Week 01 - Journal

• Because you learn new tools, equipment kinds, and processes that will be required for the final project, the first week is very important.

• When choosing the assignment files, I made the decision to pick one that would fit my requirements and interests while also allowing me to practice the majority of the tactics I had learned that week.

• For the 3D Pringtind assignment, I chose a spit-fire model airplane that included overhanging, bridging, supports, infill, grid, and adhesion procedures since it satisfied my requirements and had all the processes I could get from the 3D printer. then verify its accuracy in several aspects. 

• I selected a holiday present frame that included cutting, scanning, and grove procedures for the laser cutting assignment since it met my needs and contained all the processes I could obtain from the laser machine.

There are 2  main softwares and machines used:

1. 3d printing to  print a 3d model for the  spit-fire model airplane  prepared by ultimaker cura software 

2.laser cutting to cut the holiday present frame prepared by RD works software

There are 2  main machines used:

1. 3d printing machine (Prusa i3 MK2) to print a 3d model for the  spit-fire model airplane  . 

2.laser cutting machine (AlMalky ML149)  to cut the holiday present frame .

There are 2  main Materials used:

1. 3d printing filament is PLA to print a 3d model for the spit-fire model airplane . 

2. Laser cutting Plywood 3 mm to cut the holiday present frame.

I have a file of  the spit-fire model airplane in stl dimension, the i edited the file through decreasing scale to 50% , decreasing the infill density to 20% and adjusting the resolution to normal so that the total time taken will be 59 minutes with using supports and adhesions, finally saving  the file in gcode format for printing.

• parameters are:

1. infill density:20%

2. resolution: normal 0.20

3. supports or adhesions are used

4. took 59 mins-9g 2.93m

I got a file with a dxf extension having the holiday present frame and determined the places of cuts and cravings (determined by colors) by RD Works software. finally, save the file in rld format for cutting.

• parameters :

• Laser cut: speed 25, power 45. 

• Laser cut for speet cut (engraving) speed300, power 15.

• Laser scanning speed250, power 25.

1. The 3d printing machine: 

• Prepare the STL file with proper properties as mentioned above.

• Take the file on the reader to the printer with the defined grams & time required.

• adjust heating and use PLA filaments to begin printing.

• The file is printed and needs for adhesions or supports shown in the attached photos.

2. The laser cut machine:

• Prepare the file on laser work to determine that the edges will be cut, lines with speed cuts, or engraves.

• Preview the file and download it to the machine.

• Adjust the origin and the file properties before beginning.

• Asmma and Eman (Fab Lab Specialist) helped me to change filament color and clean it well , and it works well 

• she helped me to fix wooden sheet on platform of laser cut because of curvature in sheet.

• Tarek and Seif  try to resolve the program in my laptop and advice me to reinstall it to can work. 

1. The first challenge I found was adjusting the Laser- work before the laser cut as the parameters for the cut was unknown and the Asmma helped me by adjusting them, as the version of RD works wasn't working with me.

2. we have some terrible in this setting because at the end of the week and lens needed to be cleaned so the speed cut didn't do the parameters on the paper beside the machine Seif and Tarek told us the machine didn't output the flame in 10% of power so we increase it to 15% and we are redoing the file without cut and scan process because we did it in the first trial. and the job is done as I have shown in the pictures.

3. also, the bed heating and changing filaments in 3D printer were quite challenging at first and Asmaa helped me to adjust the heating temperature from the settings of the 3d printer to 215 and adjusted at Ultimaker Cura to be the same temperature.

4. So I want to thank Assma and Eman for their wonderful work, effort, and cooperation with me to do this task. and also Seif and Tarek for their advice to us. 

By learning how to fabricate materials needed to construct the project either through lasercut for boards cutting or by printing complex designs by 3D printer

By learning how to use fabrication softwares to prepare any design by ultimaker cura and RD works