What Is the SHOTSHEEN® Production Finish?

While 3D printing has been available for over 30 years, we are still finding ways to perfect processes to give a better end product faster and at a lower cost. One issue that has plagued 3D printing is being able to create something that looks like an injection molded part.

At SICAM, we have developed the SHOTSHEEN® finish to solve these problems with Multi Jet Fusion production. Our trademarked finish not only looks more like an injection molded part than typical MJF finishes, but it does so without increasing labor costs.

Issues with Standard Finishing

The standard finishing operation procedure for Multi Jet Fusion is to manually glass bead the parts to remove excess powder, and then dye it black. While this method produces a finish better than most achievable 3D-printed technologies, we still believe it falls short of being an acceptable finish for production parts. This shortcoming is due to two factors:

1. Manual operation causes inconsistencies in part finish, part dimensions, and the final finish after dyeing.
2. Glass beading is a manual operation which results in additional labor costs.

You can see some of these inconsistencies in the image to the right: Areas of black and white show how manually glass beading does not cover the part consistently over all the surfaces. Corners and edges have residue powder. Repeated manual operations soften the ideal sharp edges Dimensional variations occur because of nonuniform removal of powder.

Standard Finishing vs. SHOTSHEEN® Finishing

When viewed side-by-side, there is a clear difference between a standard finish and the SHOTSHEEN® finish. The standard finish has a dull, chalky appearance, while in comparison, the SHOTSHEEN® finish is much glossier and more suitable for dyeing.

Standard Finish

SHOTSHEEN® Finish

Because the process is fully automated, it produces far more consistent results than through manual glass beading. What’s more, choosing the SHOTSHEEN® finish will not increase production costs.

How the SHOTSHEEN® Finish Solution Is Developed

To achieve the SHOTSHEEN® finish, we use a DyeMansion finishing system to post process the parts. There are two machines involved in this process: Powershot C and Powershot S. Both of these machines are compatible with any geometry.

Powershot C

First, the Powershot C automatically glass beads with multiple nozzles in a rotary barrel to evenly de-powder the parts with a uniform cover. Unlike the manual process, this machine is able to maintain any sharp details. The automatic cycle finishes with a final air cleaning to remove any remaining powder and glass media.

Powershot S

Next, the parts are processed through an additional automated cycle in the DyeMansion Powershot S machine. This machine peens the parts with a fine shot that enhances the surface texture by adding a glossier finish. It also improves the hardness of the surface, making it more scratch-resistant.

Below, you can see some examples of parts processed with the SHOTSHEEN™ finish.

SHOTSHEEN®: A Quality MJF Production Finish

Through our unique blend of media and automated post process, the SHOTSHEEN® finish achieves what other Multi Jet Fusion products cannot — a durable product that has a finish that looks like an injection molded part. Plus, since the process requires minimal labor, you won’t need to pay additional costs for finishing.

Have questions about the SHOTSHEEN® finish or MJF production in general? Reach out to us at CustomerService@sicam.com.