EMBEDDED PROGRAMMING
TOOLS
3D Print
Design
Modeling was carried out in Rhinoceros using Grasshopper to design organic forms that enable parametric design and allow modification of the dynamic behavior of the surfaces. These models were developed to perform behavioral tests during 3D printing and to analyze the characteristics of PLA material under elevated temperature conditions.
Setup
The following 3D printers were used to test and evaluate printing performance:
| Feature | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | Creality Hi |
|---|---|---|
| Printing | FDM | FDM |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 240 mm | 260 × 260 × 300 mm |
| Max Printing Speed | Up to 500 mm/s | Up to 500 mm/s |
| Max Acceleration | 8000 mm/s² | High-speed acceleration |
| Nozzle Max Temperature | 300 °C | 300 °C |
| Filament Diameter | 1.75 mm | 1.75 mm |
| Auto Bed Leveling | CR Touch) | Automatic calibration |
| Supported Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, ASA | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Cloud | Wi-Fi, Cloud |
| Multi-Color Printing | No | CFS system |
| Display | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Empezamos a realizar las pruebas de calibración para ambos modelos:
- Auto Bed Leveling: Measurement of the build plate surface.
- Z-Offset Calibration: Adjustment of the nozzle distance.
- Input Shaping: Vibration compensation.
- Filament Detection: Automatic monitoring of filament presence to pause the print in case of material runout.
CREALITY 3V3- KE
CREALITY HI
Multifilament
Slicer
The process was carried out using the Creality Print software that allows us to convert the 3D models into G-code instructions that can be interpreted by the printer
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Layer Height | Controls vertical resolution and overall surface finish of the printed part. |
| Initial Layer Height | Defines the thickness of the first layer to improve bed adhesion. |
| Printing Speed | Determines the movement speed of the print head during material deposition. |
| Initial Layer Speed | Slower speed used on the first layer to ensure proper adhesion. |
| Nozzle Temperature | Sets the extrusion temperature for proper material flow. |
| Bed Temperature | Controls the heated build plate temperature for stability and adhesion. |
| Infill Density | Defines the internal structure percentage of the part. |
| Infill Pattern | Specifies the geometric pattern used inside the model. |
| Wall Line Count | Determines the number of outer perimeters affecting strength and rigidity. |
| Top Layers | Number of solid layers at the top surface of the model. |
| Bottom Layers | Number of solid layers at the base of the model. |
| Retraction Distance | Amount of filament pulled back to reduce stringing. |
| Retraction Speed | Speed at which filament is retracted during travel moves. |
| Cooling | Controls the part cooling fan behavior during printing. |
| Supports | Enables additional structures for overhangs and complex geometries. |
| Build Plate Adhesion | Adds adhesion structures such as skirt, brim, or raft. |
Monitoring
3D Slicer - Image Computing Platform
3D Slicer is a free and open-source software platform specialized in the processing of medical images in 2D and 3D.It allows users to work with data obtained from medical imaging studies such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and other volumetric data formats.
Printing
Finally, we proceeded with the 3D printing of the developed models. This stage allowed us to evaluate dimensional stability, surface quality, and overall manufacturing performance.
Hot water was applied to the PLA material to intentionally deform specific sections of the printed parts in order to evaluate their thermal behavior.
Printed parts
3D Scanning
In this section, the workflow differed from that of 3D printing as 3D scanning can present challenges that are not directly related to the equipment itself, such as lighting conditions which can prevent accurate scanning of the parts.
Initially, a scanning attempt was conducted on the solenoid, a key component of the final project system. Due to the material’s surface properties, a contrasting coating was applied to improve scan accuracy. This enabled the evaluation of its dimensional suitability for system integration and to determine whether adjustments to the Braille mechanism were necessary.
We tried scanning another object to determine whether the material or the component’s contrast was affecting the scan quality.
Finally, we obtained our model, however the complexity of the polygons it´s too heavy.