3D-Printed Acrylic VXL 111 Sample Parts – Build Removal

To automate the removal of FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) and FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) support material from Acrylic VXL 111 parts printed on an AON3D Hylo, then smooth the surface to eliminate build lines and produce a consistent, production-ready finish.

Bel Air developed a fully automated, two-stage post-processing solution for parts printed on an AON3D Hylo system from Montreal-based industrial 3D printer manufacturer AON3D, transforming raw FDM/FFF-printed Acrylic VXL 111 components into production-ready parts.

Step 1 – Automated FDM Support Removal

The parts were loaded into a processing system designed for polymer components to remove FDM/FFF support material in a controlled, repeatable manner. The automated cycle safely and consistently eliminated support structures without manual scraping or risk of part damage.

This controlled process:

• Eliminated labor-intensive hand removal
• Protected fine features and thin-wall geometries
• Improved repeatability from part to part
• Prepared the surface for downstream finishing

Step 2 – Surface Smoothing & Build Line Removal

After support removal, the parts were transferred to a Centrifugal Disc Finisher to refine the surface and eliminate visible FDM/FFF build lines.

Using application-specific media and optimized process controls, the system:

• Reduced surface roughness
• Removed layer lines from the printing process
• Produced a uniform, production-quality finish
• Maintained dimensional integrity

The result is a clean, smooth component ready for evaluation, assembly, or end-use production—demonstrating how Bel Air supports scalable, automated post-processing within industrial additive manufacturing workflows.

If you’re evaluating post-processing options for plastic 3D printed parts, send us a sample. Our lab will develop a validated process and provide a detailed metrology-backed report.