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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)
This week's assignment was to print a 3d stl file and laser cut a single piece dxf design:
3d part: while looking for files on Thingiverse I found a key chain for one of my brother's favorite games, it was a Dota 2 key chain. I decided to print it to give to him as a gift. Link to the File
laser cutting: I browsed some ideas online but didn't have any great interest in any of them, so I decided to make my own. I made a simple backpack tag that could go on the handle. I picked a photo of Japanese sakura tree branch for my idea. Sakura Branch Picture link to use as a backpack decoration
The inspiration came from how Sakura trees look in Japan. I saw a photo of a branch full of soft pink flowers, and I really liked how calm and pretty it looked. That gave me the idea to use it as a design for a backpack tag that I could laser cut. I thought it would make a nice, personal decoration that’s both simple and meaningful.
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?
For the software I used UltiMaker Cura for 3d printing, and LaserCAD and Inkscape for preparing the files and cutting for laser cutter
LaserCAD
For downloading the file into the laser cuter
For the machines used, our lab was equipped with Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer and El Malky ML64 Laser Cutter
For the material used 3D Printer used Orange PLA which is a biodegradable thermoplastic filament, and for Laser Cutting we used
Orange PLA Filament
Plywood sheets
Plywood sheets
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 downloaded an open-source 3D model of the Dota 2 logo from Thingiverse. After downloading the STL file from the site. I opened it in Ultimaker Cura to prepare models for 3D printing. I followed the designer’s recommendations for print settings, which were provided on the Thingiverse page. These included:
Rafts: No
Supports: No
Resolution: 0.300
Infill: 20% Rectilinear (lines on Ultimaker Cura)
Nozzle Temp: 210 ℃
Bed Temp: 60 ℃
I scaled the butterfly model to a smaller size to make it suitable for a necklace. I also made sure the model was flat on the build plate and centered. Once the slicing was complete. I exported the G-code and saved it to an SD card for 3D printing. I plan to print the butterfly using White PLA filament and later attach a small metal loop or chain to turn it into a wearable necklace.
Model in the slicer
After looking for a while for a .dxf file and not finding something I like, I decided to make my own from a picture of a Sakura Tree Branch. I made a small ornament using a black and white photo of a Japanese sakura tree branch. I downloaded the image from the pinterest. It was a simple black and white photo showing the branch clearly.Next, I used Inkscape opened the photo in Inkscape and used the Trace Bitmap tool.
This tool turns the image into a vector (outline) that can be used for 3D printing or laser cutting.After tracing, I added a rectangle around the branch shape to give it a border.
I also added a small circular hole at the top so I can attach the ornament to my bag.I exported the final design as an DXF file.Then, I prepared the file for cutting using the
Speed-cut setting (speed 250, power 50)
Engrave (speed 200, power 60)
Cut (speed 10, power 0)
in LaserCAD.I plan to cut the design and use it as a small decorative piece for my bag.
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?
For laser cutting my file had some issues so I went through and did 2 tries, one with speed cut and the other with engrave
3d part: while looking for files on Thingiverse I found Dota 2 logo keychain. First thing that came into my mind is to gift it to my brother.
I downloaded an open-source 3D model of a butterfly from Thingiverse. After downloading the STL file from the site. I opened it in Ultimaker Cura to prepare models for 3D printing. I followed the designer’s recommendations for print settings, which were provided on the Thingiverse page. These included:
Rafts: No
Supports: No
Resolution: 0.200
Infill: 10% lines
Nozzle Temp: 215 ℃
Bed Temp: 60 ℃
I scaled the butterfly model to a smaller size to make it suitable for a necklace. I also made sure the model was flat on the build plate and centered. Once the slicing was complete. I exported the G-code and saved it to an SD card for 3D printing. I plan to print the butterfly using White PLA filament and later attach a small metal loop or chain to turn it into a wearable necklace.
Model in the slicer
After the lab expert checked the calibration of the bed we used the machine sd card to upload the .gcode to it, we made sure the bed is clean, then finally hit print
After around 20min the print was finished
VID_20250811_141841.mp4Community of Learning
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?
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?
Did you ask for feedback?
Yes! I had feedback on my first laser cutting .dxf file which was a multi layer ornament and wasn't allowed.
How did you help your peers?
When we got split into teams to tweak the dog file in the lab, I helped by having some background knowledge about laserCAD, helping within the team to achieve the goal.
How did your peers help you?
Together my peers pointed our mistakes in the design and the settings.
Overcoming Challenges
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?
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?
When printing the skaura branch it kept being burned, so I asked the lab expert for help, she was the one to recommend engraving instead of speed cutting the model
In my opinion the Engrave one looks way better
Another issue was trying to make the rounded edge rectangle for the design
trying to export a .svg from photoshop didn't work so I instead made the shape with the hole in SolidWorks Fusion and imported it into LaserCad, but I am sure there is an easier way.
The speed cut version of the design looked also worse due to repeating lines, which the lab expert taught me how to solve this issue by picking Tools > Delete repeated lines. In LaserCad.
speed cut
Engrave
I printed this butterfly but it got rejected because somehow its considered "multiple pieces" which I don't see but oke, here are the data if anyone wanna check it out.
After the lab expert checked the calibration of the bed we used the machine sd card to upload the .gcode to it, we made sure the bed is clean, then finally hit print
After around 45min the print was finished
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?
If I were to turn an image to an engrave in my final project my mistake have been a good learning experience to not do that in the final project and save material
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?
For me the coolest thing was 3D printing, the feeling of picking something online and pressing few buttons and poof it exists now
Title of Media
Assignment Design Files
Assignment Design Files
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