Week 1 - Journal

For my laser cutting project I got inspired by my plants when I want to differentiate them from each other while they are growing, this link from 3axis helped me to add  levels of creativity and make the letters as scrabble game.

For the 3d printing project, I got inspired by my cat as most of the time she stands next to my mobile or I keep my mobile on her 😅so, why not make a cat mobile holder, lots of photos inspired me from Thingiverse but this was my favorite.

For laser cutting: I used 3axis website to pick my idea file as a Dxf file, some files weren`t in a Dxf type so, I downloaded the filestar program to transfer it into dxf then imported it in RDworks in order to export it to RLD file.

 machine used: laser cutting machine el Malky

For 3D printing: i used Thingiverse website to download the file as a STL file then imported it on Cura and exported as a gcode file.

machine used: Prusa i3 MK3

Plant mark: the file I downloaded from Thingiverse had the whole alphabetical letters, imported it in RD works program then I chose the ones completing the word "cucumber" adjust their sizes inside the stick squares, and adjusted the parameters' values (speed, power) checked that the mark dimensions are suitable for me then I extracted it as an RLD 

Cat mobile holder:  i downloaded the file from the 3axis website as an STL file, imported it in the cura program,  adjusted the profile and dimensions value and put support as my shape need it then exported it first as an stl file then as a gcode.

3D printing machine

first of all before starting the machine i made sure the machine type is the same as the one i selected in Cura Prusa i3 MK2, checked on all the parameters values then uploaded the file on the machine's SD card.

after that, the lab specialist told me to be sure the machine bed is clean by wiping it with alcohol.

i wanted my project to be in grey color so I changed the filament and passed through some steps to change it starting by turning on the machine to heat so i can take out the old filament and put the new one I chose and repeating the process of the nozzle getting rid of the old stock filament color 2 to 3 times to make sure all the old filament is not there anymore then choosing my project from the machine menu.  after the machine finished my project i used alcohol again &soak my holder in it a bit in addition to a sharp tool to get my project out of bed.

The Laser Cutting Machine process started with uploading my RLD file on a USB then transferring it to the lab PC, opening it on rd works software, checking on the speed, speed cut & cut values then downloading it on the cutting machine.

on the cutting machine, i started with adjusting the origin point & the design dimensions and scale then started the fabrication process.

• after finishing my 3d project I found that the tail is no fully supported so next time I can use support or change the filament as the lab specialist told me that maybe the filament quality is not good.