3D Printer

Introduction

3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer control,with the material being added together (such as plastics, liquids or powder grains being fused), typically layer by layer. 

Applications of 3D Printing Technology

In Construction

With the introduction of 3D printing technologies, the construction industry is on the verge of a revolution. 3D printing is set to redefine the future of construction, from building homes in record time to creating complex architectural structures.


In Medical/Healthcare

Medical sector also is an early adopter of 3D printing. The medical sector was one of the earliest sectors to understand the potential of 3D printing and medical professionals are working with this technology since the early 90’s. By late 90’s and early 2000’s, researchers had already planted a 3D printed organ in a human body. The scientists at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 3D-printed the synthetic building blocks of human bladders. This newly generated tissue was then implanted in the human body.


In Automotive

This is another industry where Rapid prototyping is very much essential before actual product manufacturing and implementation. By now, it must be known that Rapid prototyping and 3D printing, almost always, go hand-in-hand. And just like the aerospace industry, automobile industry also welcomed the 3D technology with open arms. Working alongside research teams and incorporating the new technology, 3D products were tested and used in actual applications.


References

Applications of 3D printing - Wikipedia — 3D打印的应用 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书
Applications Of 3D Printing (manufactur3dmag.com)
https://www.thingiverse.com

3D Printer Test

Test model Print with two different parameters

First Printing

  1. Parameters
model/ Parameters nozzle temperature platform temperature fill density base plate
model 1 200℃ 30℃ 15% Enabled

(nozzle temperature 200°; platform temperature30℃；fill density 15%; base plate enabled)
3d print software layout the mode


2. Printing process

Tips：When the temperature is too low, it is easy for printing to fail. As shown in the figure below, the print sticks to the print pin.
Advice：Do not lower the temperature below 40° C


Second printing

1.Parameters

model/ Parameters nozzle temperature platform temperature fill density base plate
model 2 220℃ 50℃ 30% Disabled

(nozzle temperature 220°; platform temperature50℃；fill density 30%; base plate disabled)

2.Printing process


Comparison of results between two printouts

1.Parameters Comparison

model/ Parameters nozzle temperature platform temperature fill density base plate
model 1 200℃ 30℃ 15% Enabled
model 2 220℃ 50℃ 30% Disabled
  1. 3D Printing result Comparison
    ①nozzle/ platform temperature comparison


    ②base plate comparison
    Model1
    Result: Better quality on the second print

Test the model printing and assemble it

1.The process of 3D printing and laser cutting.


2.Remove the supporting structure of the printed model.


3.Assemble the parts.


4.The result of the 3D print model.


5.Usage scenarios


Laser Cutting

Introduction

Types of Laser Cutting

This process can be broken down into three main techniques - CO2 laser (for cutting, boring, and engraving), and neodymium (Nd) and neodymium yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG), which are identical in style, with Nd being used for high energy, low repetition boring and Nd:YAG used for very high-power boring and engraving.


Applications of Lasers in Manufacturing

1. Laser Drilling
Lasers are incredibly accurate at drilling micron-sized holes in a wide range of materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics.



2.Surface Texturing  
Lasers can create textures or patterned microstructures on the surfaces of components or products that improve physical performance, such as wear rates, grip, optical properties, and load capacity. Laser micro-texturing can create roughness on medical implants that make it easier for new tissue or bone to take hold and grow into the new implant, and patterns with features as small as 10 µm can be produced with very high depth resolution.


References

laser24.co.uk
Laser Scabbling - TWI (twi-global.com)

Power and Speed Test

1.The software sets the power and speed of the test pattern hierarchically.



2.Cutting test with machine.



3.The two results of the laser cutting.



4.Statistics on cutting test results.

速度/功率 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
10 × √ √ √ √ √ √
20 × × √ √ √ √ √
30 × × √ √ √ √ √
40 × × × √ √ √ √
50 × × × × × √ √

Cutting Accuracy Test

1.Import cutting target image to the machine.



2.Measure the actual length to see the error. The width of a single part is 5mm, the number is 10, the total statistical length is 46.96mm, and the error is 3.04mm. Therefore, the value of Kurf is 3.04/10=0.304mm.


Laser Cutting Practice

Preparation

1.open fume extractor before run the machine
2.Turn on the master switch

3.Turn on the laser

4.Access computer

5.Open the lid

6.Transport data


7.Moving Laser Position

8.Mobile platforms for positioning 1

9.Mobile platforms for positioning 2


Laser cutting practice—using wooden to cutting

1.Draw the shape with Adobe Illustrator

2.Import the file into Laser CAD V8.12

3.Set different parameters (power/speed) with different colors in Laser CAD V8.12

4.Open the Laser cutting machine to location and border running

5.Begin to laser cutting

6.The result of laser cutting


Assemble with arduino project

Process

  1. Use laser cutting to cut Nylon TPU

    2.Use arduino with pump to control the motion of the soft robot.

Code

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#include <FastLED.h>

// 定义FastLED设置
#define LED_PIN 6
#define NUM_LEDS 32
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

// 定义超声波传感器引脚
#define trigPin 9
#define echoPin 10

// 定义气泵和电磁阀门的引脚号
const int pump1Pin = 2;
const int pump2Pin = 3;
const int valvePin = 4;
int i=1;
// 定义变量以存储上次切换的时间
unsigned long lastSwitchTime = 0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);

// 设置FastLED
FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, LED_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

// 设置引脚模式
pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);
pinMode(pump1Pin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(pump2Pin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(valvePin, OUTPUT);

// 初始化气泵和阀门状态
digitalWrite(pump1Pin, LOW);
digitalWrite(pump2Pin, HIGH);
digitalWrite(valvePin, LOW);
}

void loop() {
i++;
long duration, distance;

// 通过超声波传感器获取距离
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(2);
digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);
distance = (duration / 2) / 29.1;

// 在串口监视器上显示距离
Serial.print("Distance: ");
Serial.println(distance);

// 根据距离判断是否触发控制
if (distance < 10) {
// 检查上次切换的时间是否超过5秒
if (millis() - lastSwitchTime >= 5000) {
// 切换气泵和电磁阀门状态
if(i % 2 == 0){
digitalWrite(pump1Pin, LOW);
digitalWrite(pump2Pin, HIGH);
digitalWrite(valvePin, LOW);
}
else{
digitalWrite(pump1Pin, HIGH);
digitalWrite(pump2Pin, LOW);
digitalWrite(valvePin, HIGH);
}

// 更新上次切换的时间
lastSwitchTime = millis();
}
} else {
// 没有物体靠近时，关闭气泵和电磁阀门
digitalWrite(pump1Pin, HIGH);
digitalWrite(pump2Pin, HIGH);
digitalWrite(valvePin, HIGH);
}

// 控制单一颜色（绿色）的明暗变化
if (distance < 10) {
greenFade();
} else {
// 距离大于等于10cm时，发白光
fill_solid(leds, NUM_LEDS, CRGB::White);
FastLED.show();
}
}

// 绿色明暗变化效果
void greenFade() {
static uint8_t brightness = 0;
static bool increasing = true;

// 控制明暗变化
if (increasing) {
brightness += 1;
if (brightness == 255) {
increasing = false;
}
} else {
brightness -= 1;
if (brightness == 0) {
increasing = true;
}
}

// 填充LED数组，设置亮度
fill_solid(leds, NUM_LEDS, CRGB(0, 255, 0));
FastLED.show();
FastLED.setBrightness(brightness);
}

Tinkcad Diagram