LESSON 3-3d printing basics

geraldseah30
May 4, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Aug 2, 2024

3D printing process create a model using 3d softawre like rhino or sketchup ---> export at 3mf or stl ---> slice using slicing softwares like cura ---> save into thumbdrive and print :D

materials

there are many materials that can be used for 3D printing the most common being PLA
PLA needs to be stored dry as if it gets moisture from the surrounding it will cause 3d printing issues.
PLA is affordable, easy to use and has sharp details however it can deform due to heat and become brittle when wet

*before printing you would need to do active leveling

3D printing jargon

overhangs - cantilivers of the model(requires support for angle steeper than 45 degrees}
adhesion - raft, brim and skirts for the model to sit on so it does not move around when lifting
infill percentage - object density
support structure - supports to hold overhangs and extrusions so the model wont collapse
resolution - the detail of the model measured in layer height or nozzle diameter

file type - 3MF or STL

infill density

the lower the infill density the faster the printing speed but the weaker the model

resolution

the lesser the mm the sharper the detail of the model becomes
Quick prototyping: 0.2-0.3 mm resolution, low infill (~10%)
Final prototyping: 0.2mm, normal infill (20%) types of adhesion

Brim

brim is the perfect balance of both adhesions in stability and speed

Raft

skirt uses more materials and is more stable however print time will be slower

Skirt

skirt uses less material thus having a faster print time

purpose of adhesion is for the machine to bite onto the bed without adhesion the machine will be printing air

Types of infill

Grid infill

-grid infill wasnt the fastest but it was very strong and stable and it wasnt very slow either thus grid infill is the best in my opinion

Lightning Infill -lighting infill was the fastest at 19mins however it was very fragile and not stable Triangle infill -triangle infill is the mix of both lighting and grid infill in terms of speed and stability

concentric infill -concentric fill took the longest to print at 23 mins but it was very stable so it traded speed for stability and can be used for base or "coluimns" in a print types of supports

Tree Support -tree support and normal support structure had the same print time at 23 mins however the tree used less material and i had an easier time removing tree supports than normal supports normal support structure -same print time as tree support and used more plastics and is very good in supporting things like windows as it can reduce the chance of print failure in it

custom supports -custom supports are good for large prints it helps u reduce print speed as you can chose where you want the supports to be placed however it increases chance of printing failure due to human error or lack of experience overhang rules

overhangs angles that exceed 45 degrees will need supports or the overhang will fall

3D printing in action

removal or adhesion(brim)

TASKS

YHT (supports)

we had to find out where what supports to add

the overhang angle did not the overhang angle the same can be exceed 45 degrees thus exceeded the 45 degrees applied for this as it did not need supports and thus it needed support the previous shape