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)

First I wanted to fabricate something that could be useful for me and some other thing that is good looking and creative

My idea for laser cutting was a page holder to help me reading

I searched online for DXF format for page holder and found it on 3axis.

Link of Page holder

The other idea for 3D printing was a cool ghost cat that looked very creative idea to me and very cute idea as i liked small simple models as i was inspired by a small T-Rex model , so I choose this model

I choose the model as it was available as STL file and its dimensions was suitable to use

Link of ghost cat

Tool Chain

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

Laser Work

for preparing Page holder for laser cutting

Ultimaker Cura

for slicing cat model and preparing it for 3D printing

3mm Wood Sheets

I used 3mm wood shets for laser cutting after making the settings for 3mm cutting

PLA white filament

I used PLA as a Filament for the 3D model and because it has easy compatible printing setting

Malky ML96 Laser Cutter

I used Malky-ML96 machine after preparing the files on Laser Work as it's the software which is compatible with thee machine

Creality Ender 3 v2 3D Printer

After Slicing the STL file and generating the G-code on Cura I plugged memory to Ender 3 V2 Printer with the compatible settings

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 browsed opensource libraby of 3axis.com and got the page holder model

Link of Page holder

Importing on Laser Work

I imported the DXF file in Laser work and started locating it and orienting it to the sheet

orienting the location for cutting

making the 2 pieces close to the origin and to each others to save much material

After that I started setting cutting settings

I sat speed from 20 to 25 and output to cut

then I moved to changing power value

I sat the power to 75 to make sure sheet is getting cut and not facing any of regular stuck problems

After setting up the cut settings I directed to the laser cutter and connected it to My Laptop then Clicked Download to send the file to Laser Cutter and Started the cutting process with the machine

I browsed opensource libraby of thingiverse.com & thangs.com then got that model of tiny ghost cat

Link of ghost cat

Slicing on Ultimaker

I opened the STL file in Cura and Started checking orientation & location settings before slicing

Opening the STL file in Cura

Editing settings & infill

changed infill from 16 to 20

turned on adhesion for more cohernce to printer bed

Changing printing settings for the most suitable settings

Saving final result as G-code to export it to printer

After saving and taking a copy of the gcode file on the memory card we insert card into printer and choose our file and start printing

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?

For Laser Cutting

I connect Laptop to the machine via usb cable

I click on "download" on laser work after connecting laptop to machine

I click on Udisk+ using buttons

I copy my file to the machine memory by clicking "copy to mem"

I click on file button and click on my file using arrow buttons

Last i click "Run" and close the lid and watch my job getting done. like taken videos and photos below

Here my job finally getting fabricated by laser beam cutting 3mm wood sheets
to product the final out put 2 Book holder for being sticked together

Copy of petal_20250808_072337.mp4

For 3D Printer

I attach the memory card to the machine carrying the Gcode file

By rotating and clicking the main button i choose print when this screen appear

I choose my file from files screen by the main switching button

Then I follow and watch my job getting done and printed and in anticipation if thing happens

Watching the ghost kitty getting fabricated

Starting with the base layer and adhesion layer

then going up to model layers

VID_20250807_210115_711.mp4

With Printing settings previously set up this is the shape of the model in the middle of printing process

VID_20250807_210142_816.mp4

To finally get the final shape of the Ghots Cat model

Ghost cat after removing excess parts

VID_20250807_210257_932.mp4

Ghost cat after finishing printing process

Community of Learning

Did you ask for feedback? What are the ideas that others have contributed or suggested? What was someone else’s idea that you built upon? How did you help your peers? How did your peers help you?

Yes , I asked FabLab Specialist Ahmed , for a feedback when the 3d printer started working as I saw it gathering like some stuck printed plastic in the nozzle , But it seemed to be ordinary as machine was only starting to warm up

Yes , it also was my first time using Laser cutter so I didn't understand what numbers written on it were , so I asked my Instructor Hazem Ramadan and got my questions answered

Overcoming Challenges

When you got stuck, what/who did you turn to? At what point did you have to pause to research or learn more before moving on? What are some mistakes, pitfalls, or challenges that others can avoid if they were doing this assignment?

Yes , I had as it was a new thing to me to turn on the 3D printer I found difficulties recognize how to navigate using the main button But Youssef Elbezzawy helped me and I continued printing my file

another mistake that I made is in 3D printing , i was concerned that the print would unplug of the bed so I added adhesion although the bottom surface area was enough so adhesion wasn't suitable and made the surface finish not the best .
So I learnt it's not always that you have to use adhesion.

Final Project

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

In next times I can print models with more proficiency and without falling in errors i fell in , and I learnt how to use Laser Cutter and 3D printer easily

I can print the parts I need with good surface finish and with suitable infill and to adjust time to frame needed.

I can Use laser cutting for making the outer shape of my Final Project easily

WOW!

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

Something I've learned from this week is how to make any STL file out for real life and how to print any model

Also how to cut any shape on laser cutter and what are the suitable values to use

Some thing that I'll never forget in this week ❤️
is the session that we first used 3D printer to print T-rex and Laser cutter to make a little dog
it was very funny session and I liked the session so much and knew many new friends in this session that made it more good to me.

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.

We worked on these as a team — the T-Rex was 3D printed and the dog was laser cut. It was a really fun experience where we learned from each other, shared tips, and enjoyed watching both the printing and cutting processes.

The 3D printed T-rex

3D printed T-rex on printer

wood sheet used to cut DXF dog models

The final Shape of Laser cut dog

Assignment Design Files

Ghost Cat file for slicing [STL]

Page Holder DXF [Dxf]

Printing G-code [gcode]

LaserWork output [rld]

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