PostPro vapor smoothing

Printed.
Then perfected.

PostPro vapor smoothing seals and smooths powder-bed 3D prints, inside and out, in one automated cycle. Rough, porous parts go in. Sealed, end-use parts come out.1

Test your parts, free See the range

No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks2

900+6 PostPro systems installed in 40 countries

PostPro SF100 vapor smoothing system, near-black with a touchscreen and the PostPro SF100 door panel, front three-quarter view
RenderPostPro SF100, from AMT engineering CAD. Exploded and sectioned for illustration.

Inside the SF100 · rendered from AMT engineering CAD

Open it up.

Every PostPro is engineered and built in-house. Here is the SF100, the flagship vapor smoothing system, taken apart along its own CAD.

  1. 01 / 04

    A production machine, not a lab box.

    A welded steel body, front-loading chamber and service access from three sides. Built to run shift after shift.

    1. Body frame
    2. Outer covers
    3. Service doors
  2. PostPro SF100 with its outer covers and doors lifted away, showing the process chamber

    02 / 04

    One sealed chamber.

    An insulated stainless process chamber with racking for a full build: 400 × 600 × 400 mm1. The door rides on vertical rails and seals for every cycle.

    1. Process chamber
    2. Door and lift
  3. PostPro SF100 exploded into its modules around the process chamber

    03 / 04

    Vapor in. Consumable back.

    On-board vapor generation and circulation, then recovery and drying, all inside one closed cycle.1

    1. Vapor generation
    2. Recovery and condenser
    3. Vacuum system
    4. Fluid handling
    5. Consumable drawer
  4. Section A–A through the PostPro SF100, cut through the process chamber and a vapor generator

    04 / 04

    Controlled end to end.

    HMI touchscreen, RFID-controlled access and MES/ERP connectivity,5 from an integrated electrical cabinet.

    1. HMI
    2. Electrical cabinet

Explore the SF100

The transformation

It goes in as a print. It comes out as a product.

Unretouched footage from inside a PostPro SF chamber. The same printed manifold, before and after a vapor cycle.

AMT demo manifold hanging in a PostPro SF chamber before vapor smoothing, with a matte grey printed surface The same manifold after a vapor smoothing cycle, with a sealed, glossy black surface
FootageThe AMT demo manifold in a PostPro SF chamber. Two unretouched frames from one clip, aligned; the wipe between them is illustrative.

  1. Sealed surface, closed pores.17

  2. Reaches internal channels.18

  3. Consumable recovered and part dried in the same cycle.19

Photographed, not rendered.

Parts as printed and after PostPro vapor smoothing, photographed and aligned for comparison.

Before / after

Saddle

3D-printed lattice bicycle saddle as printed, with a rough grey surface The same saddle after PostPro vapor smoothing, with a smooth, sealed black surface
PhotoLattice bicycle saddle as printed, and after PostPro vapor smoothing. Aligned for comparison, not retouched.

Helmet

3D-printed lattice helmet shell as printed, with a matte grey, grainy surface The same helmet shell after vapor smoothing on a PostPro SF2X, with a smooth, sealed dark surface
PhotoLattice helmet as printed, and after vapor smoothing on a PostPro SF2X. Shown side by side because the two photos differ in camera angle. Not retouched.
Water test · TPU bellows
FootageA drop beads on the vapor-smoothed bellows (left) and soaks into the as-printed one (right). Two crops of one shot.

See the measured results

Evidence

Measured, dated, published.

Every result below names the material it was measured on and cites the published test behind it, with the date it came out.

Amber date: the result was published before October 2024.

Published resultsPostPro vapor smoothing
MeasuredResultMaterialPublished
Surface roughness Ra 13.42 → 1.18 µm Average roughness, as printed and after vapor smoothing. BASF Ultrasint TPU01 · HP MJF AMT whitepaper10
Strength · accuracy Elongation at break +38.1% (XY) Dimensional change ≤ 0.4% PA12 · voxeljet HSS AMT whitepaper3
Sealing · accuracy Burst pressure up to +7% Dimensional change ≤ 0.4% PA2200 · SLS AMT whitepaper11
Food contact Extractables well within regulatory limits under US FDA 21 CFR §177.1500 Tested by an accredited independent lab across multiple food simulants. FABULOUS DETECT PA11 · PostPro Pure AMT news4
Cytotoxicity · strength No cytotoxic effects and no loss of strength HP 3D HR PA 12 · HP MJF · PostPro Pure AMT whitepaper12
Patented process Patents include EP3565712 · GB2582225 · GB2597240B AMT brochure5

Note Results depend on material, printer and recipe.

Want numbers for your part? Send it to us.

Test your parts, free Read the test data

No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks2

PostPro Pure FA5802 finishing agent cartridge
RENDERPostPro Pure FA5802 cartridge.

PostPro Pure · FA5802

Chemistry you can put in a technical file.

PostPro Pure is the finishing agent behind PostPro vapor smoothing. It is non-halogenated, biodegradable, non-flammable and recyclable, and the machine recovers it in a closed loop.19

  • Food contact Parts printed in FABULOUS DETECT PA11 and finished with PostPro Pure were tested by an accredited independent lab to US FDA 21 CFR §177.1500. Extractables were well within regulatory limits. 4
  • Cytotoxicity HP 3D HR PA 12 parts printed on HP MJF and finished with PostPro Pure showed no cytotoxic effects and no loss of strength. 12
  • Range FA326 for 100+ thermoplastics on SF50 and SF100. FA9202 for polypropylene. 9

The range

One process. Four sizes.

All four run the same automated cycle: conditioning, processing, curing and drying.1 Choose the chamber that fits your builds, from a desktop unit for R&D to a cabinet for high-volume production.

PostPro SFX desktop vapor smoothing system, front view
SFX height 845 mm5
PostPro SF2X desktop vapor smoothing system, front view with the chamber door open
PostPro SF50 vapor smoothing system, front view
PostPro SF100 vapor smoothing system, front view
SF100 height 1830 mm5
RENDERFront views on one ground line, to scale by published height. SF2X at its spec-sheet size.

  1. PostPro SFX

    Desktop: R&D and low-volume production

    Chamber W × D × H
    190 × 320 × 190 mm
    Cycle
    2 h1
    SFX product page

  2. PostPro SF2X

    Desktop: double the SFX chamber capacity

    Chamber W × D × H
    See product page
    Cycle
    2 h1
    SF2X product page

  3. PostPro SF50

    Low-volume production

    Chamber W × D × H
    400 × 300 × 400 mm
    Cycle
    1.5–2 h1
    SF50 product page

  4. PostPro SF100

    High-volume production

    Chamber W × D × H
    400 × 600 × 400 mm
    Cycle
    1.5–2 h1
    SF100 product page

Consumables

Closed-loop finishing agents, matched to the material.9

All consumables

  • PostPro Pure

    FA5802

    Non-halogenated, non-flammable, biodegradable.

    Works in SFX · SF2X · SF50 · SF10091

  • FA326

    Finishing agent

    For 100+ thermoplastics.

    Works in SF50 and SF1009

  • FA9202

    Finishing agent

    For polypropylene parts.

    Works in SFX, SF50, SF1009

Compare the SF range
PostPro vapor smoothing systems: published specifications
SpecificationSFXSF2XSF50SF100
Sized for1Desktop: R&D and low-volume productionDesktop: double the SFX chamber capacityLow-volume productionHigh-volume production
Chamber W × D × H1190 × 320 × 190 mmSee product page400 × 300 × 400 mm400 × 600 × 400 mm
Cycle12 h2 h1.5–2 h1.5–2 h
External W × D × H5450 × 500 × 845 mmSee product page830 × 1400 × 1830 mm830 × 1400 × 1830 mm
Materials1PA12 · PA11 · TPUPA12 · PA11 · TPUPA12 · PA11 · TPU · TPEPA12 · PA11 · TPU · TPE
Finishing agents91PostPro Pure · FA9202PostPro PurePostPro Pure · FA326 · FA9202PostPro Pure · FA326 · FA9202
Product pageSFXSF2XSF50SF100

In production

Parts that ship.

From rally cars to hydrogen drones to hand prostheses, PostPro vapor-smoothed parts are in service, not on a shelf.

PostPro in service

  • 900+6PostPro systems installed
  • 406countries
  • 50M+13parts finished
  • 50+6patents in post-processing technology

Case studies · vapor smoothing

  1. Case study 01 / 06
    Protolabs production floor: a row of industrial 3D printers under extraction ducting
    PHOTOCase study cover
    Customer

    Protolabs

    Part
    Flame-retardant automotive parts
    Process
    HP MJF, HP 3D HR PA 12 FR → vapor smoothed
    Result
    Flame-retardant parts with improved surface quality and UL94 V-0 compliance
    Date
    Jun 20267
    Read the case study: Protolabs
  3. Case study 03 / 06
    ABConcept rally car throwing up a plume of dust on a desert stage
    PHOTOCase study cover
    Customer

    ABConcept

    Part
    Rally car parts
    Process
    HP MJF PA12 → vapor smoothed
    Result
    100+ parts through 2,450+ km of the Rallye du Maroc
    Date
    Dec 202515
    Read the case study: ABConcept
  4. Case study 04 / 06
    Black vapor-smoothed pick-and-place part fitted with suction cups and an air hose
    PHOTOCase study cover
    Customer

    Norden

    Part
    Production machinery
    Process
    HP MJF → vapor smoothed
    Result
    A single part with internal vacuum channels replaced a multi-component, machined assembly
    Date
    Nov 20258
    Read the case study: Norden
  5. Case study 05 / 06
    A partial hand prosthesis gripping a box under running water
    PHOTOCase study cover
    Customer

    Point Designs

    Part
    Partial hand prostheses
    Process
    HP MJF → PostPro SFX
    Result
    Smooth, sealed surfaces that improve comfort and hygiene
    Date
    Jul 202616
    Read the case study: Point Designs
  6. Case study 06 / 06
    Customer

    GM, with GKN Additive (Forecast 3D), BASF Forward AM and HP

    Part
    Spoiler closeout seals
    Process
    HP MJF, BASF Ultrasint TPU01 → vapor smoothed
    Result
    60,000 parts, needed quickly to avoid delaying 30,000 vehicles
    Date
    Jan 2023172023
    Read the case study: spoiler closeout seals

Vapor smoothing is well received at our customers because of surface quality and benefits like enhanced strength, easier cleaning and no effect on detail resolution or dimensional accuracy, and the process runs several times a day contributing to our success.

Markus Schrittwieser1zu1 Prototypen GmbH18

AMT's vapor smoothing machine has not only elevated the visual appeal of our products but also enhanced their functional properties. By selectively controlling the smoothing process, we can tailor surface characteristics such as gloss, friction, and sealing behavior.

Stijn ParidaensCEO, ZiggZagg18

Who runs PostPro

  • Stratasys DirectHas invested in a PostPro SF100 for its vapor smoothing service.19
  • PrototalRuns PostPro vapor smoothing systems at its production sites across Europe.20
  • Raise3DOffers PostPro SFX and SF2X with its RMS220 SLS printer in Europe.6
  • Partners125+ production partners and 60+ resellers worldwide.21
Find a partner near you All case studies

Free benchmark

Send us a part. We’ll send it back vapor smoothed.

The fastest way to judge a surface is to hold it. Submit your parts online and ship them with a prepaid label. Our technicians vapor smooth them on the right PostPro system for the job, then send them back with before-and-after photos and a full benchmark report.

Test your parts, free Talk to an engineer

No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks2

Find a partner near you

PostPro SF50, SF100 and SFX vapor smoothing systems side by side on a dark stage
RENDERPostPro SF50, SF100 and SFX.

  1. 01Your parts arrive, as printed

    Hands lifting a bag of rough, grey, as-printed parts out of a shipping carton

  2. 02Hung on the rack

    As-printed parts being hung on wire hooks under a smoothing rack

  3. 03Into the smoothing chamber

    The loaded rack sliding into the chamber of a PostPro vapor smoothing system

  4. 04Back to you, vapor smoothed

    A bag of the parts after vapor smoothing, now black and glossy, packed to ship back
PHOTOAMT vapor smoothing benchmark: parts as printed in the first three frames, vapor smoothed in the last. Not retouched.