Computer
Mobile
Artec studio (3d scanning software)
Sense (Sense 3d scanner software)
Cura (3d slicing software)
Tinkercad (online 3d cad design tool)
Inkscape (vector graphics)
The printer we have at the lab is the Printrbot 1405 simple maker's kit. This is a basic printer, it comes in parts, and the user must assemble it.
This printer has some visible issues. Mainly the structure is no very stable, in some cases, it uses plastic ribbons to attach parts of the machine.
Another visible issue is that the bed is not leveled. I used some paper pieces to level it.
Also, when the head moves out in the Y axis, it is visibly lower on the furthest position because of the weight of the head.
A part was designed in Tinkercad to test the design rules of the printer:
This part has:
Cura setup for the printer:
This is the printed part:
The resulting part came out better than I expected:
Using Inkscape, I imported the picture and drew paths over the picture to convert it to an svg file.
For another project, I needed a connector between a stepper motor, and a water tap, so I designed it for 3D printing.
It is basically a hollow cylinder, but on one side, the hole shape is square and on the other is a truncated circle.
I started with the hollow shapes.
One cube shape for the water tap.
One truncated cylinder for the stepper motor.
Four horizontal holes for secure screws.
One big cylinder for the body of the part.
This part cannot be made subtractively mainly because:
The final part is too thick for the laser cutter.
The horizontal holes for the screws cannot be done by a laser cutter or a milling machine.
The angle for the square hole would not be 90° if the part is machined.
This is the final part mounted:
I also made another 3D design, it is a replacement part for a hot glue gun that was about to be thrown to the trash can.
The broken part was extracted.
I drew the part on paper and took a picture of it (there is a hole where the axis is located).
Using Inkscape, I imported the picture and drew paths over the picture to convert it to an svg file.
Then, the svg file was imported into tinkercad, it was given the aproximate size to match the original, it was also extruded. The cylinder holes were used to correct the holes' radius. The axis was made with a simple cylinder.
The finished part was not suitable for 3D printing, because it has some overhanging sections. Several orientations were evaluated.
So the part was divided into the flat part with holes and the axis.
Then the part was printed and compared to the original. The printed model was not very smooth, but it seems to be strong enough to take the presion applied to the trigger of the glue gun.
Finally, the part was installed on the hot glue gun.
The glue gun will be tested, and in case the printed part fails, I will try some of these changes:
We visited 3D Systems for a quick review and training of 3D scanners. We had an introduction to four types of scanners. They differ in resolution, objective properties (size, material, texture), scan file purpose, price.
We had the chance to scan an object using the Artec Spider, wich has a high resolution and can scan the color of the object. I practiced by scanning a Pisa tower miniature. Because the scanner is handheld, some practice is required to maintain a steady scan while rotating the object. The optimal scanning distance to the object for this model is about 20 to 30 cm. Also, while scanning, you must pay attention to the software on the computer screen, it tells you when the optimal distances is achieved, and when the system loses track of the scan, in wich case you have to stop and wait, or pause the scanning and resume.
The limitations dor 3D scanners are:
Shiny objects can cause problems.
Hollow objects or inside details are not captured by these scanners.
3D scanning is in general a slow process.
Some scanners do not capture colors.
High resolution 3D scanners are expensive.
This is the practice we did at at 3D-Systems with the high resolution 3D scanner and the Projet CJP printer:
At the Lab, we used the 3D Sense to scan each other.
The main problem to solve when 3d scanning is the hollow parts of the objects. The software solves this by closing the shape, but this fix is not always elegant or useful.
The 3D sense is an inexpensive scanner, but it has a low resolution.
3D scanning requires long time to get a good file.
When scanning, the software loses track of the objects very easily.
The file created by the scanner software has .ply extension. Using Ubuntu, this tyoe of file can be opened with Blender or FreeCAD. The final mesh can be seen in the following pictures: