3D Printing
3D Printing
Embedded Files
Parts / Tools
Parts / Tools
3D Printer
3D Printer filament (PLA or ABS)
Computer with internet access
3D printing is useful for a range of important modern-day manufacturing including prototyping, custom prosthetic appendages, and hobby crafts. First coming to the world in the 1980s, 3D printing was not quite at the conceptual and efficiency level that is present today. In 1984, a team of French chemist-engineers, in conjunction with the French General Electric Company, attempted to patent the first stereolithography machine which would work like a crude resin 3D printer on the market today. Just two years later, Charles Hull would create the first commercial 3D printer, the SLA-1. The SLA-1 was also a chemical-stereolithography printer, unlike its more common counterpart: fused deposition modeling (fused filament fabrication). Most 3D printers that a consumer would come into contact with would be categorized under this second category, which acts similarly to an automatic hot-glue gun dispensing melted plastic, "filament," onto a print bed at high temperatures, often exceeding 200 degrees Celsius. There are many types of filament, including Polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic often made from corn; Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a thermoplastic used in most consumer plastics from LEGOs to chairs; Nylon, a strong and flexible plastic; and many more such as wood, sandstone, PVA, and PETT.
Before 3D printing, one must first design a 3D model. Many programs and online websites make this process very easy, such as AutoCAD, Google Sketchup, tinkerCAD, and Shapeways. Additionally, many websites offer premade files to download and print including thingiverse. Whichever program you decide to use depends on your skill set with computer-aided design (CAD), creativity, item being printed, and how much money you are willing to invest for modelling. Once you create your model, you simply save it as a stereolithogrpahy (.STL) file and send it to print. It's as easy as dream, create, make!
Terminology
Terminology
Filament - the thermoplastic material used for fused deposition modeling 3D printers. There are many types of filament available with different properties, requiring different temperatures to print. Filament is available in two standard diameters; 1.75 and 2.85 mm/3 mm. Common filament types are PLA, ABS, PETT, and Nylon.
Bed - the base plate of the 3D printer where the filament adheres and cools. Often made out of wood, glass, or metal. Sometimes can be heated to allow better adherence and removal of print objects.
Extruder - the nozzle that heats and dispenses printer filament. Usually is the piece that moves around the print bed, but sometimes the print bed moves around the extruder.
CAD - computer-aided design; the use of technology to design 2D or 3D artwork or models.
Stereolithography - a technique or process for creating three-dimensional objects, in which a computer-controlled moving laser beam is used to build up the required structure, layer by layer, from a liquid polymer that hardens on contact with laser light (UV rays). Often used in resin-based 3D printing.
.STL - a stereolithography file format that holds the 3D model for printing. Also known as "Standard Triangle Language" and "Standard Tessellation Language".
Go to Shapeways Creator
Go to Shapeways Creator
Using the Shapeways Creator suite of tools, design our own 3D models using their templates or free sketching tools.
Use the Keychain Creator
Use the Keychain Creator
Today we will explore the keychain creator and create our own custom keychains.
Pick a Design
Pick a Design
You can either pick a design from Shapeways's provided design patterns, or you can make your own. The next few steps will show you how to make your very own design!
If you already have a design file handy, click here!
Create a Design Using Google Drawings
Create a Design Using Google Drawings
Using Google Drawings, create the design you want to use for your keychain. You can use letters, numbers, symbols, and patterns however you'd like! Be creative!
*TIP: In order to make your keychain one full piece, ensure all components of your drawing are touching!
Make the Loop for Your Keychain
Make the Loop for Your Keychain
To allow your keychain to actually hang, we need to add a hoop! Using the hollow semi-circle shape tool, add a hoop to your keychain. Make sure the hole is big enough to fit your key through!
*TIP: Once again, make sure the hoop is touching the rest of the keychain to ensure it will actually be attached when printed!
Resize the Design Area
Resize the Design Area
Make the keychain the full size of the drawing area so that when it saves it will be the entire image. The easiest way to do this is to move your design into the top left corner with the top and left side of your design touching the top and left corner of your Google Drawing. Click on a portion of your drawing without your design and drag until your design is highlighted, then drag your design to the corner. Next, move your mouse to the bottom right hand corner of the drawing and a few lines will appear. Drag these lines up to your design until the drawing area is the size of your design.
Save the Design
Save the Design
Make sure all portions of your design are black to allow the Shapeways generator to accurately model your design. The color of the actual finished product will be in the color of filament being used. Next, go to File > Download > JPEG (.jpg) Image to save your design as a JPEG file.
Import to Shapeways
Import to Shapeways
Go back to the Shapeways creator website and click upload. Import your JPEG design that you just created and Shapeways will automatically turn your design into a 3D model. Go ahead, play around with it in the preview console!
Resize your Keychain
Resize your Keychain
Using the Shapeways Customization panel, resize your keychain to be a size of 50mm (or as close as you can get) and a thickness of 3mm. This will allow for a sturdy and good-sized keychain. Other options include putting a flat backing on your design, mirroring the back so it matches the texture of the top, and smoothing corners. Play around with your design until you get it just how you want it!
Download your 3D Model
Download your 3D Model
Click Create Your Keychain and wait for Shapeways to compile your 3D model! When your file is ready, Shapeways will notify you and bring you to their ordering webpage. Here you can order prints directly from Shapeways in a variety of materials. Go ahead and see how much it would cost to print your design using different materials!
Since we are printing on our own 3D printer, we want to download our file. Next to Creator Keychain, click Tools. Shapeways will provide you with a .zip of your file design.
Convert to .STL
Convert to .STL
Now, Shapeways only provides a .x3db file format which is only usable with Shapeways programs. To convert this file, we will need to download Netfabb Basic and import our file. You can find the downloads for this product here. Once you download the file on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer, run the program and hit later when a licensing prompt appears.
To import your file, click Project > Open > find your file. To then save your file in the correct format, click Part > Export Part > as STL (ASCII) and your file will be available in a stereolithography file format and ready to print!
Slice your File
Slice your File
Import your .STL file to a 3D printer and slicer program such as Repetier, Cura, or XYZware Pro. Slice your file. This means the program will automatically split the file into layers and extrusion paths into G-Code which will command the extruder (the nozzle that releases plastic filament) where to move and when to release filament. Slicing will also give an estimate of how long printing will take, how many layers will be produced, and the amount of filament needed to produce your design.
Click Print!
Click Print!
Allow the printer to warm up to its necessary temperature (usually 200°C, really hot!), level the bed, hit print, and let the printer do its job! When the printer finishes, allow your keychain to sit and cool for a few minutes before removing it from the bed.
Enjoy your new keychain and continue to dream, create, make!
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