XTC 3D Smoothing

[valika52]

Hello, I need assitance with my model and applying XTC 3D smoothing finishing on my SLS nylon printed model. I need to experiment on how this finishing will work on my models. Let me know if someone has experience with this before. Would appreciate any feedback.

[NOVAGM]

Hi valika52!

We did not try it mostly because some time ago, we received a response from the smooth-on support that XTC-3D solution will not bond with nylon.

So we use wet sandpaper for smoothing our prints.

[Lucika29]

I have a piece of advice or two for you:

- Cover your hands with gloves and the working surface with aluminum foil (not old newspapers like me) This product is very sticky and hard to remove. I damaged the lavatory in my bathroom trying to clean the brush I used to apply it.

- Just buy a cheap brush and discard it at the end.

- Also, try to ventilate the area because the smell is toxic.

- When you are preparing the mix, don’t pour too much liquid or it will harden very very fast, releasing a lot of heat (that happened to me once and I ended up with the mixing plastic cup solid, the hardened mix inside).

- Apply the coat fast when the mix is ready, and try not to let the piece drip

- Don’t use too much material

- When you finish let it rest and don’t touch it for hours

[Perry_1]

It is my belief that it will not stick to nylon.

That being said:

Follow the directions exactly.

Mix it exactly as instructed.

Put on the absolute thinnest possible coat. Absolutely the thinnest. If it needs to be thicker, add layers after it is about cured.

And it is epoxy, and will stick to everything it touches.

On PLA and ABS it is wonderful.

[MindFuLL]

Cannot stress this advice enough.
Using smaller amounts at a time is best, but this also makes it more difficult to get the mix accurate. I got a 100 pack of the little medicine measuring cups off amazon.
-Jesse

[MindFuLL]

All great advice. I usually pour the mix onto a paper plate covered with tin foil. It actually hardens much slower if you spread it out because it doesn’t generate the heat.
-Jesse

[MindFuLL]

I only use it in special circumstances and mostly on PLA. I print a lot of nylon but have never tried coating any parts in XTC. Would love to hear how it goes.
-Jesse

[valika52]

Thanks for everyone’s comments and appreciate the feedback. Would you not recommend using the XTC on Nylon then? I didnn’t know that XTC didn’t set well with Nylon.

The models that I currently have are polished, however, I want a smoother finish to it. Besides the XTC, any other recommendations to have a smoother finish? I haven’t heard about the wet sandpaper before, any suggestions?

[valika52]

Does that make a big difference? I haven’t heard of this method before. Would you recommend it?

[NOVAGM]

As far as I know this is the best method for smoothing nylon. You need Sandpaper of approximately 220 grit. Apply a liberal amount of water to the sandpaper and part and polish it gently. Print something simple for practice and just do not erase too much.

[valika52]

Awesome, will give this a try out tonight. Will let you know how it goes. I just want a smoother finisher to the nylon print but trying to different ways. I am open to other materials besides Nylon but need to be as sturdy as Nylon though. Any recommendations?

[valika52]

Still waiting for the XTC to be shipped. Quick question, whats been your best experience with having a smooth finishing on Nylon. I feel like even with polishing, it still doesn’t feel as good. Im printing an specialized iPhone adapter but need to make it sturdy as I need to attach an external device to it. Any recommendations for any other materials or finishing that I could look into?