Topic: Any way to make a flash of heat?
I keep thinking about post processing in a small production environment, where sanding and filling is just too time consuming.
It occurs to me that if there was a way to subject the part (primarily ABS) to a flash of high temperature, just hot enough for just long enough to melt the outer layer before it immediately re-solidifies, it could result in a smooth finish. It would need to be something that could be carefully calibrated, maybe by a timer and/or a potentiometer. Probably on a turntable for even heat. Like the old time flash bulbs. You could feel the flash of heat from a few feet away.
I've tried a microwave but the ABS heats up slow and so by the time the outer surface is ready to liquefy the internals are too, so that won't work. PLA just softens up and melts. The inside of the part needs to stay cool and solid so the heat has to be hot and quick against the outside.
If not quick, maybe a very radiant heat source, like two or three heat lamps or space heaters with the part turning on a turntable.
My ultimate dream would be a laser on a three axis head systematically melting the top layer but, until that happens, a flash heat process could hold the promise of producing smooth parts with short processing time and effort.
Any thoughts?
