Slicing Tip Day 8 - Surface Finish Options
From filament, to the adding printing textures to the surface, to prime, painting and sanding.
Know what your options are to create the look you want!
Bridging without supports (that actually looks good)
Most slicers don’t handle bridging properly… and that’s why your prints sag.
The issue:
Bridging prints in mid-air → filament stays round → less bonding → weak, messy bridges.
Simple fix:
Increase Bridge Flow (~1.5)
Reduce Bridge Speed (~10 mm/s)
That’s it. Cleaner bridges, less sagging, and in some cases… better than using supports.
Try it on your next print 👇
Adding Texture INSANELY quick with BumpMesh. Here are the key settings when transforming textures.
Applying textures to 3D models usually requires using Blender...
Its not that hard, but it takes time!
Not anymore! / by CNCkitchen is free to use and can apply textures to models SO FAST.
You can now print ANY colour you want by using Mixed Filaments.
This slices the model and prints an array of different colours to create any new colour.
This can also be used to print different materials together creating new properties entirely!
Textures don't always print right.
Consider print orientation and texture masking to avoid the texture coming out poorly.
Checkout Bumpmesh.com for this awesome free tool by CNC Kitchen
You can customise 3D printed designs with SVGs...
This is basically a contour file that can be placed onto your model and quickly swapped and adjusted.
Its super powerful for customisations of icons, textures and even custom text and logos.
Texture settings allow you to change the effect of your texture.
Amplitude can be negative or positive
3D preview shows the actual surface displacement
Symmetrical projection effects tolerance.
You can apply textures easily using BumpMesh, but the way that textures are applied changes the effect so much!
Head to / by CNCkitchen is free to use and can apply textures to models SO FAST.
Understand projection modes for textures.
You can apply textures easily using BumpMesh, but the way that textures are applied changes with how HOW the texture image is projected onto the model.
To pick the best one, understand the projection modes.
Head to / by CNCkitchen is free to use and can apply textures to models SO FAST.
What is Texture Smoothing?
You can apply textures as an image file (if the section is white, it doesn't move, if its black it is raised, but if its grey... you get a transition).
This is key for 3D printing to keep smooth transitions. You can also blur parts of your texture to create unique effects.
Head to / by CNCkitchen is free to use and can apply textures to models SO FAST.
Making Design Modification - STL vs STEP File
Most people only use STLs, but making modifications can be challenging to millions of triangles.
Step files are clean faces with defined edges.
