Resin prints for visors

[SSGLordBert]

Hey everyone. Has anyone tried using a resin printer to make the visor for their helmet? If so, how did you make the resin see through. I’ve got a translucent green and blue that I’m wanting to try and use. But once it’s cured it’s kind of foggy and you can’t see though it. I’ve tried gradually moving up to like 2000 grit wet dry sand paper to buff and polish, but it’s still not perfect. Is there a way to make them more see through?

 

[SpartanSweed]

I’m not sure that’s ever been tried before, usually visors are just sheets or vac formed

 

[S225]

I have a few attempts at 2 part epoxy resin visors that were a mixed bag of results. I found that adding oil (I used argan and machine oil for my attepts) to the outside of the visor drastically improved visibility. Lightly applying spaz stix mirror chrome spray paint on the interior gave a decent mirror finish on the outside while still being able to see out. I have no idea if UV resin will act the same but it should be easy to test.

 

[SSGLordErne]

Will have to pick some of that up and give it a shot on the visor. We did a clear green resin for my Hayabusa visor. Thanks for the tips

 

[SSGLordElmo]

Definitely thanks for the tip. I'm still deciding what color of visors to get. What's the best color to get for the visor? Does it depend on the vision?

 

[SSGLordErne]

It'll depend on if you want it to match your armor or not

 

[SSGLordElmo]

I was thinking of that like do copper color visor but I think it would look cool with blue visor as well. I don't know.

 

[SSGLordErne]

There ya go

 

[SSGLordBert]

Well… I did it everyone! I’m able to make see through visors out of clear and translucent resin printing. It takes some work, and patience. But I got it.

Once your print is cleaned and cured, start with some wet/dry 400 grit sandpaper. Hit both sides pretty good until you feel you’ve gotten the print to a smoother texture. Then step up to 600, and repeat. Then bump up to 1000, then 2000, then 3000, then 5000.

When all your sanding is complete, give it a nice clean in the isopropyl alcohol (I use 99%) and then let dry. Only should take about 20min to full dry. After that hit both sides of the print with high gloss, this is key, HIGH GLOSS clear spray paint. High luster lacquer works too, but it leaves a slight yellow tint to it. I used rust-oleum 2x painters touch on mine… and boy is it awesome.

They aren’t 100% perfect. But very functional! Let me know what you think.

 

[Coreforge]

Instead of using a clear coat, you could try polishing it as well. The advantage would be that you don't have to worry about the clear coat going on even, so you might be able to get a bit better vision. I've had decent luck with toothpaste as polishing compound, so it might be worth a try.

 

[SSGLordErne]

Instead of using a clear coat, you could try polishing it as well. The advantage would be that you don't have to worry about the clear coat going on even, so you might be able to get a bit better vision. I've had decent luck with toothpaste as polishing compound, so it might be worth a try.

Is there a certain brand or type that you would recommend or just any kind of toothpaste

 

[Coreforge]

I just used some generic toothpaste. Toothpaste with some whitening stuff might work better, but I don't think the one I used had any specifically.

 

[SSGLordBert]

I tried using toothpaste to buff and didn’t get good results. Unless I was doing it wrong…???

But I got another visor done. This one is for my cyber showdown mk7 helmet

 

[jabsgreywarden1]

Well… I did it everyone! I’m able to make see through visors out of clear and translucent resin printing. It takes some work, and patience. But I got it.

Once your print is cleaned and cured, start with some wet/dry 400 grit sandpaper. Hit both sides pretty good until you feel you’ve gotten the print to a smoother texture. Then step up to 600, and repeat. Then bump up to 1000, then 2000, then 3000, then 5000.

When all your sanding is complete, give it a nice clean in the isopropyl alcohol (I use 99%) and then let dry. Only should take about 20min to full dry. After that hit both sides of the print with high gloss, this is key, HIGH GLOSS clear spray paint. High luster lacquer works too, but it leaves a slight yellow tint to it. I used rust-oleum 2x painters touch on mine… and boy is it awesome.

They aren’t 100% perfect. But very functional! Let me know what you think. View attachment 320665View attachment 320666View attachment 320667

Ooo I love how the resin gives the visor pieces more of a weathered look!

 

[James]

Nice! I had been thinking about trying this for a while and actually JUST tried it tonight. Just came off the printer and is being cleaned/cured right now. Will report back on clarity soon..

 

[James]

Nice! I had been thinking about trying this for a while and actually JUST tried it tonight. Just came off the printer and is being cleaned/cured right now. Will report back on clarity soon..


View attachment 320725

So after sanding and clear coating I'm pretty impressed with it's visibility. That said it isn't THAT great. Pretty sure it's too thick, so I'm trying to figure out how to make it thinner without screwing up the mesh....or making it too thin in places.....
Either way, I think this is gonna work well with colored resin, then I can just tint with either Alclad or window tinting.

 

[SSGLordBert]

So after sanding and clear coating I'm pretty impressed with it's visibility. That said it isn't THAT great. Pretty sure it's too thick, so I'm trying to figure out how to make it thinner without screwing up the mesh....or making it too thin in places.....
Either way, I think this is gonna work well with colored resin, then I can just tint with either Alclad or window tinting.

If you are coming to c2e2, I can check it out and show you the ones I’ve done.

 

[Unfit Armory]

Hey everyone. Has anyone tried using a resin printer to make the visor for their helmet? If so, how did you make the resin see through. I’ve got a translucent green and blue that I’m wanting to try and use. But once it’s cured it’s kind of foggy and you can’t see though it. I’ve tried gradually moving up to like 2000 grit wet dry sand paper to buff and polish, but it’s still not perfect. Is there a way to make them more see through?

My Aunt suggested this to me, but I've never tried it. It's definitely possible, but visibility might be compromised, though with enough effort anything works lol, as stated with your recent post.
any visor that has groves will be difficult to see through but after taking a look at James's post, for sure would work.
Problem being I don't got a resin printer haha

 

[James]

If you are coming to c2e2, I can check it out and show you the ones I’ve done.

I wish I was. Flights are expensive though, just can't justify it right now.

 

[TurboCharizard]

So after sanding and clear coating I'm pretty impressed with it's visibility. That said it isn't THAT great. Pretty sure it's too thick, so I'm trying to figure out how to make it thinner without screwing up the mesh....or making it too thin in places.....
Either way, I think this is gonna work well with colored resin, then I can just tint with either Alclad or window tinting.

How thick is your visor out of curiosity?