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Ideation
Ideation
Tell us about your assignment's idea for this week. Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you? (Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)
Tell us about your assignment's idea for this week. Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you? (Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)
Inspirational pictures of both designs
The main objective of the assignment is to get familiar with the lab, its machines, which were the laser cutting machine & 3D printer, by learning how to operate the machines on your own without the need for assistance, another goal is to learn how to create files whether using a customized designs created by yourself or from open-source files.
I decided to create two designs that are useful for daily use which was keychain inspired by a cartoon character; Dumbo the flying elephant :") & laptop support hinges which improve the quality of laptop fans' work, both designs done by using open-source files downloaded from the internet.
TOOL CHAIN
TOOL CHAIN
Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?
Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?
I- Laser cutting:
Software: LaserWork.
Machine: Laser cutting machine.
Material: Plywood sheet with thickness 3mm.
II- 3D Printing:
Software: Ultimater Cura.
Machine: Prusia MK3 printer.
Material: PLA filament with gray color.
Softwares & machines used
Design/Preparation Process
Design/Preparation Process
Explain the design and/or preparation process of your assignment. How did you use the tool or software to design and/or prepare your assignment before fabrication/implementation?
Explain the design and/or preparation process of your assignment. How did you use the tool or software to design and/or prepare your assignment before fabrication/implementation?
I-Laser cutting
Step (1): I downloaded selected design file from (https://3axis.co/download/6o3y9kq7/)
Step (2): Using an online converter, I converted the file format from a .cdr file into a .dxf file.
Step (3): Using LaserWork software, I adjusted the design size & defined cutting & scanning areas by editing parameters Cut: speed 30m/s & 65% power / Scan: speed 300m/s & 30% power.
Step (4): After that was the fabrication phase & that's the final product, a small keychain.
II-3D Printing
Step (1): I downloaded .stl design file from (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2742574)
Step (2): I changed the model printing orientation to reduce the required support area to print the model, which would have taken a lot of time & material consumption & probably would have affected the design appearance & neatness.
Step (3): Using Cura to convert file format from .stl to gcode, I changed the infill pattern, then decreased its density to 15% also, decreased the layer height to reduce printing time as much as possible & settled the temperature on 215°C to make it suits the used PLA material, the whole printed model consumed about 21 grams of PLA.
Step (4): After that was the fabrication phase & that's the final product, a twin laptop supporte hinges.
Development/Implementation Process
Development/Implementation Process
Explain the development/implementation process of your assignment. How did you use the machine/tool to manufacture or implement the design of your assignment?
Explain the development/implementation process of your assignment. How did you use the machine/tool to manufacture or implement the design of your assignment?
I-Laser Cutting
Using the laser cutter machine actually was so easy, I opened the .rld file in the lab computer, then named the file & downloaded it to the machine.
After that I sat the origin point to start cutting from its & tracked frame to make sure that my design lies withing the limits of the plywood sheet, then started the cutting process which took about 30 sec.
II-3D Printing
For 3D printing, I loaded the .gcode file that has been sliced by Cura to the printer using an SD card, then I selected the file from the printer & chose it, the printer takes a while to reach the required temperature to print PLA, which is 215C for the nozzle & 60C for the bed & after that it started to print.
I kept on checking on the print from time to time to avoid any unexpected problems that could occurs, after the print was done, I took it out so easily due to the printer detachable flexible bed.
Overcoming Challenges
Overcoming Challenges
What kinds of challenges or problems did you face while doing the assignment, tutorials, or exercises? How did you solve them? Did you ask for help from an instructor or peer? Please provide a link to the tutorial or article that you used to solve your problem (if any)
What kinds of challenges or problems did you face while doing the assignment, tutorials, or exercises? How did you solve them? Did you ask for help from an instructor or peer? Please provide a link to the tutorial or article that you used to solve your problem (if any)
The results were actually great in both projects; however, I found the 3d printed hinge isn't enough stable as it supposed to be & that's due to lower support design.
I guess the solution would be designing the lower support with a higher width, it would've improved the user experience a lot & provide more stability for laptops (as shown at the left picture), but I figured out a solution to provide more stability than before, it's to use it on its filliped way (as shown at the right picture) & that's provided a temporary solution for this design issue.
Final Project
Final Project
How can you use the skills and knowledge that you've acquired this week in your final project?
How can you use the skills and knowledge that you've acquired this week in your final project?
As the main aim of this assignment was to be able to create designed parts by operating machines on your own, which will definitely be part of the final project to create its parts. So, it was a great head start.
WOW!
WOW!
What is the coolest thing that you've learned this week? What is something that you will never forget from this week?
What is the coolest thing that you've learned this week? What is something that you will never forget from this week?
One of the most interesting things that I learned was a clarification for the steps that 3D printer machine does before it starts printing to check the level of its bed to be sure that it's totally horizontal on a same level.
Assignment Design Files
Assignment Design Files
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