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3D Printed Objects – Wet-sanding Offers More Luster

Published: January 22, 2019
, Last updated: September 18, 2025

Wet-sanding offers more luster

To achieve a smooth, glossy finish for 3D printed objects, wet-sanding offers a significant advantage. As an example, think about automotive paints and their mirror-smooth look. Wet-sanding is the key to achieving that luster. Wet-sanding removes large scratches left by the dry-sanding process. Plus, the water acts as a lubricant and carrier for the sanding dust.

Our ÅngströmLap 3D Polishing Films are designed specifically for polishing 3D printed objects and can be used wet or dry. They have a durable, waterproof, plastic backing, which makes them especially amenable to wet sanding. You can also rinse or soak them in water if they get clogged. (This offers a more robust, longer-lasting solution than sandpaper.) In addition, several of our ÅngströmLap 3D finer grits are unique “cushion films” – they have a specially designed cushion layer that provides a very slight give to the film. This allows the film to better conform to the surface. The cushion films provide increased surface area and smoothing action for the grit. The grits are tightly graded aluminum oxide and silicon carbide spheres, with high hardness and durability. One of our finest films, 1-micron SiC, is specialized for mirror polishing.

READ THE BLOG: Sanding 3D Printed Objects: How to Get a Mirror-Polish Finish

 

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About the Author
FOC Tips Fiber Optic Center has a team of technical experts and marketing strategists with decades of years in the field. This team contributes to the fiber, cable and specialty industries coverage through news, alerts, reports and general media information.
About Fiber Optic Center, Inc.
Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment, materials, and supplies known for helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over three decades. Material property consultation is provided by technical experts for lapping film, epoxy, adhesives, optical coatings, and optical plastics during application specific material selection. Technical process expertise is offered in several key technology areas. Specialized expertise includes cable assembly line mastery, fiber broadband field installation best practices, and technical advancements in telecom, datacom, data centers, and hyperscale. Optical cable specification development includes design and quality testing. FOC's impact reaches the network physical capabilities through fiber manufacturing process expertise from preform fabrication and shaping, fiber drawing, and coating requirements for double clad fibers used for high power fiber laser applications to solution doping, vapor phase doping, rare earth chelates and halide recipe consultation. Fiber Optic Center is the preferred choice for the world’s fiber professionals as the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

For further information contact:
Fiber Optic Center, Inc., 23 Centre Street, New Bedford, MA 02740-6322
Toll Free in US: 800-IS-FIBER or 800-473-4237 . Direct 508-992-6464. Email: sales@focenter.com or fiberopticcenter@focenter.com

For media contact:
Kathleen Skelton, Director of Strategic Marketing, C: 617-803-3014 . E: kskelton@focenter.com