Week 3- Journal

The assignment is designing a pencil holder with some criteria such as

1- It should be consists of 2 parts.

2- To support (bracket with captive nut), T-slots and crossing tabs.

caring about the idea comes from the daily use of the pencil holder on my office at work.

The inspiration comes by googling a different forms and then picking the most suited one to modify it. 

Software:

I practice on Fusion 360 through watching the uploaded videos and apply the separated project. 

Laser works.

Machines

3D printing: Prusa MK3

Laser cutting: El Malky ML 149 CO2 Laser Cutter.

2D sketching via fusion 360

1. creating a new component as role number one.

2. drawing the 1st side of the pencil holder by drawing a rectangle from the origin.

3. drawing the T-Slot on one side 

• 2 rectangles 3 * 8mm aligned to the bas line. 

• another 2 rectangles one vertical with 3 * 8mm and other one is horizontal and perpendicularly, one that one 2.4 *5.5mm

• the distance between mid point and each side rectangle is 6.5 mm.

4. drawing an artistic shape in the middle of the side by drawing 5 triangles rotating around one central point.

5. check all constrains and dimensions to check that all lines are fully defined. 

Extruding and assembly via Joints

• Extruding all 4 sides, base and other 2 front sides with 3mm.

• joining all components together by using joint tool.

• changing the appearance to close from the real shape of wood.

Implementation for laser cut:

In the Laser cut RD works 

1. place all sides beside each other to save the time of cutting.

2. detect power and speed for cutting and scanning

3. cut (30- 50) with black color.

4. scanning 20 - 300 with red color.

5. press simulate to estimate the time of cutting and scanning.

Using machine

• download the file to the laser cut machine.

• set the origin before starting and the fame as well.

• fixing the plywood on the plate by sticky tap.

• close the protective cover and press start button.

Fusion 360 practice

One of the problems that I have faced is designing the bracket with captive nut as I struggled to make the mid-plane in fusion 360 to make the groove in the nut.

solution : It was at the end of week session during the reflection on midweek videos I exposed my problem on slack and the instructor discussed it with the other students and I repeated the steps again till I designed it by myself. 

First technical problem

After cutting 2 sides of sticky note section in the pencil holder I did not leave enough space for the fitting corner so, the 2 sides did not fit together.

Solution

I asked for Varner caliper to measure the defect in cutting. It was 3mm needed to be cut in one of the 2 sides.

second technical problem

After cutting the 4 sides of pencil holder I surprised that 2 sides are not fit to the crossing slot that because all four sides have the crossing slot in the same direction.

Solution

I corrected the design again on Fusion and repeated the cutting process.

It was unbelievable moments this week as I acquired many skills that could be adjusted to match the criteria in the final project such as:-

1- Design T-slots that I will use it to make my project more tight and supportive.

2- Designing bracket with captive nut, I might use it to design top on my project.

3- Offsite with mid-plane to make a groove between 2 sides that save my time during designing the brackets.

4- practice on the projection.