this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2025
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Are 3D-printed objects waterproof? (lemmy.sdf.org)
submitted 2 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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I have a piece of test equipment that needs to stay underwater for days. Normally I would use or make a waterproof case with a lid and a gasket.

Instead, I'm wondering if I could print a box, pause the print just before the top face, put the device inside and then print the top face over it. No openings, no nothing, and the device works by induction so it doesn't need to physically connect to anything.

But this would only work if 3D-printed PLA walls are really waterproof. After all, 3D-printed features are kind of a bunch of wires more or less loosely attached to each other, so I wouldn't be surprised if water could leak through under pressure.

Before I spend any time assessing this myself, has anybody tried printing waterproof enclosures?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

My approach would be to combine pretty much what everyone else has said, and add annealing to the process:

  1. More walls, higher temp, bricklayers (the usual wank when you're more into 3d printing tech than design). Test if watertight and proceed to #2 when it obviously isn't
  2. Can I just buy the container?
  3. No? Then annealing could be a solution. Take the print from #1 and put it in a baking tray. Fill out every bit of air with sand to support the print. Bake the print at just above the glass temp for the filament for a enough time for the sand to get up to temp. Turn off oven and let the entire thing cool down slowly. Test the dimensions and watertightness.
  4. Realize that I didn't do a good job of supporting the structure and I spent too much material printing extra walls. Others have suggested coating the print, which will add material in a somewhat unpredictable manner. Is it acceptable in view of my tolerances, can I alter the design to make it acceptable? Print with minimal material and coat with epoxy.
  5. Get tired of the project and start comfort printing cute stuff for people you like...