Yes! 3D Printed PU Coated Brass Is Back
Good news for jewelry designers and brass fans: Brass PU coated is back in the building! The previous material didn’t live up to our expectations, but after some more tests we’re ready to run a new trial period!
We weren’t really satisfied with the PU coated brass last time: it was too shiny and the distinction with the gold plated version wasn’t good enough.
Wim, (y)our Business Process Manager, did some tests to offer brass with a more natural look. Now we’ve found a new process to give our community the brass we were aiming to give them.
Brass PU coated versus gold plated. Design ‘Spintop’ by Michael Mueller.
If you look at the picture you see the differences regarding finishings. Michael Mueller, who designed the spintop you see in the picture: “It’s less shiny than the gold plated brass. I like this!”
Some people asked us why we use the PU coating, well, it’s for the following reason: it protects your design from oxidation, scratches and skin irritations (if you have a very sensitive skin).
“Oxidation? I love oxidation!” We know a lot of people from the Steampunk community love the oxidation of the material. Unfortunately we did the test and showed it to some designers: the designs turned blue and green instead of getting a nice antique look.
Greedy Fish by Michael Mueller.
DESIGN TIPS
As a designer you need to be aware of a few things. If you have small details on your design, the plating won’t always stick to it. So be careful with tiny details. On the picture of the spin top you see that the details are reddish which is the original brass color.
The process is pretty stable, but of course there are always exceptions.
Compared to gold plated polished brass (brass electroplated with a tiny layer of gold), your design will have a vintage look which you see a lot nowadays. If you compare the two finishes, you can clearly see the difference. More information can be found on the material page.
Designers use this finish for different creations such as jewelry or sculptures. It’s a very appropriate material for all your Steampunk designs, which need that 19th century scientific romance look.
And what about pricing? The price is directly related with the volume of the model to print.
The bigger the model volume, the less you pay per cm³. Here are a few examples to give you an indication of cost:
- 1 cm³ costs about 25 euro (excl. VAT)
- 5 cm³ costs about 95 euro (excl. VAT)
- 10 cm³ costs about 160 euro (excl. VAT)
We’re looking forward to seeing your designs. Keep us posted!
PS: Do you want to check out the material? Sample kits are now available for 25 euro.
