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Vapor Polishing

At a glance

Applicable Materials

CNC Polycarbonate (Clear, Black)

Colors

N/A

Applications

Enhanced cosmetic appearance, near optically clear applications

Texture

Smooth and glossy

About the Process

Vapor polishing is a manual process that uses a vaporized solvent to melt the surface of the material so that it flows and fills in microscopic scratches or voids. The surface is polished at a microscopic level and no material is lost in the process, similar to vapor smoothing for 3DP. 

This process results in a near optically clear surface finish and is commonly used in applications where high levels of transparency are required.

Design considerations

  • Parts with uniform wall thicknesses will generally smooth more evenly
  • Radiused corners generally produce better results than sharp corners

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