Week 5 - 3D Scanning and Printing

This week we got familiar with 3D printing. The first thing I did was down load the MakerWare, which is prepares files in the right format to be able to be printed on a 3D printer.
3D printers have to have their files in .stl format. MakerWare takes a .stl file and turns it slices and each slice is a pass on the makerbot. makes the tool path and takes in account  the material.

ABS and PLA are the 2 materials used in most 3D printers. ABS is the most used. ABS you need a heated platform, PLA you can sometimes get by without a heated platform.

I went to thingiverse.com, which is a sight that has different objects you and get the whole file to print on a 3D printer. I found a monogram letters on thingiverse, which was imported to MakerWare. You adjust the size and scale of the image and then export the file to an SD card to use with the Replicator 2x. You have to right click on object in MakerWare to set which extruder side you are going to use.

You must always pre-heat the head and the platform before you start your printing.

Have to make sure you are choosing the right printer, if you are only using one color.

If you remove the raft function you will not have the base support material. I also change the infill to 15% verses 10% to see if you get better fill in the center.

I could use the 3D printer to create all the letters of Addie’s name, using a translucent ABS material I could insert LED’s to light them up.

So the first R was with raft and at 10% infill. Took about 40mins. to make. Where as the second R was with no raft and infill at 15%, took 32 mins to make.



There wasn't much difference, except the time to make it.