Can anyone tell me what causes this pattern on the surface of the print and is there anyway to prevent it ?
I have uploaded a better picture (hopefully).
the surface you are seeing is the top surface.
It is the side of a model car, most car models in makerworld seem to have this so I am unsure if it is by design or just one of the shortcomings of 3d print.
I only get a thumbnail size image here, impossible to judge.
And knowing a bit more about the shape and orientation of the print wouldn’t hurt either…
It is how FDM 3D printer prints, layer by layer. Lowering layer height could hide this a bit but still cannot eliminate it completely.
You can sand it down to remove the layer lines or add filler then sand it down for smooth surface. Final step would be paint the part for the finish you want.
As mentioned previously by @simon14 , this is the result of a topology sliced at given layer heights.
Try Adaptive Layer height in the slicer before considering sanding and further post-processing.
That’s a much better pic.
Seems to be rounded in both directions…
As the others already said, FMD works in layers only until we get non-planar slicing options.
There is certain ways to limit the impact, like trying to orient the model so you get even slopes or a straight wall where it matters.
But for such organic shapes it is near impossible to get a smooth surface without after work.
For miniatures and such where I don’t want to bother with my resin printer I cheat.
My grandfather already said to work smarter not harder.
Turns out nail polish has the perfect consistency and flow to hide layer lines and the stuff is available in all colours you can dream of.
Dirt cheap too if you don’t need brand names.
There is also a technique I call adaptive sanding.
I use a relatively slow drying plastic primer or clear coat on the part and dust it with corn starch.
Very thin coats, let dry, sand off the access until the the edges of the layers shine through and repeat until you have a smooth surface, then paint.
Hi,
Thank you everybody for the detailed explanations.
All very helpful and informative.
I will give all these tips a try too, all adds to the learning experience.
