For this assignment, we were tasked with creating an “impossible” object using a 3D printer. For my project, I chose to use an FDM printer to print a Pythagorean cup, which is a cup made with a track on the inside so that when it gets too full, it empties itself. When I tried printing this piece, it seemed that the trunk of the cup was too thin, and it became unstable. This instability lead the cup to get “off” during the printing, which caused it to separate from the printing base.

 

 

After this failure, I decided to switch projects to something more sturdy. I chose a mini catapult. This design is an impossible object because not only was it printed all in one part, but it featured axles inside of holes that were able to be twisted. This twist is what produced the thrust needed to launch the catapult.

On the first print, it printed fairly well in about three hours. The printer failed to print accurately only at the very end of the print, near the top of the piece. Despite this, I tried printing again, and the arm of the catapult became even more off-center. So, I resigned myself to the original print.

In this assignment, we used our knowledge of  3D printers to create a piece that would otherwise be impossible to print. The catapult became quite fun, and the printing process taught me about how to effectively print a part.