While I, personally, don’t like the idea of acetone vaporizers in my cramped, non-ventilated workspace, I’m sure someone out there would get a kick out of this crowdfunded acetone vaporizing device that, in theory, will smooth out low resolution prints so they look, at least on the surface, like injection-molded parts.
This vaporization process is fairly simple – you pour some acetone AKA nail polish remover into a tray and heat it up. It takes about 3 minutes for the acetone to work its magic, essentially melting the ribboned surface of the part and turning it nice and smooth.
For $225 you can get your own unit. It seals away the vapor so it doesn’t melt away your lungs and keeps things neat and tidy while you run the process. If you’re bold you can leave things in there a little longer but, as you see from Yoda here, things can get a little moist.
Do you need this? No. 3D prints are acceptable as they are and most of us don’t need perfectly smooth objects. However if you’re casting things out of 3D prints and you need just a bit more resolution, this may be the way to go. It definitely improves the cosmetics of most prints and, barring the fact that you are wafting a little acetone into your workspace, it’s pretty safe.
The 23-year-old creator, Keith Nielsen uses his 3D printer daily and, presumably, smooths the heck out of Yodas every day of the week.
