Overview – Shotpeen
Our shotpeening service is a fantastic way to balance out the quality of finish with additional cost. Shotpeen gives a more premium finish to that of our vibro polishing service, is the least abrasive of the finishes and costs less than vapour smoothing. The surface finish is transformed from the granular natural state to a semi/textured gloss finish, much like that of many injection moulded parts which have a sheen finish applied to them.
Often known as: Peening, polyshot, satin, semi-gloss, or polymer blasting.
How much does it cost?
+ 7%
There is no set up fee for this finish.
Maximum Part Size
240mm x 240mm x 360mm
What Colours?
Black only
Appearance and Finish
The shootpeened finish is a more premium finish when compared to our polished or natural finish. Parts have a satin finish that can reflect light, giving each part a slight sheen.
Light sheen – partial reflection on the semi-gloss surface
Sharper edges – edges are sharper than our polished or vapour smoothed finishes as the process is less abrasive
Cleaner – surfaces are cleaner than the natural or polished finishes
Black parts more consistent – Dyed black parts are more consistent in colour compared to the natural finish
Imperfections can be highlighted – The smoother surface can highlight layer lines and minor imperfections
Natural is highly recommended for
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End-user applications – Visually stunning, great for real world products. - +
Affordability – Low additional costs for a premium finish. - +
Thinner models – less aggressive than polishing, meaning finer features will survive.
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Powder residue – Adds an extra stage of air blasting, meaning that 99% of powder residue can be removed. - +
Speed – faster to produce than both Vapour smoothing or polishing. - +
Lower Friction – smoother surfaces allow less resistance.
Examples of the Shotpeen Finish
MJF PA12
SLS PA12 (PA2200)
How it works
The machine, the Dyemansion Powershot S, used to create the shotpeen finish works in a similar way to the Dyemansion Powershot C that we use to clean the parts into their natural finish, but with some key differences.
The Powdershot S uses a polymer media that is fired at the parts at a much higher pressure than the Powershot C. On impact with the part, the plastic media melts the surface for a split-second. This results in that area of the part becoming gloss. This happens thousands of times in a 10 minute cycle as the parts are rotated round in a barrel leaving the part with a nice uniform textured gloss finish all over.
Risks
Media Catching
The shotpeen media has a diameter of 0.5mm – holes, grooves, or cavities with an approx 0.5mm width are likely to trap the media. Making the engravings 0.3mm deep or wider than 0.7mm will prevent the media from catching.
Damage
The process is less abrasive than our other finishes, however, thin, intricate or vulnerable geometries will still be at high risk of damage
Pins/Pegs
Small pins, or other protruding elements from the surface of parts can easily get damaged in the process. Filleting the base of pins can help reduce the risk as well, but does not eliminate it.
Trailing edges
Trailing edges can get damaged easily in the process. We do not recommend any print to have an edge that trails to zero regardless of finish, but if parts do have a trailing edge below 1mm, then damage is likely and not covered for a free reprint.
Small parts
Small parts below 10mm can easily get lost in the cleaning process. It is recommended to make contact with our team about any very small parts so we can advise on the best course of action. Lost parts often result in costly time delays to your order.
Talk to Andrew, our Head of Technical Sales, and discover how our services can save you time and money while achieving the highest quality prints.
Design Guidelines, Maximums and Minimums
Max Print Size
This is the maximum size we can print a part in one piece
240mm x 240mm x 360mm
Min Wall Thickness
This is the minimum wall thickness we can guarantee to print. You are able to print under this guarantee at your own risk, however, prints under our guarantee are not covered for a free reprint if damaged.
Thickness: 1.5mm (SLS, MJF, SAF)
Min Embossed Thickness
This is the minimum thickness a surface detail can be – this includes text and small intricate details. Note the thickness stroke width, not the width of the entire letter if referring to text.
Width: 0.5mm
height: 0.3mm
Min Engraved Thickness
This is the minimum thickness a engraved surface detail can be – this includes text and small intricate details. Note the thickness stroke width, not the width of the entire letter if referring to text.
Width: 0.5mm
Depth: 0.3mm
Min Hole Sizes
This is the minimum diameter of a hole. As a rule of thumb, the longer the hole, the larger the diameter is required to prevent them from blocking with powder. It is best to avoid long and twisting holes as these are near impossible to clear the powder from post-print.
<2mm depth: 1mm
2-5mm depth: 2mm
5-10mm depth: 3mm
10mm+: at least 4mm
*Powder may not be able to be cleared out of holes longer than 30mm
Clearance
This is the minimum gap required between two separate parts that are designed to fit together, such as a case and a lid. This is the distance between surface faces – remember that this is each side meaning that you need to double this measurement if the whole part is interlocking. e.g. if a shaft is going into a hole, 0.15mm between surfaces means 0.3mm between diameters.
Tight fit: 0.15mm
Smooth fit: 0.25mm
Flat/Warpable Parts
Flat parts are prone to warping. Warping is where the part cools at different rates causing geometrical changes in the object. It is best to try to avoid these shapes where possible, or contact us to ask for advice.
Limitation: part dependant – ask us if you are concerned.
Min Sharp Angle
This is the minium angle recommended without a fillet or chamfer. Parts with sharp angles tend to get damaged in the print or post-processing stages. Anything sharper than the minimum angle is recommended to have a fillet.
Min Angle: 60°
Sharp Angle Fillet
Anything sharper than our minimum guaranteed angle is recommended to have a filleted edge. Filleted edges are far stronger than sharp edges and are less prone to damage in either post-processing or print stages.
Min Fillet: 1mm
Shotpeened parts – Get an Instant quote using our online system
Grab a quote for our shotpeened finish. Our Uploading System takes price breaks into consideration for higher quantities and is the fastest way to get a quote for your project.
Other finishing options available on our service
