3. 3D-Printing#
Slicing#
As a 3D-printer is working by adding layers of plastic, the 3D-model designed need to be sliced before beeing print.
That means that a software generates the instructions readable by the 3D-printer (a G-code) :
principally the coordinates of the displacement of the nozzle and when it is printing or not.
During this important step you can set different parameters :
- the height of the slices
- find a compromise between quality (small height) and speed (big height)
- the way the printer is going to fill the solids part
- (finding a compromise between solidity and quantity of matter/speed of priting/wheight)
- eventually the placement of supports if needed
PrusaSlicer#
The 3D-printer of the FabLab ULB is Prusa i3 MK3/S/S+ with a 0.6 mm nozzle.
(Prusa come from the creator of this printer : Josef Prusa).
The software that generates G-code for this printer is PrusaSlicer .
I followed the tutorial from the course.
Some important points to remember :#
- select filamenet generic PLA
- choose the good nozzle size
From OpenSCAD to PursaSlicer#
The 3D-model had to be exported in .stl format in OpenSCAD to be open in PursaSlicer.
Adapt the model to printing#
For the quality/speed compromise I choosed the 0.30mm “QUALITY” preset.
My first model had the parameter rb_width = 0.1;. When I opened the .stl with PursaSlicer all the ruban was skipped.
This is because de nozzle mesure 0.6mm diameter so the printer cannot print thiner things.
So I make a second export with rb_width = 0.6;
My second model was well opened in PursaSlicer with all the parts ready to be print but the estimated time was of 59 minutes that is too long for this exercice.
As this model had the parameters in the code diam = 40;, inter_spir = 3;, rb_height = 10;,
supp_height=10; and bool_contour = true;.
I changed this values respectively to 20, 10, 3, 2 and false. And then the estimated time downed to 21 minutes.
Those modeles were with the parameter thick_c = true; and thick_e = true; as I thought this thickening would improve the solidity of the model.
First printing#
The first printing
[ADD IMAGE]
- Printscreen model The first attempt was a version “whitout external ring”, and with a ribbon that is getting thicker at the center and at the extremities The idea of putting it thicker to make it stronger was a failur, as it made the printer doing a “stop” in the printing of the spiral and creating a weak spot Also I decided to add an external ring as the time of printing was shorter than i thought
(+ add photos) ## Second printing - Printscreen model (+ add photos)
Useful links#
https://fablab-ulb.gitlab.io/enseignements/2021-2022/fabzero-experiments/students/pauline.mackelbert/FabZero-Modules/module04/