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Rough Breakout of SLS Parts
Rough Breakout of SLS Parts
After printing, parts are removed from the solid block of nylon powder and separated at the breakout station. Tools like brushes and scrapers clear the excess powder so the raw parts can move on to bead blasting for a clean Standard Finish.
The First Step in Finishing SLS Parts
The First Step in Finishing SLS Parts
When a build finishes, the SLS parts are not sitting loose in the machine. Instead, they are surrounded by a solid block of unfused nylon powder known as the “cake.” The first step after printing is to remove this cake from the build chamber and separate the individual parts.
At the breakout station, technicians carefully extract each piece using hand tools such as brushes, scrapers, and picks. This step removes the bulk of the loose powder and exposes the raw, unfinished parts. The work surface helps contain and reclaim the excess powder, which is then sieved and prepared for reuse reducing waste.
This stage is essential because it transitions the parts from being buried in powder to being clean enough for further finishing. After rough breakout, parts move to bead blasting, where the finer powder is removed and the Standard Finish surface is achieved.
Standard Finish for SLS Parts
Standard Finish for SLS Parts
Our Standard Finish is the default surface applied to every SLS part. After printing and breakout, each part goes through a bead blasting step that removes loose powder and evens the surface. This creates a clean, consistent finish that is slightly grainy to the touch and typical of SLS parts.
The Standard Finish is functional, cost-effective, and ready for prototypes, production parts, and delicate geometries. Because bead blasting is included as part of our standard process, there is no additional cost or lead time for this finish. The result is a reliable surface that preserves detail while ensuring parts are clean and ready for use.
What is Standard Finish
What is Standard Finish
Standard Finish is how parts look and feel when they come directly from the SLS process. After printing, parts are removed from the powder bed, cleaned, and bead blasted to remove residual powder. The surface has a fine, granular texture created by the sintered powder particles.
How It Works
How It Works
Parts leave the build chamber encased in the same nylon powder they were built from.
Loose powder is brushed and vacuumed away before parts are placed in a bead blaster.
Glass media removes remaining powder both inside and outside the part.
Most of the recovered powder is sieved and blended for future builds.
This process delivers clean, functional parts without any additional finishing steps.
Appearance and Surface Qualities
Appearance and Surface Qualities
Granular texture – A grainy surface typical of laser sintered parts.
Sharper edges – Edges and details are sharper than in other finishes since no abrasive smoothing is applied.
White base color – All SLS parts are white in their undyed form. Glass filled materials will be a darker grey from the glass.
Vibrant dye colors – Dyed Standard Finish parts often appear more vibrant compared with polished alternatives.
Black dye variation – Black dyed parts may show slight variation in shade and can mark more easily.
Benefits of Standard Finish
Benefits of Standard Finish
Free of charge – There is no additional cost for this finish.
Fastest turnaround – With no added processing steps, Standard Finish parts ship on the same schedule as your build.
Draft models – Ideal for quick prototypes and design iterations.
Delicate geometries – Best choice for thin walls and fine details that may not withstand heavier post-processing.
Large parts – Very large builds are often best suited for Standard Finish since other processes can be impractical.
Detail preservation – Fine surface details remain crisp and visible.
Standard Finish Expectations
Standard Finish Expectations
Risk of Damage
Risk of Damage
Bead blasting is gentler than our advanced finishing methods, but fragile details are still at risk. Very thin features or delicate geometries may break during the process.
Bosses and Posts
Bosses and Posts
Small pins, posts, or thin protrusions are prone to snapping. Adding a fillet or radius at the base of these features can reduce the chance of failure, though it cannot remove the risk entirely.
Sharp or Knife Edges
Sharp or Knife Edges
Edges that taper to nothing are highly vulnerable. We advise avoiding designs with trailing edges thinner than 1 mm. Extremely sharp edges can chip or break, and parts with these features are not eligible for free reprints if damaged.
Very Small Parts
Very Small Parts
Tiny parts under 10 mm can be lost during cleaning. For these situations, we often use sinterboxes or protective cages to keep small pieces together. If you are submitting very small designs, let us know so we can prepare the best handling approach.
Small Holes
Small Holes
We do our best to clear powder from small holes, channels, and internal passages, but areas that are difficult to reach may remain partially blocked. If a design does not meet our minimum feature guidelines, we cannot guarantee that these areas will be fully cleaned.
Marks on Dyed Parts
Marks on Dyed Parts
Black-dyed parts may show scratches or scuffs more easily. Even light pressure such as a fingernail can leave a visible mark. If you need a tougher, more scratch-resistant surface, consider one of our advanced finishes like shot peening or vapor smoothing.
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