Week 1 - Journal

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)

For this week assignment I prepared cat scratcher for 3D printing and harry potter keychain for laser cutting, I chose the Cat scratcher cause I have two cats Bondo2 & Semsema they always need me to scratch their chin and the area round their ears and actually this annoys me so I decided to make this toy for them to make us all feel comfortable and satisfied 🥰. For the laser cut I chose harry potter cause I've always loved harry potter🖤.

Cat scratcher

Harry potter keychain

Tool Chain

Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?

Software:

RD works is a software used for adjusting the laser cutter machines and the 2D designs.

Machines:

El Malky laser cutter machine

Materials:

plywood which is easy to cut and durable.

El Malky laser cutter

Software:

Ultimaker cura: this software convert 3D models into printable instructions for 3D printer as it translate the model into G-code which is the 3D printer language. It is also easy to use for beginners and offers predefined profiles for different materials and print qualities.

Machines:

PRUSA 1 which prints n high quality.

Materials:

PLA: it is the most common material and made from organic materials, easy to print with as it doesn't need special environment and availble in many colors.

Prusa 3D printer

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?

I got the design of the Cat scratcher from online open source www.printables.com/model/726310-cat-scratcher-cat-approved then downloaded the .stl file and dragged it into cura then changed some parameters to fit to the estimated time by:

Using the mirror to flip it so it won't need any support
The layer height was 0.15mm
Infill was 10%
No adhesion needed
No support needed
Changed the printing temperature into 215%

After setting the parameters it took only 50 minutes and 6 grams then exported the file into g.code.

1. I got the design of Harry Potter keychain from online open source 3axis.co/laser-cut-harry-potter-leather-keychain-cdr-file/eoxlergo/ , then downloaded the .dxf file and imported it onto the RD works, then adjusted the color of the shape lines according each operation where:

red is for scanning
blue for speed cut
black for cutting

2. The parameters was:

cut : speed 40 , power 45
speed cut : speed 300, power 10
scanning: speed 300, power 25

then exported the file in .rld to upload on the machine for cutting

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?

Laser cutting:

The prepared .dxf file uploaded to the lab's computer that is connected to El-Malkey machine.
After that we adjusted the parameters then saved the file to the U file.
Then I went to the machine to start cutting but firstly I put the 3mm plywood in the machine and fixed it properly.
I set the origin point by using the arrows in the machine and the Origin button.
Then used the frame button to make sure that the size is correct.
After that we close the machine door and press on start to start cutting and also turned on the vacuum to take in all the smoke.

2. 3D printing:

Made sure that the design parameters was set properly.
Uploaded the g,code file of the 3D design in the SD card that is used in the machine.
Opened the file on Prusa 3D printer.
Getting the printer ready by heating its bed at 60degrees Celsius and nozzle at 215 degrees Celsius.
Installed the purple color filament and made the printer upload the filament and made sure the color that the nozzle dropped was clear.
When the printer was ready it started printing the design.
When the printer finished I used a putty knife and alcohol to remove the design from the bed gently.
The design wasn't supported so I didn't have to remove any thing it was perfectly printed.

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)

I faced a small problem with the scale of my laser cut design, as I made its height 60.5 mm and its width 50mm and this was too big for a keychain and that was because i didn't know the right scale for the keychains. but next time when I fabricate any design I'll first check its standard dimensions online.

Title of Media

Final Project

How can you use the skills and knowledge that you've acquired this week in your final project?

Will in this week I learned how to use the 3D printer and Laser cut machines and for sure this will help me in building the body of my final project (Robot) and also using some electronics for sure to make it able to do its function.

WOW!

What is the coolest thing that you've learned this week? What is something that you will never forget from this week?

Well! the coolest thing I learned this week was dealing with the digital fabrication machines and software it was so fun and interesting to me actually.

Also the teamwork was so much fun.

Weekly Digest [OPTIONAL]

Tell us about any other cool things that you've made this week: in the Hands-on activity, tutorial examples, exercises, or any other cool mini-project that you tried out aside from the assignment.