A part does not always come off the machine ready for its final home, and that is where post-processing earns its keep. Post-processing is the stage where a raw MJF print becomes a genuinely finished product, and the steps you choose depend entirely on how the part will look, feel and perform once it is out in the world doing its job.
We handle all of this finishing in house alongside our MJF & SLS printing service at our Perth warehouse, so your parts can arrive complete rather than needing extra work elsewhere. Keeping it under one roof means tighter quality control, fewer hand offs and a faster, simpler process for you from order to delivery.
Powder removal and bead blasting
Every MJF part begins its finishing journey with cleaning, where loose powder is carefully removed from all the surfaces and cavities by hand and with compressed air. This is precisely why escape holes in hollow parts matter so much, as they let trapped powder find its way out rather than rattling around inside the part forever and adding hidden weight.
Bead blasting follows the initial clean, gently firing fine media at the surface to give an even, clean, matte finish across the whole part. It removes the very last traces of loose powder and creates a consistent texture everywhere, including curves and recesses, which then takes dye beautifully and uniformly without patchy areas. The media and pressure are matched to the part so that fine detail, lettering and crisp edges all survive the process, while the surface still comes out evenly matted from one face to the next.
Dyeing for colour
Black dyeing is by far the most popular finish, soaking deep colour into the porous nylon in a heated bath so that it will not chip or rub off with handling. Because the dye penetrates the surface rather than coating it like paint, it covers complex shapes and internal features evenly in a way that spray painting simply struggles to match on intricate parts.
The result is a rich, professional black that suits consumer products and visible parts equally well. Every recess and channel comes out the same colour as the outer surfaces, so there are no thin or missed spots to spoil the appearance, and the finish stays looking good through years of regular handling.
Sealing and protective steps
Depending on the application, a few further steps can improve both performance and appearance beyond a simple blast and dye. Choosing the right combination is about matching the finish to how the part will actually be used rather than reaching for every option on the list.
- Sealing to reduce porosity and surface marking.
- Smoothing for a softer, more refined surface feel.
- Threaded inserts for strong, reusable fastenings.
- Spot machining of critical faces and bores.
Matching finish to the job
The right level of finishing depends on whether the part is hidden inside an assembly, handled every day or on show to a customer. A purely internal bracket may need nothing more than a clean and a blast, while a visible enclosure usually justifies a full blast, dye and seal to look its best and resist marking over time.
Over finishing simply adds cost and lead time for no real benefit, so it pays to be honest about what each part needs. Where appearance is critical, a small sample finished to your chosen specification lets you check the colour and texture in the hand before we run the whole batch the same way.
Choose the right finish package
Not every part needs every step, and the simplest finish that meets your needs is almost always the most economical. Tell us how the part will be used and seen, then send it through a quote and we will recommend a finishing package that fits the job and the budget without going over the top.