37

Re: Brass Masterbatch

8 Reply by techbuilder2175 2013-12-12 23:23:47

Re: Brass Masterbatch

9 Reply by CraigRK 2013-12-15 20:15:03 (edited by CraigRK 2013-12-15 20:15:22)

Re: Brass Masterbatch

10 Reply by techbuilder2175 2013-12-15 22:01:54

Re: Brass Masterbatch

11 Reply by CraigRK 2013-12-16 07:20:09

Re: Brass Masterbatch

12 Reply by CraigRK 2013-12-16 07:20:18

Re: Brass Masterbatch

13 Reply by wahada 2014-02-28 03:40:18

Re: Brass Masterbatch

14 Reply by IanJohnson 2014-02-28 05:38:23

Re: Brass Masterbatch

Posts: 14