3D Printing & Scanning

3D Printing

3D printing session started off by Mr. Fran briefing us about types of 3D printers, their applications and softwares. Then he asked us to download Cura 3D printing software.

To download Cura software access Ultimaker Cura software and hit the download button.

After we had downloaded the software, Mr.Fran started talking about the settings within the software. He recomended us to make the following:

• The layer height should be 0.1 mm (normal).
• The infill to be 20% (normal).
• Activate the generate support option if we want to print shapes like the following shape.

If a piece on the shape inclined at an angle <= 45 degree from the surface of the glass, then generate a support.

• Activate the build plate adhesion option for shapes that could fall down during the printing process. The printer will make a base for the shape like the following figure.

Ultimaker 2 3D printer settings

Before turning on the machine we have to clean it, Mr. Fran told us that when the machine is clean, people will respect the machine. We used alcohol based cleaners to clean the 3D printer. Also, we have to make sure that all the rods are fixed and the belts are tied.
After we cleaned the printer and checked it out we turned it on and made the following procedures:

• Insert material.

• But firstly I have to make sure that the filament are not stock while pulling him out.

• I have to put the filament roll on the machine.

• Also, I have to cut the head of the filament and make it sharp to make it easy for inserting.

• Then I set the layer height in the printer through build plate option.

• I Rotated the button until the nozzle was 1mm away from the build-plate.
• I repeated the previous step for all the corners.
• Then I repeated the same step, but now I used a sheet of paper in order to fine tuning the build-plate level.

• After that I slided the paper between the build-plate and the nozzle until I felt a bit resistance.

• Then I chose move the material option and started rotating the button, and once it out from the nozzle I have to touch the filament to see if it is smooth. It was smooth, so my printer now is ready to print.

  

Precautions :

I have summarized all the precautions that I have heard from Mr. Fransisco during working on the 3D-printers.

• Don't put glow on the build-plat of the 3D printer.
• Don't use carbon fiber filaments unless if you need a strong product; because it could harm the nozzle. Instead of carbon fiber use PLA filament which is the most type of filament used on 3D printers.
• when you make move material option, don't pull the filament from the nozzle.
• keep the printers and the materials on away from humidity; because the filament could grow by humidity.
• make sure that the filament diameter is 2.85 mm. If the filament diameter is > 2.95 mm, then put the filament in the oven at 40 Celsius.
• Once you start printing, keep an eye on the printer to make sure that the first layer is printed properly.
• If some extra filaments is printed out while the machine is printing then low the temperature of the nozzle.
• Make speed around 30% when you start printing.
• Always clean the printer and the space around the printers before start printing and after finish printing.

3D Scanning

A 3D scanner is a device that analyses a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape. The collected data can then be used to construct digital 3D models.

I download the scanning software on window's operating system by accessing cubify.com, then I made the following procedure:

• I download the sense software.
• I plugged in the scanner to the USB.
• Then I launched the sense software.
• Finally, I started the scanning process.