TOMLABEL wrote:
ModelMonkey wrote:
Hi Bob and thanks for your patronage!
Early Sun and primer looks like a good practice. Hopefully, the folks at Shapeways will have an answer for us soon.
Hi Steve,
Is this an issue due to a change in materials or processes?...
Hi Kelley!
Shapeways (SW) reports no change to their production processes or the materials used. SW was informed last Friday of the problem, after business hours at their headquarters in Holland, and is just now trying to figure out what happened. SW has not yet provided any information or advice. SW has acknowledged that they are taking the matter seriously. SW also reports that despite FUD and FXD printers being used by SW at least since 2012, this condition has not been observed until now.
Based on comments made by other designers on SW's forum regarding this matter, it seems to be rather unknown among them so there hasn't been much help from other designers. This is not in any way meant to minimize what Martin, Vlad and Dan are experiencing, just to say that it is leaving designers and SW print engineers scratching our heads at the moment.
Until SW learns more, and since those parts affected were not primed or painted, it seems to be a prudent practice to apply a coat of primer or paint on parts when they are received (after gentle cleaning and a good dose of Sun of course), even if you don't intend to use them for a while. Although none of the FUD or FXD parts I have in hand are affected, I'll be painting them (with acrylics) this weekend.
As soon as SW has something meaningful to report, I'll pass on their findings to you here on MWS.com.
If any of you are experiencing this condition with your parts ("post-production crystallization developing on surfaces over time"), please contact SW customer services. Please be very clear in your description of what you are experiencing; the condition when described to SW is easily mistaken by SW employees as "normal" frost, which is typical for FUD and FXD, and erroneously dismissed.
To treat any unwanted "normal" frost, gentle use of an inexpensive air eraser emitting common household baking soda is known to safely remove any unwanted frost.