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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: THX1138b on Sun, 25 February 2018, 08:48:22

Title: I need a low-viscosity liquid that will harden into a white solid
Post by: THX1138b on Sun, 25 February 2018, 08:48:22

I have a small hobby project in which I'm printing some keyboard keycaps with an SLA 3D printer with the intention of filling in an inset legend with some kind of paint or resin which will harden in a contrasting colour (white since the SLA resin is black) but I don't know exactly what to use. The spaces I fill will be really small so I need to use something with low viscosity which I can inject with a (blunt, narrow needle) syringe and it will self-level and harden very slowly so I have time to inject about 70 characters in total. I know two-part resins are available but I don't know their viscocity or if there are more suitable alternatives. Can anyone advise a suitable material available in small quantities for this purpose?

(https://imgur.com/h1ArNof.png)

Title: Re: I need a low-viscosity liquid that will harden into a white solid
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 25 February 2018, 10:25:19

I don't know the answer beyond a high-quality paint, but, fortunately for you in this situation, with the infill below the primary surface level, you won't see it wear "off" like pad printing does. Your main concern will be whether it chips or flakes "out" of the cavity.

Title: Re: I need a low-viscosity liquid that will harden into a white solid
Post by: Tactile on Sun, 25 February 2018, 11:01:46

I don't know if any of them are available in white but one of these (https://www.epoxysetinc.com/different-types-of-potting-compounds/) would probably be a good choice. By varying the mixture you can control the speed of set.