This is My first 3D printer build. And I have a dilemma to anodized frame or not or maybe powder coat? Or to leave it just like this?
Any suggestion?
That is a pretty awesome-looking printer build you’ve got going there!
I’d powder-coat the frame, as plain aluminum can get pretty ugly over time. Anodizing might not turn out that great on those large surfaces. Either way, keep in mind that any sort of paint will add a layer to the surface, which might throw your tolerances off!
That’s beautiful.
@Thomas_Sanladerer
Thank you! I agree with you. A tolerance of the frame, are very narrow. I’m counting on it.
@Brad_Hopper
Thanks!
this is some proper engineering, I love it, powdercoating will do the job I believe.
powdercoat is also the cheapest to do, just don’t clean with aggressive solvents
I would leave it just as it is, I find it very beautiful. Why ruin it with a paint job?
Polish it to mirror finish
I do not know how easy powder coating or anodizing are or if simply oiling it and polishing it would do the trick. I think that it looks good the way it is and that it would look cool if polished up a little even if it was not a mirror finish.
I imagine you are going to add some clear panels to that with at least one of them with a door? If not, I think I would advise it since the heated bed on my printer takes a while to heat up and air currents hate me. I do not know if others have as much of a problem with air currents or if it is just me.
Totally beautiful printer you have there. I hope to see what it looks like when it is fleshed out and functional.
This is beautiful, clear coat it and then polish it.
@Nuker_Bot_NukerBot_3 Any idea if the clear coat would have issues if the temperature got close to 100C? That is the preferred heat bed temperature for me, so I suppose it is possible that he may end up getting the printer frame up to 80C in spots if he uses an enclosure. Clear coat of what exacly? Polyurethane?
Is this your own custom design? It’s gorgeous.
@NathanielStenzel he can polish the shit out of the parts and paint it with 2 coats of this stuff it can withstand 288C and it comes in gloss clear http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/engineenamel/
@Nuker_Bot_NukerBot_3 Ah. More details and a link. Thanks much.
Pwdrcoat can stand 100C also.
I just want to say I really like your work. I have been trying to make my first Custom build since January. It takes a lot of patience to do what you have done. Nice work. I think I agree with the thought of powder coating as well. I was thinking the same thing as the extruded aluminum I am using already is clear anodized and not very attractive.
Clear powder coat for sure… this thing is so pretty!
Thank you all!
I have two set of frames. So I think I’ll play with it.
@Robert_Quattlebaum_d Yes, the design is mine.
Genuinely, to make two sets of frame it took one weekend.
One day designing, … and the other day programing and machining…
Beautiful!