Cleaning: A Key Step in 3D Printing Post-Processing

After a quick overview of post-processing in 3D printing, it’s time go even deeper into the topic, starting with one of the first steps that takes place immediately after printing. This is the cleaning of the part, which involves both the removal of printing supports and the removal of any excess material. And obviously, this cleaning step can take several forms depending on the additive manufacturing technology or the material used, among other considerations. For example, we can point to depowdering for powder bed processes or rinsing for resin technologies. Let’s take a closer look at these different methods in order to understand the possible difficulties that may be encountered during post-processing cleaning.

Whatever the 3D printing process, it is often necessary to go through post-processing steps once the 3D printer has finished its work. Removal of any supports, dewaxing, heat treatment, surface finishing, painting, etc. Often considered time-consuming, post-processing tends to be increasingly automated, with more and more solutions providing this role today. Cleaning is undoubtedly one of the steps in post-processing that still takes too much time, with pitfalls that are difficult to overcome.

Cover Photos: Matterhackers

Removing Excess Material

Remove Uncured Resin

In resin processes, once the 3D printing is finished, it is necessary to go through cleaning afterwards to remove the excess material that could not be photopolymerized so that it does not solidify on the top of the model. This is what we call rinsing. This is a sensitive step because it can affect the part that has already been cured. In order to facilitate this step, several machines are available on the market: in essence they are tanks in which the user can place their parts. Moreover, resin 3D printer manufacturers often offer their own equipment, such as the Form Wash from Formlabs. Cleaning your part will usually involve the use of chemicals such as isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether (TPM). Be aware of operator safety here: recommended protective equipment must be worn.