Lots of failures! In this assignment, we were tasked to apply 3D drawing to the design and creation of an object that could only be practically manufactured using 3D printing.
Inspired by the tops that we saw as examples, I set out to design a really cool top that could also demonstrate some basic physics concepts. Since tops deal with rotational kinetic energy as well as moment of inertia, I thought it would be pretty darn neat to demonstrate the effect of added mass on rotational speed and energy.
Modeling Failed Top First top loaded with weights
My pitfall was that I was so focused on demonstrating this that I forgot the original context of the project: to make something that only a 3D printer could make practically.
Even though this top failed, I still learned the process of getting a 3D file to the printer, as well as the process of removing support material:
Uploading files! Printing…printing…printing… Removing support material!
So I started over. Back to the drawing room. This time, I focused more on the assignment objective, as well as making a cool-looking top.
To make the top unique to 3D printing, I added internal geometry. I wanted to embed a torus inside the top to see how the torus spins with relation to the whole top as an isolated body.
Bottom view and Top view
Exploded view to show internal geometry
New Top Spinning new top Defected top tip
Another failure that I ran into was that the 3D printer didn’t deal with printing the tip of the top well. In the future, I might purposefully make the tip a blunter shape. However, I like this new top way more than the first one.
Video of spinning top:
Overall, I learned the following:
1. How to design and prepare files for 3D printing
2. How to upload/format files to send to the 3D printer
3. How to wait long periods of time for the printing to be finished
4. How to remove support material via chemical bath
5. How to rejoice after seeing this awesome technology work its magic
-Harrison
Hahaha I like how I’m casually in one of your process pictures