Fab Academy
Learning about 3D Scanning and printing
To do:
Group assignment: I worked with my colleague Jhasmin Ayala
1. Test the design rules for your 3D printer(s)
2. 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:
1. Design and 3D print an object (small, few cm3, limited by printer time) that could not be easily made subtractively
2. 3D scan an object (and optionally print it)
WHAT I ALREADY KNOW BEFOREHAND?
This week focuses on two key activities for prototyping: 3D scanning and 3D printing.
Until a few years ago, "scanning" was limited to 2D documents. Later, 3D images scanning emerged, but it required very expensive equipment, making it inaccessible. This week, however, I will use open-source software and a handheld scanner from the Fab Lab to scan objects and then use the 3D printers for fabrication. Technology is advancing at an incredible speed!
I frequently see the 3D printers operating in the FabLab, and I am fascinated by their capabilities. A key economic principle is that a complex geometric shape (like an internal gear) costs no more to print than a solid cube, unlike traditional machining. This radically changes cost calculations and greatly facilitate prototyping.
Group assignment:
Check this link
Individual assignment:
1. Designing and 3D Printing a Hinge
• Concept: Designing a hinge that cannot be made subtractively is a great choice because hinges often require interconnected parts that are challenging to create through traditional machining methods.
• Tools: I experimented with Fusion 360 and Blender, ultimately choosing Blender, although I had to design using approximations. Blender is excellent for organic and complex shapes, while Fusion 360 is better for parametric and mechanical designs. For a hinge, Fusion 360 might have been more straightforward due to its precision tools.
• Challenges:
o Ensuring the hinge parts fit together properly.
o Designing for 3D printing constraints (e.g., overhangs, tolerances).
Reference video: this link
REFLECTIONS
• The open-source 3D scanning software and the handheld scanner I used were difficult to master. If you fail to capture enough data points, the resulting model is inaccurate, and the process requires multiple iterations. I assume results would improve with more practice, but I also believe it's only a matter of time before technology becomes more user-friendly and accessible.
• 3D printing has an extraordinary attribute: customization. It allows for unique designs tailored to specific requirements at a reasonable cost. However, a significant issue that I believe will be debated for a long time is related to intellectual property. 3D scanning enables the replication of existing objects, which raises the question: where is the line between creativity, inspiration, and intellectual infringement or appropriation?