After finishing resin printing, it is often necessary to remove the support of the model, and sanding is a key step in further post-processing. Sanding the resin print can remove the protrusions on the surface of the model, making the surface smoother and flawless. If you want to learn more about how to sand a resin surface, please continue reading, we will introduce the common tools, methods and operation skills required for sanding.
Tools for Sanding Resin Prints: What Is Sandpaper
Sandpaper is an abrasive material, sandpaper and sponge sandpaper are the most commonly used sanding tools for sanding 3D prints. Sandpaper has different grits, the commonly used grit size for sanding resin surfaces is 200/400/800, the larger the value, the finer the sanding effect, and the shallower the traces left after sanding.
How to use sandpaper
Before you start sanding resin prints, you need to make sure that the resin surface is fully cured and that there is no liquid resin remaining. A coarser grit (e.g. 200) sandpaper, for relatively rough sanding, is suitable for initial removal of rough surfaces and visible layer lines. In general, start sanding with a coarser grit and work your way up to finer grits to smooth the surface and remove imperfections. Pay attention to the strength of sanding the surface of the resin and the uniformity of the sanding, so as to avoid deformation in some places and cause unevenness of the surface.
Various grit sizes of sandpaper
- 200 grit: Medium grit. For most resin prints, coarse grit (below 100 grit) sanding and quick removal is not required. The medium grit is sufficient for initial sanding and initial surface smoothing.
- 400/600 grit: Fine grit. Suitable for further removal of minor imperfections on the surface of the model, capable of achieving a high quality smooth surface and preparing the surface for polishing.
- 800 grit: Fine grit. Suitable for final fine sanding and polishing of models and to obtain a glossy effect on the material.
Tools for Sanding Resin Prints: Sanding sponges and Electric Sanding Tools
Sanding sponges, and electric sanding tools, are two other commonly used tools for sanding resin prints. Sponge sandpaper is absorbent and allows for more flexible sanding, while the electric sanding pen allows for more efficient sanding, dealing with areas that are difficult to sand with sandpaper.
Sponge sandpaper
Also known as sanding sponge, easier to sand curved or irregular surfaces of resin prints. Sponge sandpaper supports both dry and wet sanding. Sponge sandpaper is better for wet sanding than regular sandpaper. Before use, dip the sponge into water, or prevent a water source nearby, and wet the sponge periodically. Wet sanding reduces dust and prevents the resin from getting hotter as a result of sanding, making the sanding more effective.
Electric sanding pen
Faster and smoother than manual sanding. Using an electric sander can significantly improve sanding efficiency, but it needs to be handled with care to avoid over sanding. It is recommended to wear the necessary safety gear to protect against dust and particles generated during the sanding process.
In Conclusion
The development of desktop level resin printing technology has allowed us to achieve 12K high precision printing on the printer like Anycubic Photon Mono M5s, producing extremely detailed and accurate resin prints. Post-processing is still essential to achieve a smooth and flawless surface, sanding resin prints removes layer lines and polishes marks left by supports for a more refined look that reveals higher quality details.
Sandpaper and sponge sandpaper are common tools used to polish resin prints. On this basis, the electric sanding pen greatly improves the efficiency of post-processing and can meet the needs of some special situations. Experimenting and finding the tools and methods that work for you, and then using them with your resin prints, will help you achieve a smoother surface and improve the expressiveness of your resin prints.