12) Application of STEP 2 (Sanding)

We continue the application exercise with STEP 2 sanding.

We have completed the STEP 1 application on the cube. We deleted the layer lines. STEP 1 application is a leveling process on the part. We make a flat surface by removing material from the deep peak-valley region consisting of layer lines. An average of 100-130 microns (0.10-0.13mm) of material is removed from the wall. When we print using a 0.4mm nozzle, the width of the outermost wall becomes 0.4mm (400 micron). When the layers are stacked on top of each other, they form layer lines in the form of a peak and valley of approximately 90 microns. By taking 100-130 microns from this surface, we get rid of the peaks and valleys and obtain a one-piece flat surface.

Now we have the surface on which we applied STEP 1. This surface is now considered flat. It does not have large peak and valleys as in the layer lines. We use a relatively coarse abrasive when we do STEP 1. We use P240 grit sandpaper. This sandpaper leaves a roughness on the surface after work. Now the surface is flat but has a roughness left over from sandpaper. With the STEP 2 step, we start the process of removing these rough roughnesses on the surface left from the STEP 1 step.