{"id":164173,"date":"2021-12-12T14:42:39","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T06:42:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&#038;p=164173"},"modified":"2022-08-12T17:31:14","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T09:31:14","slug":"acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps","title":{"rendered":"Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Normally, FDM 3D prints show layer lines. Learn about acetone 3D print smoothing and create a totally smooth surface finish in just 6 easy steps.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"headline headline--xxl\">What Is It?<\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"561\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An acetone-smoothed ABS print. (Source: Alexander Issal \/ All3DP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of the many things that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/fused-deposition-modeling-fdm-3d-printing-simply-explained\">fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers<\/a> lack is the smooth finish you always get from injection-molded parts. Instead, you often get a matte, rough finish with visible layer lines. A popular way to get rid of these layer lines is to sand and fill until the surface is smooth. This method, however, takes ages to get anywhere close to smooth.<\/p>\n<p>Another way that\u2019s not only faster but also much better in preserving accuracy is acetone smoothing, which can be applied to any material that can be dissolved in acetone. The most popular filament to acetone smooth is ABS.<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at how you can acetone smooth your own prints. Follow along as we show you the process of smoothing the pictured\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thingiverse.com\/thing:1615555\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BuddaYoda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"headline headline--xxl\">What You&#8217;ll Need<\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/a81fcea7abcb8643.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"561\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Materials for acetone chamber. (Source: Alexander Issal \/ All3DP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There are countless methods of acetone smoothing your 3D print, some more dangerous than others. We have therefore constructed a simple design with normal household items. Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Towels<\/li>\n<li>One transparent glass vase (a glass jar also works fine)<\/li>\n<li>Magnets (at least six)<\/li>\n<li>A plate<\/li>\n<li>A small\u00a0clay saucer\u00a0(any structure that acts as a platform will do)<\/li>\n<li>Acetone<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Optional:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aluminum foil<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"listicle-header__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"listicle-header__content\">\n<h3 class=\"headline headline--xxl\">A Word of Caution<\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/4fa0e3f6e98f1165.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Acetone is a useful but potentially dangerous substance. (Source: Alexander Issal \/ All3DP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Acetone is a great tool for everything between cleaning your hot end to welding together two 3D printed parts. However, you need to know that acetone can also be very dangerous if used incorrectly.<\/p>\n<p>Acetone is very flammable, so don\u2019t use it near fire or something that can cause a spark. Also, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area since the vapor can cause headaches, dizziness, and a sore throat if breathed in too much.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"headline headline--xxl\">Smoothing Steps<\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/0b3e4fe913cbb53b.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"562\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Acetone smoothing process. (Source: Alexander Issal \/ All3DP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now that you have prepared all of the materials, you can finally start acetone smoothing your prints.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Fill the plate with water and place the\u00a0clay saucer on it with the flat side facing up. We have added a layer of aluminum foil on top of it so that the model doesn\u2019t stick and so that we keep that shiny surface from printing on a glass bed.<\/li>\n<li>Attach the tissues to the inside of your vase with the help of magnets. Then soak the tissues by pouring in small amounts of acetone and rolling the vase until everything is covered.<\/li>\n<li>Place your 3D printed model on the platform (clay saucer) and slowly lower the upside-down vase over it. It\u2019s important that the water on the plate makes a seal so that the acetone won\u2019t leak. In the beginning, you will see some bubbles coming out from the water, this is normal and nothing to be afraid of.<\/li>\n<li>Now you just have to wait until the layer lines have disappeared. It can take anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours. (The Budda Yoda took just under two hours.) If you choose a transparent vase, it\u2019s much easier to see the progress of your smoothing process (where there is no tissue) without guessing or having to remove it.<\/li>\n<li>When you feel happy with your print, you can carefully remove the vase and remove the print from the platform. Place it on something that doesn\u2019t react to acetone. We recommend using a failed PLA print, preferably the ones that have stopped mid-print and left behind a flat surface with infill acting as an anti-sticking platform.<\/li>\n<li>The last step is to let your print dry from any acetone leftovers. Sometimes it just takes a day, but it\u00a0can take many days for it to cure. When the part has been cured, you now have a 3D printed part that looks like it was injection molded!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/all3dp.com\/2\/abs-acetone-smoothing-3d-print-vapor-smoothing\/\">https:\/\/all3dp.com\/2\/abs-acetone-smoothing-3d-print-vapor-smoothing\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Normally, FDM 3D prints show layer lines. Learn about acetone 3D print smoothing and create a totally smooth surface finish in just 6 easy steps. What Is It? One of the many things that\u00a0fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers lack is the smooth finish you always get from injection-molded parts. Instead, you often get a matte, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"kbtopic":[122],"kbtag":[126,670,80,61,153],"class_list":["post-164173","kb","type-kb","status-publish","hentry","kbtopic-mtl","kbtag-3d-printing","kbtag-actone","kbtag-fdm","kbtag-material","kbtag-post-process"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps - FacFox Docs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Normally, FDM 3D prints show layer lines. Learn about acetone 3D print smoothing and create a totally smooth surface finish in just 6 easy steps.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Normally, FDM 3D prints show layer lines. Learn about acetone 3D print smoothing and create a totally smooth surface finish in just 6 easy steps.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"FacFox Docs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/facfox3d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-08-12T09:31:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@facfox3d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps\",\"name\":\"Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps - FacFox Docs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-12-12T06:42:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-12T09:31:14+00:00\",\"description\":\"Normally, FDM 3D prints show layer lines. Learn about acetone 3D print smoothing and create a totally smooth surface finish in just 6 easy steps.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/\",\"name\":\"FacFox Docs\",\"description\":\"Knowledgebase of manufacturing\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#organization\",\"name\":\"FACFOX,INC.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foxdoc-favicon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foxdoc-favicon.png\",\"width\":132,\"height\":133,\"caption\":\"FACFOX,INC.\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/facfox3d\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/facfox3d\",\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/facfox3d\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps - FacFox Docs","description":"Normally, FDM 3D prints show layer lines. Learn about acetone 3D print smoothing and create a totally smooth surface finish in just 6 easy steps.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps","og_description":"Normally, FDM 3D prints show layer lines. Learn about acetone 3D print smoothing and create a totally smooth surface finish in just 6 easy steps.","og_url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps","og_site_name":"FacFox Docs","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/facfox3d","article_modified_time":"2022-08-12T09:31:14+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@facfox3d","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps","name":"Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps - FacFox Docs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png","datePublished":"2021-12-12T06:42:39+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-12T09:31:14+00:00","description":"Normally, FDM 3D prints show layer lines. Learn about acetone 3D print smoothing and create a totally smooth surface finish in just 6 easy steps.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/02\/e2a18125be26dabc.png"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/acetone-3d-print-smoothing-6-easy-steps#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Acetone 3D Print Smoothing: 6 Easy Steps"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#website","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/","name":"FacFox Docs","description":"Knowledgebase of manufacturing","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#organization","name":"FACFOX,INC.","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foxdoc-favicon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foxdoc-favicon.png","width":132,"height":133,"caption":"FACFOX,INC."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/facfox3d","https:\/\/x.com\/facfox3d","https:\/\/instagram.com\/facfox3d"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb\/164173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164173"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb\/164173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":165603,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb\/164173\/revisions\/165603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"kbtopic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbtopic?post=164173"},{"taxonomy":"kbtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbtag?post=164173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}