Week # - Journal

Starting with the laser cutting, I had the machine's instructions manual opened on my laptop to follow its steps. I opened the machine and the technician reminded me to also turn on the exhaust fan. After that, I transported my file to the computer linked to the machine. I also double checked that I had the right speed and power types and that I had the 'Path optimize' checked before saving. The technician also asked me to rename the file. I noticed that the file name had to be very short to be accepted. 

The technician handed me a plywood sheet to be used for the laser cutting. After placing it on the machine's work surface, I added the wooden hinges used to fix the sheet in its place as any movement while the machine is working will negatively affect the outcome's quality. I then closed the machine's lid. Heading back to the machine's screen, I chose the file, selected frame to see where the machine's tube would start, moved the tube until it was in the far right corner of the sheet, clicked frame again and once I was satisfied with the placement. I clicked pulse just to make sure everything was fine. 

The 3D printing process was less hectic. First, the technician instructed me to preheat the printer's bed. The control knob was quite funny as it rotated in opposition to the direction of scrolling on the screen. After selecting Preheat, the screen lists down the different types of filaments it can work on. PLA was selected and as shown, the temperature of both the nozzle and bed gradually started increasing. Next, we inserted the SD card. Before choosing the file, we had to go back in the list and select Unload filament to remove the existing one  as I wanted to use a different colour. 

The screen instructed in to pull out the filament. I learned that it was a time sensitive process and that you have to act quickly. After that, I used a wire clipper to cut the tip of the new filament  to make it thin and easier when inserting it into the nozzle after mounting it onto the machine. Going back to the screen, I selected load filament and inserted its tip into the nozzle's top opening. Nothing came out and the screen asked for confirmation that the correct colour was extruding from the machine. As nothing came out, I selected 'No' and the machine tried again, extruding the filament this time. 

Finally, we're all set to start printing the model. Following the steps on the screen, I selected 'Print from SD' > 'PLA 215/60'. The screen shows that everything is okay. I clicked the start button again and it took me back to the first list. I selected 'Print from SD' then chose my file. A short loading screen appeared then it showed the details of the printing process. I closed the enclosure door panels of the printer to preserve the heat during the printing process. The machine started the process by calibrating the space (bed) onto which it will print; similar to the framing action in the laser cutting machine.