PolySmooth PVB And Polysher Make Shiny 3D Printed Objects

When you 3D print an item most folks expect something made in a plastic material to be shiny and perfect like something you would pick up at a store. The problem for most 3D printers is that when they are finished printing an object, the object has a rough surface with lines all over it from the layer printing process. The people behind the PolySmooth PVB filament say that the new filament to be used in the print process is the core of their technology.

PolySmooth PVB brings balanced mechanical properties and polishabiltiy to printed objects. The material is able to be polished when exposed to common alcohols like isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. The polishing process exposes the 3D printed part to an aerosol of alcohol using a nebulizer that produces tiny droplets in the range of 10 microns or less. Those droplets absorb into the surface of the 3D printed part and will eventually make the surface smooth.

The entire polishing process is handled inside the Polysher desktop machine. The material is offered in 11 different colors for different needs. The Polysher is able to handle polishing of parts up to 15cm x 15cm x 18cm. The time needed to polish an object is about 7 minutes. The filament doesn't need a heated bed and is suitable for investment casting and is suitable for a wide range of printing temperatures.

PolySmooth PVB and the Polysher machine are on Kickstarter seeking $100,000 and as of writing has raised over $189,000 with 29 days to go. A pledge of $249 or more will get you a Polysher and a single spool with 750g of PolySmooth filament. Additional filament will sell for $35 per spool and shipping is estimated to happen in October 2016.

SOURCE: Kickstarter