,cnc machinist,cnc manufacturing,cnc mechanic,cnc mill,cnc milling center,cnc milling companies,cnc milling tools,cnc parts,cnc plasma cutter,cnc plasma cutting,cnc plasma table,cnc production,cnc router table,cnc screw machine,cnc service,cnc swiss,cnc turning,cnc turning center,cnc turning centers,cnc vertical lathe,horizontal cnc,how to cnc machine,machining cnc,manufacturing cnc machines,okuma cnc,plasma cnc machine,production cnc machining,troubleshooting cnc machines,used cnc machine tools,used cnc milling machines,vertical cnc lathe,what can a cnc machine make
3D Print Tips YT channel posted a video on how to use PVC pipe cleaner that is commercially available to vapor smooth PLA. The cleaner fluid is probably rich with THF (tetrahydrofuran) so it has a similar effect as acetone on ABS plastic. Do keep in mind that this method is probably less effective than using dichloromethane and chloroform.The procedure is simple, the object is suspended above the heated THF rich fluid and the vapors dissolve surface layers and make them smooth.
Do keep in mind that the fumes are toxic and there is a fire hazard! Heating THF causes unstable explosive peroxide compounds that are carcinogenic.
 |
| Here is the PLA part after the process. You can see that the surface is polished and shiny looking. LAyers are almost not visible. |
Here is video showing the setup with few simple supplies like copper wire, mason jar and heater:
You can read the first post about THF polishing and smoothing here:
http://diy3dprinting.blogspot.com/2013/06/smoothing-and-polishing-pla-with-thf.html
Does anyone know of any similar simple chemical to polish PLA? I know that you can make PLA flexible with carburetor cleaner.
