One of the challenges of 3D printing is to make a print with a smooth surface that retains all of its fine details. We're accustomed to our everyday plastic objects having a surface with a glass-like sheen, but these objects have been manufactured with an entirely different process. Recreating the finishes used by traditional plastic molding technologies is impossible with a RepRap machine. However, there are methods to create a finish with higher detail using RepRap-based printers. We'll explore how we can accomplish this by increasing our printer's resolution.
There are commercial hot ends available that have nozzle sizes varying from 0.2 mm to 0.75 mm. Ideally, each of these nozzle sizes will print layers that are slightly below its bore size. The reasoning behind this is that a print is made of successive layers, which are built upon each other. For each layer to bond, the layer heights must be squeezed against each other. We can see this illustrated clearly...