6. 3D printing and scanning¶
This week’s task have encompassed the utilization of 3D printers which is an additive manufacturing technology. The designs in a 3D printer cannot be designed easily using a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine or a laser cutter because the CNC and laser cutter machines have a certain depth in which they can drill to, whereas the 3D printer adds material till it completely designs the final product. So if a ball is to be designed, this ball has a certain depth and it can be made easily through using a 3D printer because it keeps adding material until it reaches the desired dimensions, so there are not really alot of restrictions here such as the depth restriction in the CNC and laser cutter machines.
Types of 3D printers¶
There are many types of 3D printers, but we tried two of them in this week.
1- Creality printer
2- UltiMaker printer
Creality printer¶
- This picture shows the printer that we used.
- The following steps can guide you with using the Creality software:
1- Download and install the Creality Software
Click here to download
2- After downloading and opening the software, you will see this page.
3- You can make design in any 3D software and put it in creality software as stl file by this option.
UltiMaker printer¶
- This picture shows the printer that we used.
- The following steps can guide you with using the UltiMaker software:
1- Download and install the UltiMaker Software
Click here to download
2- After downloading and opening the software, you will see this page.
3- You can make design in any 3D software and put it in UltiMaker software as stl file by this option.
Fusion Design for 3D printer¶
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For me, I designed my object in fusion 360 and printed it using creality printer.
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These steps shows how i did my 3D design :
1- First we draw circles
2- Then change the dimensions and add a small square in the middle.
3- After that I drew the tooth of the gear.
4- Now copy the tooth and add it around the circle.
5- Here the final shape of the gear.
6- After that put my design in creality software.
7- This is the printer’s screen,which we use it to start the printing process.
8- The video shows how the printer works.
9- As you can see the printing process has finished.
10- The final shape!!
Group Assignment¶
Documented by my teammate Ali Abbas
What is 3D scanning?¶
3D scanning is the process of collecting data from the surface of a physical object which accurately describes the shape in terms of three-dimensional space. Once collected, this data allows technicians, mechanics, engineers or hobbyists the ability to examine an object digitally, which enhances and maximizes the precision and speed of their work. By obtaining the shape of the part digitally, the scan data can be used to either replicate the part (reverse-engineering), or for dimensional analysis (inspection).
These steps shows how i did my 3D scanning¶
1- Here the picture of the object which we want to convert it to 3D design.
2- I have tried the scanning process using a mobile app (Scaniverse).
3- After opening the application, click on New scan.
4- Select mesh for the scan type.
5- Then I move the camera around the piece.
6- finally, you can see in the video how we convert the real object to 3D design.