3D Scanning and Printing¶
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 Assignment
- 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)
Learning outcomes
- Identify the advantages and limitations of 3D printing
- Apply design methods and production processes to show your understanding of 3D printing.
- Demonstrate how scanning technology can be used to digitize object(s)
Have you answered these questions?
- Linked to the group assignment page
- Explained what you learned from testing the 3D printers
- Documented how you designed and 3D printed your object and explained why it could not be easily made subtractively
- Documented how you scanned an object
- Included your original design files for 3D printing
- Included your hero shots
Time Management¶
You can access my timetable here.
Group Assignment¶
3D printer¶
Our group assignment this week required us to test the design rules for our 3D printer. The 3D printer at our lab is the Prusa i3 MK3.
Machine and Specifications
Build volume : 250 x 210 x 210 mm | 9.84 x 8.3 x 8.3 in
Layer height : 0.05 – 0.35 mm
Max travel speed : 200+ mm/s
Max hotend/heatbed temp : 290 °C / 120 °C (572 °F / 248 °F)
Mainboard : Einsy RAMBo 8-bit board
MMU2S/3 support : Yes
Nozzle diameter : 0.4mm (default) / other nozzle diameters supported
LCD screen : Monochromatic LCD
Print surface : Magnetic heatbed with removable PEI spring steel sheets
Cutting Tool Chuck : Collet method
Filament diameter: 1.75mm
Reflection¶
Individual Assignment¶
Our individual assignment for this week required us to design and 3D print an object and scan an object. We started this week off by firstly understanding the difference between subtractive and additive maufacturing.
Necesarry information¶
Subtractive and Additive manufacturing¶
Subtractive manufacturing refers to a process where material is removed from a solid block (or sheet) to create the final shape. It uses methods like CNC milling, drilling, cutting, and grinding.
Additive Manufacturing a process where material is added layer by layer to build an object. It uses methods like Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).
FDM printer vs SLA printer¶
In our local session, Rico also talked about the different printer types; sepcifically FDM printer and SLA printer.
FDM printer
Fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF), or filament 3D printing, is the most widely used type of 3D printing at the consumer level, and the most recognizable for the average layperson, who may associate the broader concept of 3D printing with this ‘hot-glue gun’ method of building parts. -Formlabs.com
The material will be delivered as rolls of wires and fed to the head of the printer. Inside the head, the plastic is molten and deposited through a fine hot nozzle onto the plate. The movement of the head in the x and y direction is computer controlled. The deposited material is cooled and becomes hard. The printer at our lab is a FDM printer.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Affordable & Accessible | Lower Detail & Surface Finish |
| Stronger & More Durable | Less Precision |
| Easier Post-Processing | Weaker Layer Adhesion |
SLA printer
Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing was the world’s first 3D printing technology, invented in the 1980s. Despite this, SLA has taken longer than FDM 3D printing to achieve widespread adoption and awareness due to typically higher prices and a slightly more complex printing process. -xFormlabs.com
Unlike the FDM printer, the material will be in the liquid form and delivered in a bottle. The build area will consist of a small bath with a see-through area, which will be filled by the material.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| High precision and detail | more expensive |
| can be painted w/out much sanding | requires post-processing |
| Better for Small, Complex Parts | Limited Material Strength |
Prusa vs. Bambu Lab 3D Printers¶
Prusa and Bambu are 3D printer brands that use FDM but have different mechanical systems.
Prusa 3D printer
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| easier to troubleshoot | Slower Printing Speed |
| Open-Source & Customizable | Less Rigid Frame |
Bambu 3D printers
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Fast Printing Speed | can’t modify firmware |
| Multi-Material Printing | Not open-source, fewer DIY modifications. |
3D designing and printing¶
I will be using the software Fusion 360 to design my model. Since the design should not be easily made subtractively, I decided to make