Gallery
About Project
Keycap enthusiasts and Pokémon fans alike will appreciate this unique collaboration with a talented keycap designer to bring Pokémon-inspired fanart to life. The showcased Mimaki 3D Printed Translucent Resin Keycaps feature a bold and eerie design: a monstrous red fish with a wide-open mouth and sharp white teeth, seemingly trapped within a glass tank. This hauntingly captivating piece combines artistry and cutting-edge 3D printing techniques to deliver an imaginative creation.
The two miniatures compare different finishing techniques applied to Mimaki full-color 3D prints, highlighting the strengths and limitations of this advanced technology:
Left Miniature (Polished Surface): The polished finish provides a soft, frosted appearance that subtly obscures internal details. While elegant and smooth to the touch, it mutes the vibrant red hues and intricate design elements of the fish within the glass tank.
Right Miniature (Clear Acrylic Coating): The thin layer of clear acrylic oil applied to the polished surface elevates the keycap's visual appeal. It enhances the vibrancy of the colors and amplifies the sharpness of internal features, making the fish's fearsome teeth and menacing expression more defined. The glossy finish also adds depth and brilliance, creating a striking effect.
Although these finishes demonstrate the quality and precision of Mimaki full-color 3D printing, the technology is not ideal for achieving fully transparent effects. For more sophisticated transparency and unparalleled clarity, PolyJet clear prints remain the superior option.
Unleash Your Creativity with FacFox's Full-color 3D Printing Services
This stunning keycap comparison was made possible through Mimaki's cutting-edge full-color 3D printing technology, and FacFox is here to bring your creative vision to life. With industry-leading color fidelity and impeccable surface smoothness, our Mimaki printing service delivers vibrant and detailed results that require no sanding or polishing. Whether you're an artist, designer, or hobbyist, FacFox ensures exceptional quality for your projects.
While Mimaki excels at vibrant color creations, we also offer PolyJet printing services for superior transparency and detail. No matter your design needs, FacFox provides the expertise and tools to elevate your work. Partner with us today to transform your ideas into remarkable, tangible masterpieces!
Solution
- Step 1: Design Development. The digital 3D model of the keycap, featuring the red fish design, was created and finalized by the keycap designer.
- Step 2: File Preparation. The 3D model was processed and converted into a format compatible with the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 printer for full-color 3D printing.
- Step 3: Material Loading. UV-curable resins and color ink cartridges were loaded into the Mimaki printer to enable vivid and accurate color rendering.
- Step 4: Printing Execution. The keycap was printed layer by layer using Mimaki’s UV inkjet technology. Each layer was deposited with precision and cured with UV light to form the structure and colors simultaneously.
- Step 5: Support Material Addition. Water-soluble support material was applied to stabilize the intricate fish design and maintain the integrity of the translucent resin during printing.
- Step 6: Support Material Removal. The printed keycap was submerged in water, and the support material was dissolved, leaving behind the clean, fully-formed miniature.
- Step 7: Surface Polishing. The left keycap was polished to create a soft, frosted appearance, slightly muting internal details.
- Step 8: Acrylic Coating Application. The right keycap was coated with a thin layer of clear acrylic oil, enhancing the glossiness and improving the clarity and sharpness of internal features.
