Difference between revisions of "3D printing"
| Line 79: | Line 79: | ||
A few things to have in mind before slicing: | A few things to have in mind before slicing: | ||
| − | * ''Positioning'' of the object in order to get the structural strength that you want (Z layers are weaker) and avoid overhangs that require support material. | + | * '''Positioning''' of the object in order to get the structural strength that you want (Z layers are weaker) and avoid overhangs that require support material. |
| − | * ''Infill'' usually 20% or 40%. Change according to what you print, think of strength and support of top layers. | + | * '''Infill''' usually 20% or 40%. Change according to what you print, think of strength and support of top layers. |
| − | * ''Perimeters'' usually 2-4. Think of strength required or possible weak point. | + | * '''Perimeters''' usually 2-4. Think of strength required or possible weak point. |
| − | * ''Top & Bottom Layers'' usually 3. Think of strength required. | + | * '''Top & Bottom Layers''' usually 3. Think of strength required. |
| − | * ''Support Material'' if needed and where. | + | * '''Support Material''' if needed and where. |
| − | * ''Brim'' to increase the adhesion to the bed. To avoid warping of long objects (especially with ABS). A Brim is attached to your part and extends outward, similar to the brim of a hat. Brims typically have several outlines and may be 1-2 layers tall. Brims are often used to stabilize small parts or “islands” (isolated sections of a model, such as 4 legs of a table) because brims help these delicate areas stay connected to the print bed. | + | * '''Brim''' to increase the adhesion to the bed. To avoid warping of long objects (especially with ABS). A Brim is attached to your part and extends outward, similar to the brim of a hat. Brims typically have several outlines and may be 1-2 layers tall. Brims are often used to stabilize small parts or “islands” (isolated sections of a model, such as 4 legs of a table) because brims help these delicate areas stay connected to the print bed. |
| − | * ''Raft'' A Raft is a horizontal latticework of filament that is located underneath your part. Rafts are primarily used with ABS to help with bed adhesion. Rafts are also used to help stabilize models with small footprints, or to create a strong foundation on which to build the upper layers of your part. | + | * '''Raft''' A Raft is a horizontal latticework of filament that is located underneath your part. Rafts are primarily used with ABS to help with bed adhesion. Rafts are also used to help stabilize models with small footprints, or to create a strong foundation on which to build the upper layers of your part. |
====Software==== | ====Software==== | ||
| − | Cura | + | Both Cura and Slic3r are free software. Cura provides a simplified user interface that expands to a more advanced UI for manipulating settings. Slic3r provides more detailed settings manipulation. |
| − | Slic3r | + | You can preview the gcode layer by layer in both applications. |
| + | |||
| + | =====Cura===== | ||
| + | Select the material and required quality. | ||
| + | *[https://www.lulzbot.com/cura Lulzbot Edition Download] | ||
| + | *[http://devel.lulzbot.com/mini/software/cura/documentation/Manual.pdf Lulzbot Cura Edition Manual] | ||
| + | |||
| + | =====Slic3r===== | ||
| + | Load the profile (.ini) file corresponding to the material and the required quality. | ||
| + | *[http://slic3r.org/download Slic3r Download] | ||
| + | *[http://manual.slic3r.org/ Slic3r Manual] | ||
===Printing=== | ===Printing=== | ||
Revision as of 15:17, 11 November 2015
You can download the slides for a presentation on 3D printing we made for teachers here.
Materials
ABS
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a common material for 3D printing. Better for making durable parts to withstand higher temperatures. What LEGO bricks are made of. While printing produces harmful fumes.
Extruder Temperature: ~ 230°C Bed Temperature: ~ 85°C Improved Adhesion: UHU, Dissolved ABS in acetone. Smooth: Easy with acetone. Cost: 20 - 30 € / kg
PLA
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a common material for 3D printing. Considered easy because it sticks easier to the bed and cools down slower. Biodegradable.
Extruder Temperature: ~ 190°C Bed Temperature: ~ 70°C Improved Adhesion: PVA coating Smooth: With ethyl acetate (less dangerous), Tetrahydrofuran and Dichloromethane. Cost: 20 - 30 € / kg
HIPS
High Impact Polystyrene Similar to ABS uses Limonene as a solvent making it good for support material.
Extruder Temperature: ~ 230°C Bed Temperature: ~ 85°C Improved Adhesion: UHU Smooth: Sanding, Limonene Cost: 20 - 25 € / kg
PET
Nylon
NinjaFlex
Cost: ~110€ /kg
LayWood
Cost: ~ 200€ /kg
LayBrick
Cost: ~ 140€ /kg
Conductive PLA
Cost: ~ 200€ /kg
Iron PLA
Cost: ~ 200€ /kg
Steel PLA
Cost: ~ 200€ /kg
Process
The process of printing an object consists of designing or downloading a 3D object (in STL format), slicing it to produce the GCode and printing it.
Design
OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD is not an interactive modeller. Instead it is something like a 3D-compiler that reads in a script file that describes the object and renders the 3D model from this script file.
Blender
Blender is a professional free and open-source 3D computer graphics software product used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D applications and video games. Blender's features include 3D modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, raster graphics editing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, soft body simulation, sculpting, animating, match moving, camera tracking, rendering, video editing and compositing. Alongside the modeling features it also has an integrated game engine.
TinkerCAD
TinkerCAD is a browser-based 3D solid modelling tool for rapid prototyping known for its simple interface and entry-level ease of use.
- [ Site]
Libraries
Slicing
To slice an object we open the object file (STL), position it on the bed (rotate, scale) set the settings. Load the appropriate profile according to material and quality (e.g. ABS medium).
A few things to have in mind before slicing:
- Positioning of the object in order to get the structural strength that you want (Z layers are weaker) and avoid overhangs that require support material.
- Infill usually 20% or 40%. Change according to what you print, think of strength and support of top layers.
- Perimeters usually 2-4. Think of strength required or possible weak point.
- Top & Bottom Layers usually 3. Think of strength required.
- Support Material if needed and where.
- Brim to increase the adhesion to the bed. To avoid warping of long objects (especially with ABS). A Brim is attached to your part and extends outward, similar to the brim of a hat. Brims typically have several outlines and may be 1-2 layers tall. Brims are often used to stabilize small parts or “islands” (isolated sections of a model, such as 4 legs of a table) because brims help these delicate areas stay connected to the print bed.
- Raft A Raft is a horizontal latticework of filament that is located underneath your part. Rafts are primarily used with ABS to help with bed adhesion. Rafts are also used to help stabilize models with small footprints, or to create a strong foundation on which to build the upper layers of your part.
Software
Both Cura and Slic3r are free software. Cura provides a simplified user interface that expands to a more advanced UI for manipulating settings. Slic3r provides more detailed settings manipulation. You can preview the gcode layer by layer in both applications.
Cura
Select the material and required quality.
Slic3r
Load the profile (.ini) file corresponding to the material and the required quality.
Printing
Octoprint