5. 3D Printing and Scanning¶
This week I expanded my capabilities in the realm of 3D designing, scanning, and printing. I did this thorough the use of the websites and softwares: Fusion360, Thingiverse, PrusaSlicer, Octoprint, Creality, and Polyscan.
Group Assignment¶
For this week’s group assignment, me and Richard evaluated the limits of the different types of 3D printers in our lab. My contribution to this project was executing the majority of the 3D prints. You can find the group documentation here.
Designing and Printing an Object that Can Not be Made Subtractively¶
For one portion of the individual project, we were assigned to design and print an object that can not be made subtractively, meaning that a subtractive machine such as a laser cutter or milling machine can not remove material in order to create the object, therefore making the objects creatibility exclusive to additive machines such as a 3D printer. I decided to create a sort of electronics box for my final project, as this fulfilled the requirements, and I could have a use for it after this week. This can not be made subtractively because of the holes I will use for wiring in the sides of the box and various overhanging components such as the joints. To do this, I planned to create a box and top separately, with holes in the box for various wires and cables. Because I have already explained many of the processes involved in Fusion360 designing, slicing in PrusaSlicer, and printing, I will not go in as much detail and will not include images of every small step. Throughout the whole process of designing, I used parameters so that I could later change certain dimensions while keeping other ratios or constant dimensions the same. I first created a base for the box using parametric dimensions.
I then extruded this, and shelled this box out from the top to make the below.
I created a sketch against one of the walls, and created the dimensions and positioning of a square which I could extrude into a hole.
I extruded this and replicated the hole on another side.
I created and extruded a circular hole and added a chamfer to the top for the top part to fit into.
I then created small holes on the inside walls parametrically distanced from the sides for joints to go into.
Next I started on the top by creating a sketch with the same dimensions as the box. I also put a circle here to extrude through for a hole on top as well.
I extruded this and added a chamfer to the sides. I then added a parametrically designed rectancgle to the top to begin the joint. This design is created a specific distance from the sides for this reason. I extruded this the correct distance (also parametric) and added a sketch on the side, creating a rectangle the length and width of the joint holes.
I extruded this, and created three more in the correct positions.
I was now finished, this is the final design.
These are all of the parameters I used in the designing of this.
I exported this as an .stl, imported it into PrusaSlicer, and sliced it.
I then just uploaded this file into my folder in the communal EnjProj google account for our lab, downloaded on one of the computers properly connected through OctoPrint, and printed it from OctoPrint. This is the final printed design.
While printing this, I realized that I stupidly made the joints face the wrong way, but this was ok because it would have been difficult to put on and remove the top without breaking it, it just is not very secure when it is on. Below is the box with the top on.
3D Scanning and Printing an Object¶
As part of the week’s assignment, I was supposed to 3D scan and print an object. Mr. Dubick bought a 3D scanner which he requested we try out and report on its efficacy. Collin Kanofsky and I played around with this for a while at first using an app he downloaded on his phone called Creality. Below is the display on the app when connected through Wi-Fi to the scanner.
After working with it, it proved very hard to capture the given object, as the scanner required a circular motion which included many angles around the object to best capture it. In addition, due to the uneven nature of the our videography, even our best attempts confused the software causing the scanned render to be distorted.
Rotational Holder¶
Later on in the week, I decided to try to make this process more user friendly by creating a rotational holder for the scanner. Basically, it would hold the scanner steady while allowing it to be easily rotated in a perfect circle. I designed this in Fusion360 as shown below.
I then found out that the print job would not fit on the bed of a Prusa printer, so I decided to use this as an oppurtunity to learn how to operate the Bambu 3D printer. I installed the correct software, Bambu Studio, imported the Fusion file into it, and sliced it. Here I learned that I needed an SD card slot to upload the file to the SD card as this was the only way to send a file to printer, but my computer does not have one. Eventually, I found that Landon Broadwell’s computer did have one, and he allowed me to use it. I used the SD to put the file on the printer and tried to print it. However, this print job failed for some reason. Mr. Budzichowski told me to use Bambu Studio on a specific computer in the lab in order to slice it again. After doing this and sending the file again in addition to gluing down the print bed, this new print worked. Below is an image of the scanner in the rotational assistant.
Scanning with Polyscan¶
We also used an app on our phones for 3D scanning, Polyscan. Using this app, you can rotate around an object while the camera takes photos periodically depending on how fast you move the phone. I decided to scan my 3D printer at home because of its complex structure in order to test the limits of the capability of the software. I placed it on the floor in a relatively empty space and scanned it. After going through the process of uploading the scan into my google drive, I downloaded it onto my computer and imported the mesh into Fusion360. I used the process I detailed in Week 2 to convert the mesh to a solid in Fusion360, however this created thousands of surfaces which caused the computer quite a bit of lag. The scan had picked up the floor around the printer, meaning that many of these surfaces came from the ground. Thus, I removed as many of these that I could. I exported the revised design from Fusion, used PrusaSlicer to slice it and add some supports, and used a USB stick to transfer the g-code file from my computer to the printer. After a few failed print attempts, I finally got the one shown below.
After taking off the supports, it looked much more similar to the real Prusa printer.
Week Reflection¶
This week I expanded my knowledge and improved my effiency within the realm of using 3D CAD softwares to effectively design, scan, and print 3D objects, especially by using my newfound knowledge regarding the applicability of the different kinds of printers.
File Download¶
You can download the files for the projects displayed in this documentation using this link