Week 1 - Journal

For this week’s assignment, I wanted to choose something simple yet reflective of my personality. After browsing the assigned websites, I naturally found myself, once again, drawn to retro designs 😅. There’s just something magical about that nostalgic aesthetic even though I didn’t really live through those days, the vibe still speaks to me.

For the laser cutting project, I selected a floppy disk-shaped coaster. It’s a fun and unique design that brings back the charm of old-school tech. Plus, it’s something useful; I thought it would be awesome to use it as a coaster for my morning coffee. It's functional and visually cool at the same time.

As for 3D printing, I was overwhelmed by the huge variety of designs and couldn’t decide on anything at first. Then suddenly, the old Twitter logo caught my eye. Compared to the new “X” logo, which doesn’t quite hit the same way, the classic bird logo felt like a great pick, iconic, nostalgic and perfect as a keychain. So that’s what I went with in the end.

For this assignment, the primary machines involved are the laser cutter and the 3D printer. While actual machine usage will take place next week, this week has been more focused on software exploration and design selection.

To prepare, I’ve been browsing the two recommended platforms: Thingiverse and 3axis.co  to find two suitable designs for each machine. A key requirement is that each job must not exceed 90 minutes, as set by the instructors, and I’m also making sure the designs align with my personal interests in both function and fun.

As for software:

-LaserCAD will be used for preparing files for the laser cutter.
-Ultimaker Cura will be used for slicing and previewing the G-code for the 3D printed parts.
These tools were selected based on the instructor’s guidelines and their compatibility with the machines we'll be using.

As for materials:

PLA filament will be used for the 3D prints.
Plywood will be used for laser cutting.
These materials are beginner-friendly, readily available, and ideal for quick prototyping and safe machine operation.

Machines Used:

For 3D printing, we used the Creality Ender 3 Pro, a reliable and widely-used FDM printer known for its precision and ease of use, perfect for beginner-level prototyping.

For laser cutting, we worked with the Malky ML64, a compact yet capable laser cutter suitable for cutting and engraving materials like plywood. It was a great introduction to laser-based fabrication and helped us understand the importance of safety and material settings.

After confirming that the estimated print time and material usage were within acceptable limits, I sliced the model and exported the G-code, ready for printing.

After finishing my designs, I booked my fabrication slot and headed to the lab, ready to bring everything to life. I started with 3D printing, since it takes the most time. I loaded my G-code file onto a TF card and plugged it into the printer. Once I selected the file, the machine began printing. While it was working, I let it run on its own and planned to return once it was done and had cooled down enough to safely remove the print.

Meanwhile, I made good use of the time and moved on to the laser cutting process 🔥. I opened the LaserCAD file, double-checked the cutting parameters with the instructor, and after getting the go-ahead, I placed the wooden sheet into the machine. I clamped it down using 3mm brackets, checked the focus, previewed the working area, and once everything was aligned, I hit Start.

After both processes were done, I collected the final outputs—and honestly, I was really satisfied with how everything turned out. The results matched my expectations perfectly, which made all the effort feel worth it!

One of the most common issues we faced was not watching the tutorials before the session. I initially thought the videos were just theoretical and not very practical — just “visuals,” so to speak 😅. But once we got started, I realized how helpful they actually were.

The tutorials provided important background knowledge about the software and techniques we were expected to use, especially things like handling support structures, overhangs, and proper slicing settings. These details aren't always obvious until you’re deep into the process... and by then, it’s easy to start flopping 😅.

Luckily, our instructors were incredibly supportive and walked us through many of the key points from the tutorials. That really helped us catch up and avoid major mistakes. Moving forward, I’ll definitely make sure to watch all the tutorials ahead of time, as they give you a clearer picture and help you avoid unnecessary confusion and wasted time.

For anyone doing this assignment, my advice would be:

-Watch the tutorials — seriously.
-Double-check your support and slicing settings.
-Don’t assume small designs don’t need careful preparation.

The experience I gained this week will serve as a cornerstone for my final project. Both the 3D printer and the laser cutter will play a key role in fabricating the main hardware components and the chassis of my robot.

Understanding how these machines work from design preparation to material handling and machine operation is crucial. This knowledge will help me optimize my designs, avoid errors, and minimize material waste, especially since I’ll be working with limited resources.

By learning the workflow now, I’ll be much more confident and efficient when it comes time to build the more complex parts of my final project.

Aside from the main assignment, I spent some time experimenting with the software and observing other people’s projects during the hands-on sessions. While I didn’t create a separate mini-project, I did explore how different slicing settings in Cura affect print quality and time, and I played around with resizing and orientation to understand material efficiency.

Also, seeing how others used the laser cutter in creative ways (like making layered designs or combining engraving with cutting) gave me a lot of ideas that I might try in future projects.

Overall, even without building something extra, this week was packed with small learning moments that will definitely help me in my upcoming work.