Can’t I just use my 3D printer to add patterns to my 3D prints?

If you look on the internet today, there are several suggestions out there saying you can use your 3D printer to add texture or patterns to your pieces.  And while this is true, printers aren’t really great (yet, anyway) at handling complex patterns that require fine, crisp lines.  Not to mention your resolution is going to be limited to how wide your print nozzle is; and for most, that’s about the size of a regular ballpoint pen tip.

Experiment, test, learn

While xTool F1 notes the various lasers are meant for specific materials, we were curious how both lasers performed on 3D prints.  And rather than blast one of our 3D prints right off the bat, we designed a test with some sample plates in various types/colors of filament.

Results:

PLA 

• White - zero effect from either laser

• Grey - the IR laser seemed to make a raised scarring effect while the blue diode laser sort of unevenly melted the PLA

• Red - zero effect with the IR laser, but the blue diode laser affected the red in a similar way as the black plate

• Black - sharper results with the IR laser creating a fairly sharp and lighter colored relief while the Diode laser etched cleanly into the surface of the plate.

ABS

• White - IR laser created reasonably sharp dark marks!  However, the blue diode laser had no effect on the white.

• Black - IR laser resulted in the sharpest and most consistent image, which was a very light brown with a slight relief.  The blue diode laser also created a sharp-edged etch.

• Yellow - IR laser created markings similar to those on the white ABS and the diode laser also etched reasonably into the surface, though not as cleanly or sharply as the black.

So what are the conclusions?

The process of using a laser to apply marks or designs to the surfaces of 3D printed objects is not straightforward.  The outcomes can sometimes seem unpredictable and can often be surprising.

While you might be able to make some educated guesses based on the color of the filament and the type of laser you’re using, we suspect that the chemical makeup of each filament also plays a big role in what kind of result you’d end up with. 

Some lessons learned include:

• The infrared laser will score a relief into the material while the blue diode etches.

• A laser at the same setting can produce a different mark (darker, lighter, or no effect) from filament to filament.

• Lighter color filament tends to increase the likelihood that the laser will have a reduced or no effect.

• Material that is the same or similar in color to the laser used on it will result in a reduced or no effect.

• Create a test plate of each different filament you’re using, as we have done here, to dermine the results before blasting your 3D print.

• Work in a well ventilated area.  The laser is essentially burning through plastic which sets fumes off which are not great to inhale. 

But despite that slight unpredictability and inconsistency of the effects from material to material, once your baselines are established and expectations are grounded / confirmed, the potential for exceptional results can be quite high.  The marks made in this process structurally change the material and the designs applied to 3D prints are extremely wear and weather resistant, making them as durable as the material itself.  They will not wipe or chip off, and in many cases are more than just surface deep.

Watch our YouTube video for a more in-depth look at the xTool F1 in action.  If you are more of a reader, you can check out more details of our test here .