Week 1

I used laser works to adjust the power and speed for cutting and scanning layers

I used cura to slice the stl file , change settings and export G-code file to be read by the 3D printing machine.

I used it to Fabricate the laser cutting design.

I used PRUSA to Fabricate the 3D printing design.

I used 3mm plywood because it provides great value for money

I used PLA because it is one of the most environmentally-friendly 3D printing materials .

First step : I used 3axis.co to choose a suitable design and with the help of my friend mina, I chose and downloaded it as a dxf file so Laser Work can read it .

Second step : Importing the dxf file to Laser Work software to change the settings to be suitable for cutting.

Third step : I adjusted the sizes and my instructors Menna helped me to determine the speed and power of all the design because I still couldn't know the difference between them and Mohanad helped me to adjust the size.

1- I Changed the sizes to be 250*250mm to be suitable as a clock.

2- I give the cutting process black color (speed 25 & power 65 ).

3- I give the engraving process red color ( speed 200 & power 20).

Last step : I saved the file as RLD.

First step : I used thingiverse to choose a suitable design and downloaded it as stl file so ultimaker cura can read it.

Second step : Import stl file to ultimaker cura to change this setting to be suitable for the assignment requirements.

Third step : I adjusted the sizes because the original sizes will take more than 90 mins.

1- I scale down the x-axis to be 50mm , y-axis 60mm and z-axis will be the same 4mm to make the time suitable .

2- I used 0.2 mm layer height.

3- I used 20% Infill.

4- No support and no adhesion needed.

Last step : I save the file as G-code ( writing the time , grams , material , color , infill and layer height) to be read by the machine.

1-I copied my work and pasted it to the flash drive and inserted it into the usb input in the laser cutting machine.

2-from the machine:

click "file"....."udisk"....."read udisk file".......then "copy to mem".

3-chose the file on the machine from "file" button.

4-I tracked the frame and run the process.

the process took around 3mins.

The process :

1- I transfer my G-code to SD card and put it into the machine.

2- I turned on the 3D printer.

3- choose my G-code file.

4- After the bed become pre-heated i watch the first layer to make sure that all things works well.

First of all, I found my self having difficulty in dealing with the two software of both laser cutting and 3d printing machines, but after my two instructors Menna and Mohanad explained it, it became easier.

The second challenge was choosing the design, but with the help of my friend mina and using the opensource cad library (3axis.co), I managed to do it.

During working on the laser cutting machine; the power wasn't enough to cut the outer circumference of the clock, the lab specialist Mohamed Tarek helped me to modify the power without any errors in the final shape by by making the input "yes" in the outer line and "no" in the inner lines.

I learned how to deal with both two software and how to make preview and simulation to find errors before working on the machine, I learned how to choose the best materials for the project also

The coolest thing is how to 3d print any thing.

I will never forget that change in parameters of cutting(speed, power) have a great impact on the final product