Week 2 - Journal

My idea was inspired by the planet Saturn, specifically its surrounding rings. I wanted to create glasses that reflect this theme 

Softwares 💻

For preparing the files, I continued using Ultimaker Cura for 3D printing and LaserCAD for the laser cutter.

We used the Malky ML64 laser cutter for engraving and cutting plywood, and the Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D printer for precise, beginner-friendly prototyping with PLA filament

Plywood will be used for laser cutting, and PLA filament for 3D printing.

For laser cutting, I selected plywood because it was readily available and offers reliable results with smooth cuts and clean engraving.

For 3D printing, I used PLA filament, which was the available material and is known for its low melting point, eco-friendliness, and good detail quality 

After choosing the concept I wanted for the glasses, I started thinking about the design itself and how to make it represent Saturn.🪐
I made the lenses circular to suggest the planet, and I wanted to add part of the rings to each lens to make the idea clearer.

After sketching and trying to fully define most parts of the design, I extruded the shape so I could later convert it into a DXF file and work on it in LaserCAD. Since the entire design was only cutting (no speed cut or engraving), I just had to double check the shape, dimensions, and cutting settings before starting.

For the arms of the glasses, I wanted the design to match the front frame, so I added stars to each side of the arms to make them different from the usual style ⭐. Then, I extruded the shape and added the connecting piece between the glasses frame and the screw, extruded that as well, and applied fillets to smooth out some edges.

Finally, I exported the file for each arm as an STL so I could work on them in Cura and start the 3D printing process.

For a smoother shape, I applied a fillet to the glasses’ arms. 

During the fabrication process, we powered on the machine and fixed the plywood sheet in place.

We adjusted the focus and routed the machine’s exhaust hose outside to remove the debris produced during cutting.

Finally, We set the origin at a suitable spot on the plywood to avoid wasting material.

We then sent the design to the machine by downloading it through the software, and make a box to double-check that the dimensions matched the intended working area.

I only used the cut feature in the LaserCAD program.

Black lines – for full cutting II speed 10 power 70 

Final Look 😎

I faced a problem while making the bookmark due to an issue in communication and in transferring the dimensions between manufacturing the two parts the head and the body.
As you can see, Jimmy’s head ended up larger than his body.😂😅

I took it as a learning experience to figure out how to properly share and transfer dimensions with my teammates so we can align the two parts accurately, focus more, and double-check the numbers.

We also decided to make sure that the part cut on the CNC matches the part that will be 3D printed, so it gives a nicer final look.

At the start of the design, I didn’t define the dimensions of the glasses’ front part step by step, which caused an issue in giving the shape a proper definition and making the design fully defined. I tried to fix the problem, but it took some time without much improvement.

The best solution was to redraw the design and define each part individually, and indeed, this approach was much easier on the second attempt.