<p>Surface finish does not really map to the substrate material, Visually, what you have shown could be glass, ceramic, plastic, epoxy or metal.</p>

<p>The surface finish is a combination of the shaping process, any post processing, and any surface finishing. Most significantly, there are a wide variety of custom paints which are designed to mimic specific surface finishes. This means you could carve an object out of clay, then spray it to give the appearance of being sand-blasted steel (to give a specific example).</p>

<p>The underlying material is mostly irrelevant to the appearance. It will be driven by mechanical/thermal considerations (is this a mock-up, or does it need to have functional wall-thickness), and production volume/cost considerations (is it a one off, or are you making hundreds/millions)?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T10:57:17.017Z
2019-02-08T10:57:17.017Z
Sean Houlihane
<p>If you want to 3D print this, you could try post processing with some acrylic or fiber glass filler, and then use some stone texture spray paint like <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plasti-kote-9444-400ml-Stone-Touch/dp/B001GU6HKU/ref=pd_aw_lpo_60_bs_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=11SDZXMB4RXA3XX1GFAS" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this one</a>.</p>

<p>Edit: SLS printing will never be heat efficient, if that product (in your example image) is an electronic case, it was either machined or molded, and the finish is some sort of paint with a ruff or stone like finish.</p>

<p>However, you might be able to pull it of with air flow redesign, and as long as the temperature does not exceed the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic or resin used, you should not face any deformations on the case.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T18:41:40.610Z
2019-01-08T22:04:32.237Z
2019-01-08T22:04:32.237Z
avc
<p>Is there anything else about this object, but its picture? Softening temperature, biodegradability, is it stiff of flexible, hard or soft, anything could help identifying its material.</p>

<p>Also, post-processing (sanding down or chemicals like acetone bath) greatly enhances the range of filaments that can be used.</p>

<p>Just from the picture, my first guess would be: it looks very much like what ceramic powder added filaments can yield with when you sand them down afterwards. Take a look at pictures of prints with LayBrick, CERAMO, etc.</p>

<p>On second thought, <strong>the answer is: Polyamide/Nylon</strong>. It must be either a polyamide case or polyamide coating of some other material. For home projects, MJF polyamide prints can easily be ordered online. Ordering polyamide coating of plastic parts can be trickier depending on your location, although definitely doable.</p>

<p>Going with Nylon at home prints may require a non-basic 3D printer and some expertise.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T10:00:54.600Z
In fact, it is a box containing an electronic card. I can give you the brand of this product : FLTER.
joshuac
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T19:11:54.657Z
What you base the PA/Nylon on? There are 16 different types of Polyamid(relative)s.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-09T20:46:31.703Z
They all look similar while their mechanical properties are different. Not sure if all copolymers are available for hobby printing, most brands don't even mark what PA they are, you can try to guess by properties. Pure Nylon 12 is hard, resistant though brittle. Nylon 11 is more flexible, and so on. Reinforced nylons have wide variety of properties. Choose the one that is right for your printer and your application.
Anton
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T09:28:10.730Z
2019-01-08T10:43:37.690Z
2019-01-08T10:43:37.690Z
Anton
<p>In the context of a personal project I would like to reproduce the appearance of a commercial product of which I send you a cropped image.</p>

<p>I would also like to point out that I do not have the object in question, but it would seem that it is made from a polymer.  </p>

<p>The product is a case with an embedded electronical card, so heat dissipation is important.</p>

<p>I'm interested by what kind of plastic is really used here. I plan to have the part manufactured by a company, so I think the method used will be SLS</p>

<p>I therefore rely on your expertise in the field of 3D printing to try to identify the material used.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/3WtzK.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/3WtzK.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Thanks</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T10:59:47.750Z
Plastic has markings in a triangle. Tell us what your markings are, they tell what your plastic is.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T14:00:27.860Z
As I may have said initially, I don't own this product....
joshuac
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T14:05:09.863Z
Does it matter what kind of plastic it really is, or are you just interested in a similar finish? There are a couple of filaments that can reproduce/mimic the looks. Maybe you should make that clear in your answer by [edit]. Furthermore it would be great if you say something about 3D printing, i.e. how are you trying to make it: FDM, SLS. As is, the question has not got a real 3D Printing value/link.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T14:30:04.073Z
@joshuac without knowing the product or the markings we can't know. The https://polymerdatabase.com does know **86** different *basic types* of plastics, at times lumping very different ones together based on their chemistry. One example: Polyamids is a group of  **16** different plastics, among them 11 different Nylons, Nomex and Kevlar - while chemically similar to some degree, their physical characteristics differ vastly!
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T15:28:11.537Z
Are you solely concerned with visual appearance, or must the part meet any functional needs such as strength, resistance to fluids, etc.?
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T19:22:42.850Z
Looks like Shapeways sandstone.
user77232
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T20:15:03.290Z
@0scar I'm interested by what kind of plastic is really used here. I plan to have the part manufactured by a company, so I think the method used will be SLS.
joshuac
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T20:17:57.067Z
@Trish, I know what you mean. The product is a case with an embedded electronical card : https://passel.io/flter. I want obtain the same result for mine.
joshuac
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T20:20:10.693Z
@CarlWitthoft, as I just said, the material have to be adapted for electronical usage : heat dissipation is an important property.
joshuac
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T21:17:32.530Z
The model you showed (the AD look) differs from the shipped look quite a bit - the later is sleek, shiny, the former a rough surface. It seems like the design was changed to allow easier production. There are no data on the material used online. Call the maker? We can't identify the material without some information you don't provide - if you seek a print material and give us temperature ranges you expect, we can give you options what you might use.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T22:15:30.853Z
@Trish, You're right. It seems that the shipped version differs from the initial one... Probably easier production. I have already contacted the company, but I haven't received an answer...
joshuac
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T22:15:35.807Z
cura has a fuzzy skin setting that's _somewhat_ like what you show in the photo.
dandavis
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T22:18:26.880Z
@dandavis, applied on which material ?
joshuac
<material>
What is this material?
joshuac
# What is this material?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-08)

In the context of a personal project I would like to reproduce the appearance of a commercial product of which I send you a cropped image.

I would also like to point out that I do not have the object in question, but it would seem that it is made from a polymer.

The product is a case with an embedded electronical card, so heat dissipation is important.

I'm interested by what kind of plastic is really used here. I plan to have the part manufactured by a company, so I think the method used will be SLS

I therefore rely on your expertise in the field of 3D printing to try to identify the material used.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/3WtzK.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/3WtzK.png)

Thanks

**Tags:** material
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Plastic has markings in a triangle. Tell us what your markings are, they tell what your plastic is.  
> **username_0**: As I may have said initially, I don't own this product....  
> **username_2**: Does it matter what kind of plastic it really is, or are you just interested in a similar finish? There are a couple of filaments that can reproduce/mimic the looks. Maybe you should make that clear in your answer by [edit]. Furthermore it would be great if you say something about 3D printing, i.e. how are you trying to make it: FDM, SLS. As is, the question has not got a real 3D Printing value/link.  
> **username_1**: @joshuac without knowing the product or the markings we can't know. The https://polymerdatabase.com does know **86** different *basic types* of plastics, at times lumping very different ones together based on their chemistry. One example: Polyamids is a group of  **16** different plastics, among them 11 different Nylons, Nomex and Kevlar - while chemically similar to some degree, their physical characteristics differ vastly!  
> **username_3**: Are you solely concerned with visual appearance, or must the part meet any functional needs such as strength, resistance to fluids, etc.?  
> **username_4**: Looks like Shapeways sandstone.  
> **username_0**: @0scar I'm interested by what kind of plastic is really used here. I plan to have the part manufactured by a company, so I think the method used will be SLS.  
> **username_0**: @Trish, I know what you mean. The product is a case with an embedded electronical card : https://passel.io/flter. I want obtain the same result for mine.  
> **username_0**: @CarlWitthoft, as I just said, the material have to be adapted for electronical usage : heat dissipation is an important property.  
> **username_1**: The model you showed (the AD look) differs from the shipped look quite a bit - the later is sleek, shiny, the former a rough surface. It seems like the design was changed to allow easier production. There are no data on the material used online. Call the maker? We can't identify the material without some information you don't provide - if you seek a print material and give us temperature ranges you expect, we can give you options what you might use.  
> **username_0**: @Trish, You're right. It seems that the shipped version differs from the initial one... Probably easier production. I have already contacted the company, but I haven't received an answer...  
> **username_5**: cura has a fuzzy skin setting that's _somewhat_ like what you show in the photo.  
> **username_0**: @dandavis, applied on which material ?  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2019-02-08. Score: 1

Surface finish does not really map to the substrate material, Visually, what you have shown could be glass, ceramic, plastic, epoxy or metal.

The surface finish is a combination of the shaping process, any post processing, and any surface finishing. Most significantly, there are a wide variety of custom paints which are designed to mimic specific surface finishes. This means you could carve an object out of clay, then spray it to give the appearance of being sand-blasted steel (to give a specific example).

The underlying material is mostly irrelevant to the appearance. It will be driven by mechanical/thermal considerations (is this a mock-up, or does it need to have functional wall-thickness), and production volume/cost considerations (is it a one off, or are you making hundreds/millions)?


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2019-01-08. Score: 0

If you want to 3D print this, you could try post processing with some acrylic or fiber glass filler, and then use some stone texture spray paint like [this one](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plasti-kote-9444-400ml-Stone-Touch/dp/B001GU6HKU/ref=pd_aw_lpo_60_bs_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=11SDZXMB4RXA3XX1GFAS).

Edit: SLS printing will never be heat efficient, if that product (in your example image) is an electronic case, it was either machined or molded, and the finish is some sort of paint with a ruff or stone like finish.

However, you might be able to pull it of with air flow redesign, and as long as the temperature does not exceed the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic or resin used, you should not face any deformations on the case.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2019-01-08. Score: 0

Is there anything else about this object, but its picture? Softening temperature, biodegradability, is it stiff of flexible, hard or soft, anything could help identifying its material.

Also, post-processing (sanding down or chemicals like acetone bath) greatly enhances the range of filaments that can be used.

Just from the picture, my first guess would be: it looks very much like what ceramic powder added filaments can yield with when you sand them down afterwards. Take a look at pictures of prints with LayBrick, CERAMO, etc.

On second thought, **the answer is: Polyamide/Nylon**. It must be either a polyamide case or polyamide coating of some other material. For home projects, MJF polyamide prints can easily be ordered online. Ordering polyamide coating of plastic parts can be trickier depending on your location, although definitely doable.

Going with Nylon at home prints may require a non-basic 3D printer and some expertise.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: In fact, it is a box containing an electronic card. I can give you the brand of this product : FLTER.  
> **username_1**: What you base the PA/Nylon on? There are 16 different types of Polyamid(relative)s.  
> **username_8**: They all look similar while their mechanical properties are different. Not sure if all copolymers are available for hobby printing, most brands don't even mark what PA they are, you can try to guess by properties. Pure Nylon 12 is hard, resistant though brittle. Nylon 11 is more flexible, and so on. Reinforced nylons have wide variety of properties. Choose the one that is right for your printer and your application.  

---

