How to Use @RitDye to Make an SLA Prototype Any Color You Want

Stereolithography, sometimes known as the "SLA" rapid prototyping process, is one of the oldest RP processes, with phenomenal resolution and part quality. We certainly love using our in house FDM machine to make prototypes, but it when it comes time to get ready for photo shoots, we decided to go with an outside vendor.

Unfortunately, SLA's aren't available in the color we wanted. The solution? An old trick we used to decorate lacrosse sticks as a kid - use Rit clothing dye to tint the part. After a failed experiment last week with an off brand dye, we're back with a successful result and and took notes for a how-to:

Making Transparent SLA Parts in Any Color You Want

First, the necessary equipment: you'll need a pot you don't mind ruining with a mesh basket, Rit Dye (we haven't had success with other brands of dye), and the SLA prototype.

Place the SLA in the pot.

Fill the pot with enough water to cover the SLA prototype.

Pull the prototype out so you can mix the dye well. The package directions suggest half a bottle per 3 gallons of water for each lb. of cloth, but we're dying plastic. I used the whole bottle in about 6 quarts of water. Than again, I get antsy and impatient.

Put the prototype back in and bring to a low simmer. You can pull it out every few minutes and rinse it off to see how it's absorbing the dye. My total time was about 30 minutes.

Give the prototype a good rinse when you're done.

Take pictures!

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