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Week 5. 3D Scanning and printing

Thanks to 3D scanning we can collect the necessary data to generate a three-dimensional image of an object, an environment, or a body. Some of these devices simultaneously collect data on shape and color, which allows a record of the texture of the scanned object to be obtained.

There are several types of 3D scanning technologies, each with its advantages and limitations. Today, we explore 5 fundamentals.

Advantages:

  1. The revolution that it supposes for the manufacture of products.
  2. A single 3D print is capable of making countless different products.
  3. Much of today’s manufacturing is done with specific machines whose function is limited and if the product changes, the machine must also be retrofitted or changed.
  4. Flexibility and rapid prototyping. It allows easy prototyping of products, which can lead to improved design.
  5. Cost reduction. Production can be done from home.
  6. Personalization. The possibility of making your own garments, objects, products… in a personalized and exclusive way.
  7. New industry and sector. It will create new jobs, and new forms of business.
  8. Multiple applications yet to be discovered.
  9. In the field of medicine we find surprising applications, such as: the creation of prostheses or even the printing of organic tissues. 3D printing has a long way to go and more and more fields will be applied.
  10. Many businesses will be greatly favored, such as jewelers, since the 3D printer can print in wax, when making rings, they simply make the mold in a file and the technological device prints them.
  11. For industrial designers to create an industrial object, they can see it in a plastic prototype.
  12. Make replicas of objects that we need. For example, designing a mechanical product to sell, and we have a nail, but we need another one just like it, we can create it. If we have broken a piece of an object, we can create it to fix it.
  13. Objects can now be made with plastic, wax and rubber, probably in time other materials will be involved and the range of products that can be made will change the way of life as we know it.
  14. Companies, instead of having an automation system to carry out a commercial product, will be able to use 3D printers to reduce costs in terms of machinery, and so that the products do not have errors in terms of design since they can correct with computer.

Disadvantages:

  1. Job reduction. The own elaboration of the products, and the reduction of machinery can lead to fewer jobs in manufacturing.
  2. Copyright infringement. The replication of copyrighted objects will be difficult to control as 3D scanners allow the replication of any object.
  3. Malicious uses of technology. Unfortunately, there is the possibility of creating items such as firearms, and the danger of generalizing such items.
  4. Increase of useless products.
  5. The prices are very high.
  6. Many companies are going to benefit, many are going to be harmed since their business could be lost. For example, companies that design and produce toys, or items for home decoration.
  7. An item or prototype will be produced or printed in 3 dimensions in about 2 hours.

Group assignment:

Test the design rules for your 3D printer(s). Document your work on the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned about characteristics of your printer(s).

Individual assignments

Design and 3D print an object (small, few cm3, limited by printer time) that could not be easily made subtractively. 3D scan an object (and optionally print it).

Group assiggnment: 3d printing equipment testing and calibration

In this procedure we will do the following: We are going to search a website for ready-made designs to download and then open in a program and then print, the objective is to find errors that can be seen.

The figure shows that the page thingiverse.com has been visited.

In the search area we write test in 3d.

We search and choose one of the several options that we have as a result.

Once chosen, the following image shows us the options to download.

We can also see that we have two types of the same file whose difference is the size.

For the printing tests, the Bestgee T300S pro printer has been used with the following characteristics:

  • Set the z axis with 1 millimeter spacing between the bed and the extruder.

  • The x and y axes were configured automatically.

  • The material was used 1.75 millimeter Leon brand PLA.

  • The bed was waited to heat to 60 degrees and the extruder to 200 degrees.

  • The work area was 20 x 25 centimeters.

  • File stl

  • Regarding the software used, it was Cura, having to search among several printer options to the one it was connected to.

The first figure shows the first finish where you can see small details that could not be captured in the print.

This second print shows a small improvement in small details that were able to be shown in the final print.

Comparison of the two printed models with slight differences in the final finish.

In this second experience I have used the tinkercad program to design a first object that served as a base and then a text that then allowed me to subtract from the first object on two different sides and finally a third text that I subtract from the first object from the side.

Subtraction of the first object from the side view.

Viewed in the meeting program, ready to print.

The entire group gathered together sharing design experiences after the printing machines, configuration values ​​and models that were printed.

Scanning of the 3d object.

Calibrating the equipment to begin scanning.

For the scanning of the following figure we had to configure the scanner since the lines of the pyramid were coming out misaligned.

Next we are observing how the 3D impression of the pyramid is going.

Below is the impression of the base of the pyramid.

Already in the final figure we can see when the printing is finished.

In the figure you can see the comparison of the origin with the scanning and printing

For the experimentation of scanning in 3d I have used the KIRI application.

This is the image used to scan through different shots.

Scanning with application

After taking 70 shots from different angles, the application has processed the resulting image. Once finished after approximately 8 hours through the KIRI application, download the resulting file.

The same file from direente takes

From another angle the view of the pen

Sample of the scan of the lower part where the photographs were not taken.

Showing the final file from 3d builder

Next view from 3d builder

Files link

Object 1

Last update: April 17, 2024