SLS / Gold imitation

#1

What is the best finishing on Polyamide SLS to imitate gold ?
Thanks for your answers
Julien

#2

Hello Julien,

The natural surface of polyamide has a sandy, granular look, and is slightly porous. I can’t tell you what the best finishing is to imitate gold on this material, because I don’t think there is a finish of which you would really be satisfied. You can have a look at the possibilities on https://i.materialise.com/en/3d-printing-materials/polyamide/colors-finishes

If you want something that looks a bit like gold, I would advise you to take steel / gold plated which you can find on https://i.materialise.com/en/3d-printing-materials/steel/colors-finishes

Kind regards Lizy

#3

If you want to do it yourself, I have seen quite impressive pictures of SLS-printed polyamide parts sprayed (after appropriate priming) with Krylon metallic paints. The ultimate effect, if you are patient and talented, should be achievable with actual gold leaf. (Quite obviously the low weight of the material will still give it away)

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#4

Hello mkroeker, thank you for sharing this with us. I will certainly keep this in mind when we have another question about this. @ Julian, we have indeed a lot of customers who paint the models in other colors than offered by i.materialise and you can find even a topic of this in our help juice under https://imaterialise.helpjuice.com/materials/painting-3d-printed-parts?from_search=34505621

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