Damaris Cotto

TEST THE DESIGN RULES

For this assignment I downloaded a Thingiverse file to test the different parameters of the 3D printer. I used the Mbot Grid II+ to do the comparision pirnting in PLA.

The first sample I printed was in LOW resolution with the following parameters:

• Infill density: 0,10
• Layer Height: 0,30 mm
• Number of shells: 2
• Printing time: 21 min

 

The second sample I printed was in STANDARD resolution with the following parameters:

• Infill density: 0,20
• Layer Height: 0,20 mm
• Number of shells: 2
• Printing time: 40 min

 

The third sample I printed was in HIGH resolution with the following parameters:

• Infill density: 0,20
• Layer Height: 0,15 mm
• Number of shells: 2
• Printing time: 40 min

 

This is the comparision of the three samples and the results showed that as thin layer hight as better printout results, but there is not significant difference between STANDARD and HIGH samples and the printing time is almost the same, at least in this 3D printer model.

 

 

 

3D SCAN AN OBJECT

I scan myself using Sense 3D Systems Scanner which process is capture an image with an integrated camera and sensing the distance by a laser.

First I setted the scanner on Person>Full Body, then I sat on a rotary chair in front of the scanner and turned slowly arround with one of my fellow students help. That was enough for the scanner to capture all the information to generate a virtual 3D model of me. Once we checked that all was alright, we post-processed the information: Solidify the mesh and trim the unnecessary surfaces. Finally we exported into a STL file and now is ready to print.

 

For printing the previous myself scan file, I used a MakerBot Replicator 3D printer. The steps to print are the following:

1. Convert the OBJ file into STL to be able to insert it in MakerBot Print

2. Insert the STL file and scale it to 50 mm height (Z axis)

3. When I crop the model in SENSE it was not straight, so I had to orient to X plane, otherwise when printing, the MakerBot will print supports between the model and the printer plate.

4. Export the file using 0.2 mm resolution, 10% infill and number of shells 2.

5. When the export is done, you can see the estimated time and material to use in the printing process.

6. Save the exported file in a USB drive and plug it in the MakerBot, select the file to print and as soon as the printer reaches the right temperature, it will start printing.

7. Done!

 

 

 

HIGH PRECISION 3D SCANNING

We did this assignment in group using an Aicon 3D Systems Scanner. This scanner operates by the triangulation of two cameras’s images, of different patterns of light beams projected on the surface of the object.

In this case, first we needed to get the room darker, because this scanner has its own light projector to catch only the information of the object we want to scan. When we start the software we have to create a project and decide what kind of scan process we are going to use:

• Contour scan, that take part of the same object as reference to merge the next scan.
• Index points reference, that take circular sticker that we put on the object as reference to merge the next scan.

Then we need to calibrate in the software the amount of light that the cameras are capturing, and when this is done we “take a picture”. For the following scans we need to move the object to a new are, respecting the parameters of references that we have chosen earlier, and repeat the last step. If we respect the references the software merge itself the surface. And finally we can export an STL file, but in this case, the solidify process is made in an external software.