COLOUR DYE SERVICE FOR SLS PA12 3D PRINTS

Make your 3D printed parts pop with vibrant and durable colours

Enhance the visual appeal and provide additional protection for your 3D printed parts with our color dye service. Explore our Standard and Extended range of colours, available through our ISO-certified colouring process, which achieves vibrant and durable results with consistent repeatability. Whether you need a standard colour or a custom shade, our dyeing process ensures that your parts look professional and perform reliably.

4 Brilliant Standard COLOURS

These four colours are available with short lead times and minimal extra cost

Traffic Red

RAL 3020

Signal Blue

RAL 5005

Pastel Orange

RAL 2003

Anthracite Grey

RAL 7016

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+ limitless extended colours

Discover the Extended Colour palette with hundreds of colours available for instant order through our online quote tool. Enhance your projects with a wider selection of vibrant and diverse colours.

163 Colours Available Online

Order any of the 163 colours instantly online. Each colour is made to order and requires additional lead time and start-up costs. Use the online quote tool to select a colour and view the estimated lead time and cost.

+ Custom Colour matching

Custom colour matching is crucial for certain projects, such as aligning with your brand's unique identity. The Colour Matching service enables the creation of bespoke colours tailored to your specific needs. This service is available upon request; for further details and to discuss your requirements, please get in touch.

available in a range of finishes

The deep-dye process enhances the appearance and durability of your parts, giving them a satin finish that improves tactile feel and increases resistance to dirt and scratches. The dye penetrates approximately 0.2mm into the surface of SLS parts, resulting in a vibrant exterior colour while maintaining a white interior. Combining the deep-dye process with different surface treatments can further enhance the visual appeal and functional properties of your parts.

As Printed (+ Shot Peen)

Included in the dye process, Shot Peening evens out the minor peaks and troughs on the surface, yielding a more uniform finish that is well-prepared for the dyeing process.

Vibro Polishing

Vibro Polishing smoothes the grainy surface texture, resulting in a soft finish. The process is not suitable for delicate parts, affects external dimensions, and rounds sharp edges.

Vapour Smoothing

Vapour Smoothing smoothes, seals and enhances the performance of your parts. The sealed surface is ideal for applications requiring airtight and watertight integrity.

WHY USE colour dye?

Colour dyeing is a crucial post-processing technique for enhancing the aesthetic and functional properties of 3D printed parts. This process embeds colour into the material, providing a vibrant and uniform finish without altering the dimensions of the parts. Unlike painting, colour dyeing is more durable and resistant to wear and environmental factors. This method is especially beneficial for projects requiring a precise fit and a high-quality finish that withstands regular use and exposure.

PROS

✅ Better than paint:

More durable and cost-effective than traditional painting methods, providing long-lasting colour that withstands wear and tear.

✅ Complete coverage:

Colours all surfaces, including intricate and hard-to-reach areas, as well as non-line-of-sight features.

✅ Dimensions are not altered:

Does not add thickness, ensuring that parts maintain their original dimensions.

✅ UV resistance:

Improves resistance to UV light, reducing fading and degradation over time.

CONS

👎 Increased Lead Time:

Requires an additional day in the production process, extending overall lead times.

👎 Additional Costs:

Extra charges are incurred, adding to the cost of the final product.

👎 Partial penetration:

The dye penetrates 0.2mm into the part, colouring the outside but remaining white internally.

👎 Colour consistency:

Minor variations in tone can occur across the part and from batch to batch.

Industrial Technology

Dyemansion DM60: The leading colouring solution for industrial Additive Manufacturing.

Enhanced Durability: Vibrant colours with improved scratch resistance and longevity.

ISO-Certified Process: Suitable for biocompatible and durable applications, meeting stringent industry standards.

Consistent Results: Precise colour formulas ensure repeatable, high-quality outcomes every time.

how it works

Experience superior quality with an ISO-certified colour dye finishing process, meticulously designed for outstanding results:

Surface Preparation

The SLS PA12 parts are blasted with glass and plastic media to remove residual powder, contaminants, and even out tiny surface imperfections, ensuring a smooth and uniform surface for optimal dye absorption.

Deep Dye Colour

Using advanced Dyemansion equipment, parts are dyed under controlled conditions that balance temperature, dye concentration, pressure, and agitation.

After Treatment

The dyed parts undergo a thorough wash with a specialized cleaning agent to remove any excess dye. They are then dehydrated to eliminate moisture and set the colour permanently.

Shot Peen Surfacing

Finally, the parts are shot peened using polymer beads, resulting in an improved surface finish with uniform colour, enhanced scratch resistance, and a smooth, homogeneous appearance.

industrial quality end-use components

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Multi-colour assemblies

During the dye process, parts are fully submerged in a dye solution, meaning a single colour is applied to every surface of the part. Parts that require multiple colours should be separated and ordered as individual components to be dyed individually.

Mult-Colour Assembly

The emergency stop assembly comprises four components dyed with Traffic Red, Pastel Orange, Anthracite Grey, and Black.

Individually Coloured Components

Separating assemblies into components allows for exclusive colour application on each part.

Colour Dye FAQ:

+ How do I order parts with Colour Dye Finish?

To order 3D printed parts with a colour dye finish, simply upload your 3D files through our instant quote portal. Select Selective Laser Sintering PA12 Nylon and choose your desired colour option from the available palette.

+ What is Colour Dye Finish?

Colour Dye Finish is a vibrant and durable surface treatment for SLS PA12 Nylon 3D prints. It involves immersing parts in a dye solution under carefullly controlled conditions, allowing the dye to penetrate the surface for a uniform and bright colour.

+ How doeas Colour Dye change the surface finish?

Asides from altering the colour, Colour Dye Finish enhances the surface quality, offers better resistance to wear, dirt and UV light.

+ What does Colour Dye Finish look like?

The finish gives your parts a vivid, uniform colour with a semi-gloss or satin appearance, depending on the combination of other surface finishing treatments such as vibro polishing or vapour smoothing. The colour is deep and robust providing a professional and high-quality look.

+ How does Colour Dye Finish improve part properties?

The dyeing and shot peen process enhances the surface properties by providing a smooth, scratch-resistant finish. This makes the parts more durable and reduces surface roughness, leading to better tactile feedback and less dirt accumulation.

+ Are there any limitations on parts that can be dyed?

The dyeing process is suitable for most part sizes and complex geometries. However, the limitations are generally the same as those of the SLS and MJF 3D printing technologies. For detailed guidelines, refer to our design guide.

+ Does the dyeing process alter the dimensions of the parts?

No, the colour dyeing process does not affect the dimensions or tolerances of the parts. It is a surface treatment that penetrates the material without changing the overall geometry.

+ Is there an additional cost for Colour Dye Finish?

Yes, the Colour Dye Finish incurs an additional cost. Despite the high-quality result and added durability, we strive to keep the extra charge reasonable to provide great value for our customers.

+ Does dyeing 3D prints change the material properties?

Dyeing improves the surface properties, such as scratch and dirt resistance, but does not alter the mechanical properties of the material. The core strength and flexibility remain the same as those of natural white parts.

+ Can I apply colour dye to only one surface of my model?

No, the dyeing process involves fully submerging the parts in a dye solution, which means all internal and external surfaces will be coloured. Masking specific areas is not possible with this technique. Multi-colour parts can be achieved by splitting the model into separate components, which are then dyed individually.

+ What is the lead time for Colour Dye Finish in SLS 3D printing?

The additional lead time required for applying a Colour Dye Finish to your SLS 3D prints depends on the selected colour palette. The Standard Colour dyes are readily available to minimise delay in your production timeline. The Extended Colour dyes are made to order and require additional lead time to produce.

Standard Colour Dye: Adds just 1 working day to the overall production time.
Extended Colour Dye: Requires an additional 5 working days, accommodating the creation of the colour dye.

+ How do I request custom colour matching for SLS 3D printing?

For projects that require colour matching, such as producing parts in your brand colours or replicating a skin tone, our Colour Matching service is the ideal solution. This service allows for the creation of bespoke colours tailored to your exact specifications. To request custom colour matching for your SLS 3D printed parts, please contact our team with your specific requirements.

+ How do you ensure colour consistency to RAL codes?

While we offer colour options based on RAL codes for reference, it is important to note that we cannot guarantee an exact match to the RAL colours. Variations can occur due to the nature of the dyeing process and the inherent differences in material properties. Additionally, surface finishes such as vibro polishing and vapour smoothing can further influence the final appearance of the colour. Therefore, while we strive to achieve close approximations, exact colour consistency cannot be guaranteed.