3D PRINTING

Hello again! ✋

I have learnt a lot during my vacation regarding a new skill: 3D Printing! It was a bit grueling and I had a lot to learn and troubleshoot but I was overall satisfied with the results of what I had created.

I was able to make an object that could not be easily made subtractively. After looking up online on objects that fit the criteria and had the level that I had the skill capacity for, I decided on the impossible cube structure: a ball in a box.

Video Link: Ball in a Box

There were quite a few ups and downs throughout my process in creating this object. The first step was understanding how to create it in Fusion 360. My knowledge capacity on Fusion 360 was not enough for me to create it so I had to learn from a few YouTube videos to fill up some areas that I was lacking at.

💁Here is my journey through Fusion 360:

Step 1: Create a cube on the XY plane with 25 mm length.

Step 2: Create a sphere with a diameter of 32 mm at the point of origin on the XY plane (New Body).

Step 3: Adjust the sphere to the center of the cube by modifying the X distance to -12.5 mm, Y distance to 12.5 mm and Z distance to 12.5 mm.

Step 4: Click Modify>Combine to cut the shape of the sphere into the cube. Select Body 1 (Cube) as the target and Body 2 (Sphere) as the tool. Select the (Keep Tools) checkbox.

Step 5: Copy and paste the sphere as a new body (Body 3).

Step 6: Remove Body 2.

Step 7: Click Modify>Press Pull and select Body 3 to decrease the diameter by 2 mm.

Step 8: Increase the altitude of the sphere by increasing the Z distance by 1.5 mm.

Step 9: Hide Body 3.

Step 10: Create a bar of dimensions 0.1 mm x 0.1 mm x 12.5 mm so that the object will be flat on the printer's surface. 

Step 11: Unhide Body 3 and combine Body 1 and Body 3 by selecting Body 1 as the target and Body 2 as the tool with the Cut operation. Unselect the Keep Tools checkbox.

Step 12: Here is the finalised object!

👻Here is the embedded version of the Ball in a Box.👻

After finishing up with the Fusion 360 file, I exported the file into a gcode cura file where I would be able to print out the object using the Ultimaker Cura software.

I had to make some adjustments to the characteristics of the 3D Printer which are:

(1) Layer Height

(2) Wall Thickness

(3) Infill Percentage

(4) Bridging

(5) Overhand Limits

(6) Bed Adhesion

(7) Supports

(8) Object Placement & Orientation

After a few adjustments, I decided on the following settings for the gcode cura file.

Cura File Link: Cura Link

The printer in use at school was the Creality Ender-3 with a 0.4 mm nozzle.

Printing Process Video: Printing Video Link

After 30 mins, the object will have finished. Leave it for a few minutes to cool down before gently removing it off the printer surface.

💦Reflection:

From this activity, I was able to learn to appreciate my abilities in research about what I want to achieve and the results were quite satisfying. It was kind of drastic at first since I had to learn how to adjust the printer as it was not printing out the object properly at first. Thankfully, a senior at the lab helped me by suggesting to increase the bed temperature to 60 degrees Celsius from 50 degrees Celsius to increase the object's ability to stick to the printer surface more.

After multiple tries, I was able to achieve this brilliant object and I am very proud of it!