(London, UK. October, 2024.) 3D People, a leading additive manufacturing (AM) service provider of high-quality 3D printed parts on demand, is delighted to announce its expanded colour dye finishing service. The London-based company is laser-focused on delivering the highest quality 3D printed parts in the most efficient way possible for all of its clients whether they order a single part or many thousands in production batches.
Most recently, the team at 3D People has specifically turned its attention to expanding the range of high-quality finishes available to its customers. As of now, customers have the option to select any of 170 dye colours for their additively manufactured parts.
According to Felix Manley, Co-Founder of 3D People: “We believe that we are the only AM service bureau in the UK that offers such a broad spectrum of colour options for products and parts. We know that coloured parts are not always a priority for many standard applications of AM, however, for many non-standard applications where colour is important, the choices are often limited to basic primary colours. Our new colour finishing service has the ability to match colours to the RAL colour system, ensuring precise colour consistency for industries or brands that require standardised colours.”
With this increased colour palette, for customers of 3D People, it is now possible to select and create specific custom brand colours for parts, which can subsequently be stored for future orders, enabling consistent colour branding across all products and parts that require it. Furthermore, these extensive colour dye options can be combined with 3D People’s other premium finish options, which include vibro polishing and automated vapour smoothing to achieve a smooth, high-end finish, enhancing the overall aesthetic and feel of the part AND improved part properties.
Eyewear by Tides Studios, manufactured and finished by 3D People.
Eyewear by Tides Studios, manufactured and finished by 3D People.
One customer that it taking full advantage of the full colour and advanced finishing options from 3D People is Tides Studios, also based in London. Originally established as a sustainable design consultancy, Tides has maintained its commitment to sustainability throughout its transition into the eyewear industry. This was one of the key factors of working with 3D People, because everything that Tides produces — the glasses themselves as well as the cases and packaging — are all designed, manufactured and assembled in London. Beyond geography, however, Tides works with companies that supply quality and colour options that work for its brand. Joseph Alpert, Founder of Tides Studios, commented: "Finding an additive manufacturing partner with a solid colour range was a struggle. Most only had basic colours, and paint trials always cracked or flaked. Since 3D People rolled out their 170 standard colours, we’ve shifted all our production to them. Their dyes hold up great for eyewear, and the colour options are perfect for what we need. Plus, working with their team on non-standard colours has been a pleasure—they really get what we’re looking for. Their vapour smoothing also makes the colours pop more than anything we’ve seen from other suppliers."
From experience and intensive testing, the 3D People team has demonstrated that dyed AM parts offer flexibility without cracking, maintaining their colour integrity even when flexed or bent, thus avoiding the cracking or flaking that often occurs with a painted finish. Moreover, dyed parts also exhibit uniform and consistent colour coverage as well as enhanced durability with greater wear resistance when compared with paint finishes. This is because the dye colour process ensures that the dye penetrates into the top layers of the part rather than sitting on the surface, which prevents chipping or peeling.
Sasha Bruml, co-founder of 3D People, commented: “Quality is central to our entire 3D printing service offering from beginning to end, and the foundation of our reputation. We are listening to our customers and they are excited by these new colour options for finishing because it offers them extensive customisation opportunities with AM and, in some cases, is providing them with a competitive advantage when it comes to their customised and brand colour choices without having to outsource painting to a 3rd party with the inevitable costs that brings.”
Colour dyeing AM parts is proving to be a cost-effective colour solution because it eliminates the need for primers, multiple coats of paint, as well as post-painting treatments. Not only is it more sustainable, with reduced material and labour costs, but it also offers a more permanent, flexible and robust colour solution.
Surface finishing options + colour provide our customers with options to suit their applications. (From left to right, surface finishes are shot peened, Vibro polished, vapour smoothed.)
The 3D People colour service is proving ideal for both prototypes and end-use parts, especially in applications where wear and aesthetics are crucial.
Manley concludes: “This is just one small, but important, step forward for 3D People in achieving excellence in the finishing of 3D printed parts. This is what we focus on at 3D People, and there is much more to come. The future needs to look beyond the use of AM to make parts, and onto the ability to produce repeatable surface finishes which rival and are often superior to parts produced using conventional manufacturing processes.”
ENDS