Transparent 3D Printing Services
From 3D data to desk, we can produce transparent 3D printed parts in a matter of days
Our Transparent 3D Printing Service
Malcolm Nicholls Ltd are experts in transparent 3D printing; with the ability to produce virtually optically clear 3D printing from our SLA machines. We can help you see inside your assembly, and this process is utilised by many of our clients for flow testing and analysis, as well as replicating glass for many designs. Glass-like SLAs can be achieved with MNL not just for lenses and lighting-based components.Â
Imagine building a transparent full-size 3d printed automotive engine with the ability to see what’s going on internally for things such as clashing, interference fit and flow analysis reducing your development process … impressive!Â
Transparent 3D Printing – Typical Applications
The ability to create transparent 3D-printed parts opens up a wide range of applications:
- Housings and Enclosures: Transparent housings for electronics, medical devices, or prototypes allow users to see the internal components. This is useful for design verification, debugging, and aesthetic purposes. Examples include clear cases for small computers or custom housings for sensors and LEDs.
- Bottles and Containers: While 3D-printed bottles are not yet food-safe or suitable for commercial use, they are excellent for creating functional prototypes. Designers can test bottle shapes, volumes, and cap designs quickly and cheaply. 3D printined perfume bottles, or 3D printed bottles for advertising. This is also useful for creating unique, one-off containers for display or specialised non-consumable liquids.
- Medical and Scientific Models: Transparent anatomical models are invaluable for surgical planning and medical education, allowing students and surgeons to visualise organs and blood vessels. Likewise, transparent scientific models, such as fluid dynamics prototypes, help researchers observe internal processes.
- Lighting and Optics: Transparent 3D printing is used to create custom lenses, light guides, and decorative light fixtures. Designers can create complex geometric shapes that are impossible to mold, enabling unique lighting effects and optimized light distribution.
- Prototyping: It’s an indispensable tool for product development. Engineers can rapidly prototype clear components like dashboards, display covers, or windows to test fit and function before investing in expensive tooling for injection molding.
Achieve Optical Perfection: The Malcolm Nicholls Difference in Clear 3D Printed Parts
While Stereolithography (SLA) is an incredible technology for creating clear parts, the reality is that the raw, clear resin print often lacks the high-end visual appearance required for a polished prototype. The moment a part emerges from the resin vat, it may appear clear, but the surface is typically a milky, semi-translucent finish that falls short of true optical transparency.
At Malcolm Nicholls Ltd, we don’t just stop at the 3D print. We leverage our decades of finishing expertise to transform your clear 3D printed parts into a stunning, optically clear final product. Our skilled craftsmen employ a range of specialised techniques, from expert sanding through various grades to precision polishing and lacquering, to achieve a perfectly transparent, glass-like finish.
We understand that not every project requires the same level of clarity. We’ll work with you to understand your specific needs and apply the right finishing techniques to suit your budget and timeline. The examples below demonstrate how we can dramatically improve the standard result, providing a finish that is not only visually superior but also perfectly suited to your prototype or 3D printing requirements.
Large Format Clear 3D Printed Parts
We can produce large transparent 3D printing without the need for sectioning and fabricating back together, by utilising our large format SLA 3D printers. These have impressive build platforms of 800 x 800 x 600mm – perfect for any large format clear 3D printing.
What finishing options do we offer? How do we achieve these results? And at what cost?
To create optically clear 3D printed parts, a meticulous process of sanding, polishing, and lacquering is required. However, not every project demands perfect clarity, and the level of finish can be tailored to your specific visual and functional needs.
At Malcolm Nicholls Ltd, our team provide a range of finishing grades to achieve the exact appearance you require:
Transparent 3D Printing & Clear Prototyping
At Malcolm Nicholls Ltd (MNL), we don’t just print parts; we deliver finished, high-performance prototypes tailored to your exact specifications. While SLA is the core of our transparent 3D printing, our true advantage lies in our expert finishing team and state-of-the-art, large-format technology. This combination allows us to create seamless, optically clear parts up to 800mm in size in a single build, eliminating the need for bonding smaller sections. Whether you need a full-size automotive engine model or a perfectly clear lens, our process ensures superior quality and flawless aesthetics.
Clear Vacuum Casting: Perfect Replicas with Production-Grade Materials
For projects requiring multiple copies of a master model, we utilise clear vacuum casting. This process uses a durable silicone mold and a variety of polyurethane resins that can mimic the properties of production plastics like PMMA (acrylic) and polycarbonate. The liquid resin is poured into the mold inside a vacuum chamber, which draws out all air, preventing the formation of bubbles and ensuring a perfectly transparent, bubble-free cast. This is an ideal solution for producing small batches of high-fidelity, optically clear parts for functional testing or low-volume production.
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Address
Waterloo Industrial Estate, Waterloo Cres, Bidford-on-Avon, B50 4JH
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01789 490382
Email Us
quotes@mnl.co.uk