Week 6 - 3D Printing and Scanning¶
This Week’s Accomplishments:
Group Assignment:
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Test the design rules for your 3D printer.
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Document your work on the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned about.
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characteristics of your printer.
Individual Assignment:
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3D print an object (small, few cm3, limited by printer time) that could not be easily made subtractively.
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3D scan and print an object.
Introduction¶
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital file. The printer adds material layer by layer to build the final product. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods that involve cutting or molding materials, 3D printing builds objects layer by layer from a digital model. This process allows for incredible precision and customization, making it ideal for producing complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with conventional techniques.
Our Group Assignment¶
You can access our group assignment of the week at my colleague’s page Ali Abbas Here.
3D Printing¶
The mechanism of 3D printing involves several key components working together to turn a digital design into a physical object. First, the 3D printer reads the digital file, which contains the blueprint of the object. The printer’s software slices this model into thin horizontal layers. The printing process begins with the printer’s extruder, which heats the printing material (like plastic filament) to a specific temperature until it becomes malleable. The extruder then moves along the X, Y, and Z axes, depositing the material layer by layer according to the sliced model. Each layer is fused to the previous one, gradually building up the object from the bottom to the top. Some printers use different technologies, like stereolithography (SLA) or selective laser sintering (SLS), which involve curing resin with a laser or fusing powder with a laser, respectively. The precision of the printer’s movements and the quality of the material determine the final object’s accuracy and strength.
Filaments¶
3D printing filaments are the materials used by 3D printers to create objects. There are various types of filaments, each with unique properties. One of the most popular filaments is PLA, or Polylactic Acid, which is what we had to use here at FabLab Academy. It is biodegradable and made from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. PLA is known for being easy to print with and environmentally friendly.
PLA
PLA Pro, also known as PLA+, is an enhanced version of standard PLA. It retains the ease of use of regular PLA but offers improved strength, durability, and heat resistance. This makes it a great choice for more demanding projects where you need a bit more toughness. However, PLA Pro can be affected by several factors. For instance, it needs to be stored properly in a dry environment because it can absorb moisture from the air, which can lead to poor print quality. Additionally, the printing temperature and bed temperature need to be carefully controlled to achieve the best results. After testing out several models of 3D, I think that some of the filaments we had here were heat damaged or stored improperly because of the quality of printing I had with my final project pieces as they ended up with lots of rough surfaces.
3D Support¶
Choosing the right support structures for 3D printing is crucial for ensuring prints to come out correctly, especially for models with overhangs or complex geometries. Support structures in 3D printing are used to provide stability and prevent parts of the model from collapsing during the printing process. They are especially important for models with overhangs, bridges, or complex geometries that don’t have enough material underneath to support them. By using supports, we ensure that these challenging areas are properly printed, resulting in a successful and accurate final object. Once the print is complete, the supports can be removed, leaving you with a well-formed model.
When we’re 3D printing objects, supports are essential for parts of the model that don’t have enough material underneath to hold them up, like overhangs or bridges. There are different types of supports we can use, such as tree supports, which are great for saving material and time, and breakaway supports, which are easy to remove by hand. The choice of support depends on the complexity of your model and the material you’re using. For example, tree supports are ideal for intricate designs because they use less material and are easier to remove. On the other hand, breakaway supports are better for models that need a clean finish because they snap off easily without leaving much residue. You also need to consider the orientation of your model; aligning it to minimize the need for supports can save you time and material3. Ultimately, experimenting with different support settings in your slicer software, like Cura, can help you find the best solution for your specific print.
Printing my First 3D Desing: A Bedside Lamp¶
Haitham told us about a website called Thingsverse which is an open source for free 3D designs ready to be printed in 3D printers. I scrolled through the website and was fascinated by one particular lamp. 1.This is the main panel of the website and a glimpse of it:
2.I chose this lamp because I really needed one in my room, and what a good opportunity to take and make it myself!
3.Then I downloaded the Creality software using this link. I personally had a lot of issues with it because my laptop is not the best compatible with it. It was super slow and couldn’t keep along with it so I had to send my files to Haitham’s laptop.
Here’s a quick guide on the options we took
4.Then choosing the support type
5.My design along with my classmates in one plate print took around 3 hours. I forgot to take a picture of the lamp with the support but I took me quite some time to take it all off nicely.
5.after printing and taking out the support bit by bit which I forgot to capture, I added a source of light. and I had two options, either a battery operated tiny LED or an LED strip light. I chose the tiny one because it is more convenient for moving around. Btw here is a my lamp serving its full potential as a date dish and a coster before serving as a lamp lol:
6.And tadaaa! The final product with a tiny LED I got from Haitham :) I had to scale down the size of my lamp to fit my classmates’ work with me so it reduced the final glow effect but overall it was nice. I gifted it to my dear mother and she loved it.
Lamp Improvements¶
Since my lamp was so small due to scaling it down, I was lucky to have the opportunity a few days later to print it again into its full size. This time I was able to use the long LED strip and insert it inside the hollow surrounding of each upper and lower section which Haitham suggested. Here is me fixing it in with a tweezer at my MRI department during my break time at hospital.
The lamp this time had an external longer cable that can be connected by USB. I gifted it to my best friend this time ^-^.
Creality vs Ultimaker¶
When comparing Creality and Ultimaker 3D printers, both brands have their strengths. Creality printers, are known for being budget-friendly and offering good quality prints. On the other hand, Ultimaker printers are generally more expensive but provide higher precision and reliability, they provide smoother results and less flying material. While Creality focuses on affordability and ease of use, Ultimaker emphasizes advanced features and good performance. My choice would be the Ultimaker because of the speed of work it provided me when printing my lamps.
3D Scanning¶
3D scanning is a technology that captures the shape and appearance of real-world objects or environments to create digital 3D models. It works by using various methods like laser scanning to collect data points from the surface of the object. These data points are then processed to form a detailed 3D representation, which can be used for various applications such as virtual reality, 3D printing, and digital archiving.
Our instructor Haitham had us search the app store on our phones for 3D scanning apps. I downloaded a few, and most of them required a subscription fee to join. A couple of apps were particularly good in my pov: MagiScan and Scanniverse. I compared between the two apps below and Scanniverse is definitely for the win due to the quality and post-processing speed it provided. The Scanniverse app is a powerful tool for 3D scanning that you can use right from your smartphone. It allows you to capture, edit, and share 3D models easily. Scanniverse uses advanced technologies like Gaussian splatting and LiDAR (if available on your device) to create highly detailed and accurate 3D scans. The app offers features like on-device processing, easy editing tools, and the ability to export models in popular 3D formats such as OBJ, FBX, and GLB.
| Feature | Scanniverse | MagiScan |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Larger spaces, versatile scanning | Smaller, detailed objects |
| Technology | LiDAR (if available), advanced algorithms | Automatic alignment and stitching |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface | Streamlined for beginners |
| Editing Capabilities | Strong on-device editing | Advanced options for detailed models |
| Export Formats | OBJ, FBX, GLB | Various 3D formats |
| Post-Processing Speed | several minutes | super long hours |
| Free Features | Excellent choices | Limited Choices when not paying |
Scanning My First 3D Object: A Human Heart¶
I used both apps above and ended up with Scanniverse for the most part. Because I’m into human anatomy and medics, I took a human heart figure that was available in the science center of Bahrain and placed it on a chair, then rotated my camera super slowly doing a 360 degree of all angles. and here’s the final result:
Scanning A Human into 3D: My Classmate Yaqoob¶
For my next object, I wanted to try something different so I scanned my classmate Yaqoob Suwaileh. It had to be a super slow scan too to not lose details. and I was able to make it into a fun video using CapCut on my phone along with the video editing options on Scanniverse.
My Week in a Summary¶
This week, I identified the advantages and limitations of 3D printing, printed a 3d object, and showcased how scanning technology can be used to digitize objects by using the Scanniverse app, Additionally, I linked my work to the group assignment page, and explained what I learned from testing the 3D printers.
Reflecting on the week, I found it fascinating to learn about the intricate details of 3D printing technology, especially how different materials and printing techniques can significantly impact the final product. The process of digitizing objects through scanning was also intriguing, as it opened up new possibilities for creating accurate digital replicas of physical items which I can implement in my medical field. In recent years, 3D printing has found applications in various fields, including healthcare, in the medical field, it has enabled the production of custom prosthetics and implants tailored to individual patients. As the technology continues to advance, it holds the promise of further innovation and accessibility, potentially democratizing manufacturing and sparking creativity across disciplines. Overall, it was a week full of learning and discovery, deepening my appreciation for the capabilities and potential of 3D printing!