Shot Peening
Automated blasting process that greatly improves the surface finish of parts.
Shot Peened 3D Printed Parts
Our shot peening service is a fantastic way to balance out the quality of finish with additional cost.
Shot peen 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. Shot peening is also referred to as peening, polyshot, satin, semi-gloss, or polymer blasting.
3D Shot Peening: Prices, Sizes, Materials and Colours
How much does it cost?
+ 7%
There is no set up fee for this finish.
Maximum Part Size
240mm x 240mm x 360mm
(Economy, Trade & Scheduled orders)
Materials Available
Colours Available
Black Only
Appearance and Finish of Shot Peening
The shoot peened 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.
How 3D Shot Peening Works
The machine, the Dyemansion Powershot S, used to create the shot peen 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.
Benefits of Shot Peened 3D Printed Parts
Examples
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.
Risks of Shot Peening 3D Printed Parts
Media Catching
The shot peen 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.
Shot peened parts – Get an Instant quote using our online system
Grab a quote for our shot peened 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
Finish Options
| Finish | Min Thickness | Cost | SLS PA12 | MJF PA12 | SAF PA11 | SLS TPU | Express | Economy | Trade | Scheduled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural | 1mm | Free | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Vibro Polished | 2mm | +2% | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Shot Peened | 1.5mm | +7% | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Vapour Smoothed | 1.5mm | 30p +10% | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Colour Options
| Colour | Min Thickness | Cost | SLS PA12 | MJF PA12 | SAF PA11 | SLS TPU | Express | Economy | Trade | Scheduled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 1.5mm | +10% | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Standard Colours | 1.5mm | £10 +10% | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Custom Colours | 1.5mm | £60 + 10% | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |