Under AMT’s overview of its PostPro SF100, a viewer asked whether the PP vapor smoothing upgrade was “currently being offered by any North American MJF online 3d printing companies.” AMT replied with a link to its contact form. It’s a fair question, because MJF polypropylene isn’t on the same finishing agent as PA12 in AMT’s tables. A shop’s PA12 smoothing service doesn’t tell you much about whether it can do PP.
Can MJF polypropylene be vapor smoothed?
AMT lists it, with one specific agent. AMT names three PostPro finishing agents. FA5802 (Pure) and FA326 are both listed for MJF PA12 and PA11. Neither is listed for polypropylene. AMT describes FA9202 as a “Dedicated consumable for finishing polypropylene parts,” and its compatibility table lists FA9202, and only FA9202, for polypropylene from MJF and from SLS.
That isn’t a blanket approval. AMT publishes a separate FA9202 compatible materials list of the polypropylene grades approved for vapor smoothing with FA9202 on its PostPro SF systems. The list itself is a PDF behind a short form, so check your grade against it rather than assuming any PP qualifies.
Machines matter too. AMT says FA9202 works in the PostPro SFX, SF50 and SF100, and sells it in a 10 L canister for the SF50 and SF100. The SF2X isn’t on that list, though Pure runs in all four systems.
How long has PP smoothing been around?
HP and AMT announced their partnership in 2020. HP’s release said “the PostPro systems are compatible with HP’s entire portfolio of Jet Fusion printers” and that “all commercially available materials have been validated,” naming PA12, PA12 Glass Beads, PA11, ESTANE 3D TPU M95A and BASF Ultrasint TPU01. For polypropylene it said only that there would be “a solution for HP’s new HP 3D High Reusability PP enabled by BASF, available in 2021.” Neither source says whether FA9202 is that solution.
How do you find a bureau that offers it?
Ask a narrower question than “do you vapor smooth?” A shop that smooths PA12 every day may only stock Pure or FA326, and neither is listed for PP. Ask whether they print HP PP, whether their PostPro machine is an SFX, SF50 or SF100 running FA9202, and whether your PP grade is on AMT’s FA9202 list.
If you’re running an MJF line yourself, AMT’s site also offers to test your parts free. Send a PP sample with your most awkward geometry before you quote smoothed PP to a customer.
Related on the Solvi blog: Should You Dye MJF Parts Black or Vapor Smooth Them?; MJF Watertight Parts: Can PA12 Hold Water Under Pressure?; PA11 vs PA12 on MJF: When Is PA11 Worth Running?.
Sources: YouTube: AMT PostPro SF100 overview (AMT POSTPRO), viewer question and reply; AMT: Vapor smoothing consumables; AMT: PostPro SF compatible materials list, FA9202 for polypropylene; HP press release: AMT and HP partner on industrial post processing (2020).