Week 5: 3D Scanning and Printing

Assignment Overview

This week is about 3D scanning and printing. I will design and print a 3D object that can only be made with a 3D printer. I will also scan a real object in 3D.

Date: February 18-25, 2026 Status: 🚧 Work in Progress

📋 Assignment Requirements

Group Assignment

✅ Test the design rules for your 3D printer

  • [ ] Test minimum wall thickness
  • [ ] Test minimum hole size
  • [ ] Test overhangs and support needs
  • [ ] Record printer settings and results
  • [ ] Share results on the group work page

Individual Assignment

✅ Design and 3D print an object that cannot be made by cutting or machining

  • [ ] Design an object in CAD software
  • [ ] The object must use additive manufacturing features (overhangs, internal structures, etc.)
  • [ ] Keep the size small (a few cubic centimeters)
  • [ ] Print the object and document the process

✅ 3D scan an object

  • [ ] Choose an object to scan
  • [ ] Scan it using the lab's 3D scanner
  • [ ] Process and clean the scan data
  • [ ] (Optional) Print the scanned object

Learning Objectives

  • Understand what additive manufacturing can do that other methods cannot
  • Learn how to use a 3D printer and its software
  • Learn how to use a 3D scanner
  • Document and compare results

🎯 What I Made This Week

3D Printed Object

🚧 Work in Progress

3D Scanned Object

🚧 Work in Progress

🛠️ Group Assignment: Testing Design Rules

What Are Design Rules?

Design rules tell us the limits of what a 3D printer can make. Knowing these limits helps us design better objects.

Tests to run:

Test What We Check
Wall thickness How thin can a wall be?
Hole size How small can a hole be?
Overhang angle How far can a part stick out without support?
Bridge length How long can a gap be without support?
Layer resolution What is the smallest layer height?

Design Rules Test Print 🚧 Image to be added

Results:

🚧 Work in Progress

📎 Group Work Page

🖨️ Individual Assignment 1: 3D Printing

Design Concept

🚧 Work in Progress

Why this object cannot be made subtractively: 🚧 Work in Progress

Step 1: CAD Design

🚧 Work in Progress

CAD Design 🚧 Image to be added

Step 2: Slicer Settings

I used a slicer to prepare the 3D model for printing.

Settings used:

Setting Value
Layer height 🚧 TBD
Infill 🚧 TBD
Print speed 🚧 TBD
Support 🚧 TBD
Material 🚧 TBD

Slicer Settings 🚧 Image to be added

Step 3: Printing

🚧 Work in Progress

Printing Process 🚧 Image to be added

Step 4: Result

🚧 Work in Progress

Printed Object 🚧 Image to be added

📷 Individual Assignment 2: 3D Scanning

Object Choice

🚧 Work in Progress

Why I chose this object: 🚧 Work in Progress

Step 1: Setting Up the Scanner

🚧 Work in Progress

Scanner Setup 🚧 Image to be added

Step 2: Scanning

🚧 Work in Progress

Scanning Process 🚧 Image to be added

Step 3: Processing the Scan Data

After scanning, I cleaned up the mesh data using software.

🚧 Work in Progress

Scan Data 🚧 Image to be added

Step 4: Result

🚧 Work in Progress

Scanned Object 🚧 Image to be added

📦 Design Files

All files are in docs/files/week05/.

File Description
🚧 CAD design file
🚧 Scan data file

🔗 Connection to Final Project

🚧 Work in Progress

How this week's work helps my Smart Reptile Habitat System:

  • 3D printing → Custom parts for the control box and sensor mounts
  • 3D scanning → Scan existing parts to model them in CAD

🔧 Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: 🚧 Title

What Happened: 🚧 Work in Progress

Why It Happened: 🚧 Work in Progress

How I Solved It: 🚧 Work in Progress

What I Learned: 🚧 Work in Progress

⏱️ Time Management

Activity Time Spent Notes
Group design rules testing 🚧 TBD
CAD design 🚧 TBD
Slicing and printing 🚧 TBD
3D scanning 🚧 TBD
Scan data processing 🚧 TBD
Documentation 🚧 TBD
Total 🚧 TBD

✅ Evaluation Checklist

Group Assignment

✅ Tested 3D printer design rules

  • [ ] Test results recorded
  • [ ] Settings documented
  • [ ] Results on group work page

Individual Assignment

✅ Designed and printed a 3D object

  • [ ] Object designed in CAD
  • [ ] Object uses additive-only features
  • [ ] Object printed successfully
  • [ ] Process documented with photos

✅ 3D scanned an object

  • [ ] Object scanned
  • [ ] Scan data processed
  • [ ] Result documented

Documentation Requirements

✅ Showed process with photos

  • [ ] Design process
  • [ ] Printer setup and settings
  • [ ] Printing process
  • [ ] Scanner setup
  • [ ] Scan results

✅ Included design files

  • [ ] CAD files in repository
  • [ ] Scan data in repository

File Management

✅ Compressed images (less than 500KB each)

  • [ ] All images compressed

✅ Saved all files to GitLab

  • [ ] Pushed to repository

💭 Reflection

What Went Well

🚧 Work in Progress

What I'd Do Differently

🚧 Work in Progress

Lessons Learned

🚧 Work in Progress

For Next Week — Electronics Design

  • [ ] Learn basic circuit simulation tools
  • [ ] Review EDA software options (KiCad, Eagle, etc.)
  • [ ] Plan circuit design for the habitat system

📚 References

Last updated: February 18, 2026