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Painting: Surface Coating Overview

Our painted finish improves the appearance of your 3D-printed plastic parts by providing a smooth, uniform, and professional cosmetic covering.

Painting is offered for both FDM and Resin parts, which helps to hide small surface irregularities, enhance overall uniformity, and provide a refined final appearance suited for display, evaluation, or functioning prototypes.

Painting - Specification

FDM Specifications

Surface Preparation	Sanded surface recommended (wet & dry sanding 220–1200 grit)
Primer Application	Yes, essential for uniform color coverage
Paint Type	Matte or Glossy
Color Availability	Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Red, White, Yellow, Gray
Visual Appearance	Smooth, uniform color; reduced visibility of layer lines; professional cosmetic appeal
Best For	Visible housings, display prototypes, customer demo parts

Resin Specifications

Surface Preparation	Micro-sanded surface (600–2000 grit) after support removal
Primer Application	Yes, improves adhesion & smoothness
Paint Type	Matte or Glossy
Color Availability	Black
Visual Appearance	Very smooth, even coating; crisp details; near-showpiece finish
Best For	Fine-detail prototypes, miniatures, visual models, cosmetic housings

Gloss Options for Painted Parts

1. Matte — subtle, low-shine, elegant

2. Glossy — reflective, smooth, polished

Sample Painted Part

Design Considerations for Painting

1. Surface Accessibility

Large flat surfaces, exposed outer faces, and open curves paint cleanly.

Very tight interiors or partially enclosed features may show reduced coverage or minor shadowing.

2. Complex Geometries

Deep grooves, small pockets, and internal corners may not receive even coverage.

Round edges and flat surfaces deliver the most uniform finish.

3. Dimensional Impact

Painting adds a thin coating layer (~0.1–0.2 mm).

Critical tolerances or sliding features should be masked.

4. Material Differences

FDM parts naturally absorb paint differently due to visible layer patterns.

Resin parts achieve a more consistent painted finish because of their inherently smooth surface.

5. Masking Requests

If certain regions must remain unpainted (snap fits, functional zones), mark them in your drawing so masking can be applied.

Painting Process

Painting gives 3D-printed parts a smoother and more finished look. It evens out surfaces, reduces visible marks, and gives both FDM and Resin parts a clean, consistent appearance.

How We Paint 3D-Printed Parts at Mech Power

Inspect and clean the printed part after support removal
Perform sanding (wet/dry for FDM, micro-sanding for resin) to minimize imperfections
Apply primer coating for improved adhesion and uniform color
Spray matte or glossy paint in controlled applications
Allow curing for optimal finish strength and surface stability
Final inspection for surface consistency, color uniformity, and finish quality.

This method delivers FDM and Resin parts that look polished, uniform, and ready for product displays, client demonstrations, or final visual evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you apply primer before painting?

Yes, always. It helps the paint look clean and consistent.

2. What paint colors do you offer?

FDM supports many colors. Resin supports black only.

3. Matte vs Glossy, what’s the difference?

Matte is subtle and low-shine. Glossy is reflective and polished.

4. Will paint hide all layer lines?

It hides minor lines, but sanding first gives the best result.

5. Does paint affect the fit of the part?

Only a little. If you have tight-fit areas, we’ll mask them.