Week 3 - Journal

Easy & Simple

This week our assignment is to design and fabricate a Pen & Pencil Holder by using Autodesk Fusion 360 to design it and print it using the 3D printer.

So I just browsed Google Images for ideas but at the end I just improvise 🤷🏻‍♂️.

First I start by design my model on Autodesk Fusion 360.

1. I Stared by sketching the shape I wanted.

2. I used revolve on my sketch to create cylinder like body.

3. I used shell tool to hollow the body.

4. The I created 2 constraint planes

5. By the guidance of constraint planes I created I split the body into 3 bodies (Upper, Middle, Lower)

6. Then I sketched "X" like shape then I used that sketch and extrude intersect on the middle body to give me the shape in want.

7. Then I select the shape and used the circular pattern to create multiple copy of the same shape all around.

8. At the end I select all the bodies and combine them into one body

Second, I used Ultimaker Cura software to slice my model and to configure the printing parameters.

My printing Parameters:

• Layer height: 0.20mm

• Infill: 20%

• No Support

• No Adhesion

• Scale: 44.7%

It's time to Print

I went to the Fab Lab to print my design using the 3D Printer.

In the Maker Space I did the following:

1. I cleaned the 3D printer bed.

2. I turn on the 3D printer.

3. I copied my G-Code to SD card and insert it into the 3D printer.

4. I navigate to my file using the 3D printer controls and I run the code.

5. I waited till the 3D printer heat up and I observe the first few layers of the print to make sure that everything is running smoothly.

Note: I skipped loading filament part because it was already loaded

While I was slicing the design on Cura I found out that the time of printing would exceed the time limit that is assigned for the assignment so I reduce the scale to match the time limit.

We always use *.gcode files while 3D printing but what is inside that *.gcode file is it clear text or encoded 🤔

Mmm, Lets try to open it with text editor. 👨🏻‍💻

My mind is blown. 🤯

Just wow that is too much code with every tiny movement that the 3D Printer gone make during it's journey as it print my model.

That much code just get generated in seconds by using Cura just wow.

Fun Fact: The *.gcode file that I printed is 173876 line of code.