Are you going to look through it from the side (x and y axes) or from the top (z-axis)? Achieving transparency in the z-axis is much simpler and decidedly more complicated in the x-axis and y-axis. Choose which axis you need to be transparentīefore proceeding with printing a model, it would be prudent to decide on which axes you need the object to be transparent. Also be wary of filament with air bubbles, as these can easily cause heavy light diffraction and make it impossible to achieve a perfectly clear appearance. Depending on the brand and how the filament was made, some clear filaments may turn out to be slightly translucent or have a minor yellow hue.
First off, you will want a filament that actually looks clear. What you need to be more discerning about is the quality of clear filaments between different brands. ABS, in particular, is a naturally yellowish-white plastic that requires additives to achieve a clear appearance. However, keep in mind that not all plastics are naturally clear. Any of the three filament options we’ve listed above can be used to create almost perfectly clear 3D prints. Most of the clear filaments you can buy today are made from PLA, but there are also several options made from PETG or ABS. Fortunately, this is a pretty straightforward matter. The first component of our mission is the material. Our key takeaway from this discussion is that there are two avenues that we need to consider when 3D printing a clear object – the material, and its processing. This is achieved through the rapid cooling of glass under a high-pressure environment, resulting in the formation of very small crystals with very small grain boundaries. Materials made of crystals – such as glass – also exhibit transparency because the boundaries between adjacent crystals are smaller than the frequency of visible light. This is usually because of impurities in the material or imperfections in the material’s surface. In diffraction, scattering of the rays of light or internal reflections prevents light from getting transmitted through an object. While absorption is typically a phenomenon that is a function of the material, diffraction can be controlled by processing. However, it’s possible for them to absorb photons of infrared or ultraviolet light, or light at frequencies that cannot be seen by the naked human eye. In transparent objects, the energy levels are arranged such that they absorb photons at the frequency of visible light. This happens because the electrons of an opaque material have energy states that allow them to move from one band to another, thereby absorbing energy from the photons of light. Let’s start our guide with a brief discussion about optics by answering this question – what makes an object transparent? In designing an object that we want to be as clear or transparent as possible, there are two phenomena that we are trying to avoid: the absorption and diffraction of light.Ībsorption refers to the ability of an object to absorb light instead of reflecting it or letting it pass through. What does it take for something to be transparent? A review of optics The process itself isn’t going to be quick – all we can say is that we hope that you have the patience.
How does one achieve a fully transparent 3D print? Wonder no more, as we’ve taken the experience of people who have been able to succeed with transparent 3D printing and have come up with this quick guide. Achieving this feat requires very specific printer settings and post-processing, all taking into account basic concepts of optics. As anyone who’s tried it will tell you, it’s not as simple as using a clear filament. 3D Insider is ad supported and earns money from clicks, commissions from sales, and other ways.įor some people who are into 3D printing, creating a project that is completely clear is something of a holy grail.
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