RaFab

Well, I really like this week's topic, so I'll try to explore more about 3D design for printing, scanning and production with PLA filament. The 3D printer that we intend to use is a machine capable of making replicas of 3D designs, from a design made by computer. They arise with the idea of converting 2D files into real or 3D prototypes. Commonly, it has been used in the prefabrication of parts or components, in sectors such as architecture and industrial design. The most common materials are the following filaments of PLA, ABS, TUVALU, Nylon,... (thermoplastic plastic filament), these melt the plastic building very thin layers superimposed with it to create the object.

Well, after a generic part that helps introduce us to the subject, we move on to the work carried out throughout the week. The only problem that I have had throughout this week is the execution time of the printing that is always high.

The main work this week is to make a fixed articulated. The main characteristic of this piece is that it is produced in a single impression. To make such an object I will use the knowledge acquired this week about the tolerances and characterization of my printer. The choice of printer, the artillery sidewinder x1, is due to the size of the print.

For the production of this practice we are going to design a support for a lamp that is functional for different reasons. First of all I want it to have a central articulation so that in the case of blows it can move without feeling the impact. To this I would like to add a rotation of the support to make it easier to mount the support to the ceiling.

Step 1: Go to the link where the instructions are

Step 2: Find the two images of the circuit

Step 3: Indoor Image

Step 4: Outside Image

In the design of the support, the chain of pressures and the studies carried out by Heyman have been taken into account. Although it must be said that many architects of the time already knew such an effect from the dome of San Pietro in Rome.

Selecting the jpeg in Cura

upside down

Normal

upside down

I have thought about the use of the pressure chain to optimize the shape design on the strength of the material that to be PLA could be affected by the weight of the materials and the size of the lamp. To speed up the printing I will choose to reduce the internal density of the object. After having done it, I would like to do a load test to help me get an answer to my fear of it breaking.

The first problem that I have encountered when I have finished my drawing is that the print size was larger than the base of the digital printer. It was not the only one, the printing took 4 days and approximately 5000g of filament was needed to finish the operation. The only solution was to reduce the size.

Print

Print finished

To solve the problem, it was not only necessary to reduce the print scale but also to maintain the distance parameters that made my design a functional prototype. Fortunately, winding down and ending the operations didn't take long.

Articulated knot detail

Z axis rotation

Observing the model in cura, I made sure that everything printed had the desired characteristics. As the interior filling had to undergo efforts, I made it out of triangles, which usually works quite well in distributing the interior tensions.

Well here I have the model in my hands and I hope it serves my purpose.

To finish understanding more about my printer, I did an assembly test. From the department they proposed to me to prepare some molds that they need to carry out some concrete tests.

Part 1 of 4

Part 2 of 4

Part 3 of 4

Part 4 of 4

Assembly of parts

Assembled parts

Assembled tops

Finished mold

The difficulty of making the molds was their size. Its size was larger than the print base. To solve the problem, I have drawn some assemblies diagonally. The purpose is that the impact so that the concrete does not press and slide the mold.

To test the work with a scanner, we made a scan of me with Artec Eva Scanner and then later printed. It wasn't difficult at all. To have a good scan, the scanner has management and editing software.

In the management section there is a preview that indicates the quality of the scan. For the scanning to be optimal, the data must be in the central band.

Scanned image

Scanner Preview

Image with support

Image without support

Scan test

Scan finished

Scanner Preview

Editing: Cut and scan cleanup

All files used are available with direct download links.

• Lamp_support.dxf
• mold_structures.dxf
• Lamp_support.stl

• mold_structuresP1.stl
• mold_structuresP2.stl
• mold_structuresP3.stl