1. Support removal and surface cleaning
3D Printing Mold often has support structures during the production process, and the first step of post-processing is to remove these supports. This can be done carefully with hand tools such as pliers and blades, or some small power tools can be used to improve efficiency. After removing the support, the mold surface needs to be cleaned to remove impurities such as residual powder or filaments. Compressed air blowing, soft brush sweeping and other methods can be used to ensure that the mold surface is clean and tidy, ready for subsequent processing.
2. Surface grinding and polishing
In order to improve the surface quality and precision of the mold, grinding and polishing are important post-processing steps. Grinding can use sandpaper of different grain sizes, gradually from coarse to fine, to remove the rough parts and minor flaws on the surface. For some molds with higher requirements, further polishing can be performed. Polishing can use polishing paste and polishing wheels to make the mold surface smoother, reduce friction, and facilitate mold demolding during use. At the same time, a smooth surface can also improve the appearance quality of the product.
3. Coating treatment and strengthening
In order to enhance the wear resistance, corrosion resistance and demolding performance of the mold, the mold can be coated. Common coatings include Teflon coating, titanium nitride coating, etc. These coatings can effectively protect the mold surface and extend the service life of the mold. In addition, the mold can be strengthened by heat treatment and other methods to improve the strength and hardness of the mold so that it can withstand higher pressure and temperature.
4. Dimensional accuracy adjustment and inspection
3D Printing Mold may have certain dimensional errors and requires dimensional accuracy adjustment. Precision measuring tools such as micrometers and three-coordinate measuring machines can be used to measure the size of the mold, and then adjustments can be made based on the measurement results. Local adjustments can be made by grinding, cutting, etc., or the overall size can be corrected by printing some compensation structures again. After completing all post-processing steps, the mold needs to be fully inspected to ensure that its dimensional accuracy, surface quality and performance meet the requirements. Only molds that have passed strict inspections can be put into use.
