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6. 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 objects

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

Group work:

We have two 3D Printers: The Bambu Lab A1 and The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon

The Bambu Lab A1

is a compact and budget-friendly 3D printer developed by Bambu Lab, a company known for its cutting-edge advancements in 3D printing technology. Designed for beginners, hobbyists, and home users, it offers a seamless balance of user-friendliness and high performance.

Key Specifications and Features:

Printing Technology

  • FDM/FFF:Uses melted filament to build objects layer by layer.
  • Multi-Color Support: AMS Lite system enables seamless filament switching.
  • Build Volume: 256 × 256 × 256 mm—suitable for most home projects.
  • Heated Bed: Improves adhesion and reduces warping.

Speed & Precision

  • Print Speed: Up to 500 mm/s for fast prints.
  • High Accuracy: Precision ensured by quality stepper motors and positioning.

Supported Materials

  • Filaments: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, and more.
  • Auto Calibration: Ensures consistent print quality.

AMS Lite System

  • Multi-Color Printing: Supports up to 4 colors in one print.
  • Auto Spool Switching: Simplifies multi-material prints.

Control & Connectivity

  • Touchscreen: Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
  • Connections: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB.
  • Mobile App: Remote monitoring and control.

Safety & Convenience

  • Enclosed Design: Reduces noise and enhances safety.
  • Air Filter: Minimizes fumes from materials like ABS.

Bambu Lab A1 Calibration Guide

  • Power on and connect to Wi-Fi.
  • Open Settings on the touchscreen.
  • Select Calibration and start the process.
  • The printer will auto-level the bed, adjust the Z-offset, and test resonances.
  • Wait 5–10 minutes, then you’re ready to print!

Material:

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

Brand: JAMG HE PETG is a durable and versatile 3D printing filament, widely favored by both hobbyists and professionals for its balance of strength, flexibility, and ease of use.

Specifications: - Strength: High impact resistance with moderate flexibility. - Printing Temperature: 230–250°C - Bed Temperature: 70–80°C - Adhesion: Excellent, adheres well to glue or PEI surfaces.

Key Advantages: - Easier to print than ABS while offering greater toughness than PLA. - Resistant to moisture and chemicals, making it suitable for various applications. - Produces a glossy finish for a professional look.

Printing Tip: For the Bambu Lab A1, use a print speed of 40–60 mm/s with cooling enabled for the best results.

This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process.

We have evaluated the overall Overhang Performance, conducted a Long Overhang Test, and assessed both Extrusion Consistency and Bridging Performance.

By using The Bambu Lab A1, we have tested the overall print quality.

The overall print quality is satisfactory, with strong layer adhesion and relatively smooth surfaces at lower overhang angles. However, as the overhang angle increases, sagging and deformation become more prominent, indicating that cooling settings may require optimization to maintain structural integrity.

Overhang Performance

  • Lower Angles (2° - 10°): Minimal defects, prints well.
  • Medium Angles (12° - 16°): Slight sagging observed.
  • Higher Angles (18° - 20°): Noticeable deformation, suggesting the need for improved cooling and reduced print speeds.

Suggested Enhancements for Overhangs:

  • Increase cooling fan speed to solidify layers faster.
  • Lower print temperature slightly to minimize sagging.
  • Reduce print speed at higher angles for better stability.

Long Overhang Test

In extended overhang tests, bending becomes more evident at steeper angles. This suggests: - Print speed may be excessive, preventing proper layer formation. - The filament does not cool sufficiently before the next layer is deposited.

Increase fan speed to accelerate filament cooling. Lower printing temperature to minimize sagging. Use support structures for extreme overhangs.

Extrusion Consistency

Some inconsistencies in extrusion were detected, potentially caused by: - Incorrect flow rate settings. - Fluctuating hotend temperatures.

Solutions:

  • Adjust the extrusion multiplier for optimal flow.
  • Ensure smooth filament feeding to prevent under-extrusion.
  • Maintain stable hotend temperature to avoid variations.

Bridging Performance

The unsupported overhang test revealed: - Significant stringing and filament drooping. Weak bridging performance, particularly in horizontal sections.

  • Lower print temperature to reduce filament sagging. Increase cooling fan speed to improve bridge formation. Adjust retraction settings to minimize stringing.

3D Scanning Practice

I have scanned a green apple with WIDAR 3D Scanning app on IPAD.

Conclusion

These tests provide valuable insights into the printer’s performance and highlight areas for improvement. To enhance print quality, consider: - Adjusting slicer settings to enable support structures for extreme overhangs. - Lowering print speed to improve accuracy. - Refining cooling parameters for more stable overhangs.