Assignment #6

For out sixth assignment, the 3D printing, we had to print a 3 dimensional object that had the following characteristics:

  • It can be printed using any of the 3D printers in the OEDK;
  • It has to fit a 3x3x3 inches cube;
  • It must be able to be manufactured using a 3D printer only;
  • It should include interlocking parts, moving parts, embedded geometries, complex surfaces, etc.

Therefore, the project would be decided in two parts:

  1. Find an object to print using Thingiverse then modify it to print;
  2. Produce your object with 3D printing.

On this post I am gonna describe all the steps I took to print my object!

  1. Finding an object:

Finding an object wasn’t very difficult, the real problem was choosing one among the incredible possibilities I had. After some search I decided to print a Pentagonal Torus Knot, and just by reading its name you can realize that its a one-piece knot where you can see a pentagon / star when looking perpendicularly to it.

Screen Shot 2016-04-03 at 1.04.35 PM Screen Shot 2016-04-03 at 1.04.27 PM

On the website I could find two files, one with support and one without. After reading the printers manual I realized that I didn’t need the file with the support because the softwares used create a support.

2. 3D printing the object:

To printing the knot, I decided to use the 3 big printers in the Wet Lab and compare the results:

(i) Fortus 250mc:

This printer is a FDM technology and uses ABS plastic as printing material and only allows one different property per print. The support printed with it is soluble in sodium hydroxide bath (NaOH).

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After using the Insight software, I could resize my piece, so its biggest dimension would have 3 inches and print it:

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After removing the object form the support I left it in the bath for a couple hours and then with a toothpick I removed the defects. This is the final result:

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The layers are very visible and, in my opinion, its a very rough print and I was not satisfied. So I deiced to use a better printer…

This is the pdf file with the instructions I used to print using the Fortus: Forts Training Module

(ii) Dimension SST 768:

Just like the previous one, this printer is a FDM technology and uses ABS plastic as printing material and only allows one different property per print. The support printed with it is soluble in sodium hydroxide bath (NaOH).

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After using the CatalystEX software, I could resize my piece, so its biggest dimension would have 3 inches and print it:

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After removing the object form the support I left it in the bath for a couple hours but this time I didn’t have to post process it. This is the final result:

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This is a much higher quality printing and I was very satisfied with it. After printing two rigid models, I decided that I wanted a soft / rubbery one. So I moved on to the next printer…

This is the pdf file with the instructions I used to print using the Dimension: Dimension Training Module

(iii) Connex Objet 260:

This printer is a Polyjet technology and uses several Photopolymers as printing materials and allows 14 different properties per print. The support printed with it is removable with WaterJet.

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After using the Objet Studio software, I could resize my piece, so its biggest dimension would have 3 inches, select the material used (The would give me a decent malleability) and print it:

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Unfortunately I made this over night and when I got to the OEDK by the morning a Lad Assistant had already finished it…

Its an excellent quality printing, in my opinion it doesn’t even look like it was 3D printed. It seems like someone glued a rubber string in that shape.

Here is a short video showing the malleability of the model:

This is the pdf file with the instructions I used to print using the Dimension: Objet Training Module

In conclusion, I can say that this was a very gratifying assignment and I am really happy fir my first ever 3D printed pieces!

I hope you have liked my final product  and I see you on next post!

 

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