I have a vibrating table (intended for other tasks) and want to try how

3D Printing
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1

I have a vibrating table (intended for other tasks) and want to try how well it works for sanding and polishing PLA 3D prints.

What grit and material of sanding agent should I try?

  • ceramic elements are very large.
  • I can get silicone carbite in 220, 600, 1000 and 1200 grit
    I only want to get one grit for the test, in case it doesn’t work out.

My printed objects are way too large for a rock tubler, so a vibrating table looks like an interesting alternative.

2

Try something like this Marcus. Only polishing, sanding doesn’t work.
http://www.rosler.info/aktuelles/faq/gleitschleifen/

3

@Erich_HaHaOh The devices I’ve seen are >100eur and <20cm in diameter. My objects are often 30-40cm in height and 20-30cm wide.

4

Making your own tumbler is very easy and cost effective vs buying a premade one for large objects.

5

@Marcus_Wolschon Sometimes you can find cheap ones on ebay:http://www.ebay.de/dsc/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=1&_nkw=Trovalisiermaschine+gleitschleifmaschine&LH_PrefLoc=2&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XTrovalisiermaschine+gleitschleifmaschine.TRS0&_osacat=0&_odkw=Trovalisiermaschine

6

@Erich_HaHaOh my “workshop” has 3.5x3.0 meters and is 1.8m in height…go figure. :wink:

7

diy a small garbage can into a tumbler …

8

That’s what I’m doing.
That’s why IN THIS POSTING I’M ASKING FOR A SENSIBLE CHOICE IN GRIT MATERIAL AND SIZE.

To fill it!
PLA is a lot softer then the usual stones and metals you polish in these things. So the usual grinding materials may well be way too hard.

9

We have one of these at the @FabLab_Munchen : http://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-Quick-n-Ez-Case-Tumbler/dp/B001MYGLJC
But we still need to find a good grinding material. The stones we tried pretty much left the PLA untouched. Maybe it needs to be wet?

10

@Andreas_Kahler what experiences did you gain? How well does it work? polishing or sanding? What grit works well? What’s the maximum object size relative to the diameter?

11

Our tumbler has a pin in the middle, so it only fits parts half the diameter. But you can remove the pin, it’s just there to secure the lid. Haven’t tried it though.
We tried stones like this: http://www.ebay.de/itm/371346623184
All I can say that these did not really work with PLA. Even after 10 hours you could not see any effect.

12

@Andreas_Kahler okay.
I’ll try conventional silicone carbide grit and stay away from ceramic ones.
The same I use for regular sanding of PLA.

13

Let me know how it goes

14

didn’t work.
The grit had too much of an opportunity to move out of the way. Needs pressure for sanding.

15

:frowning: