A- Level Tech Project

My A2 A-Level Technology project is a Sound Multicore Cable Reel. I have made extensive use of 3D modelling software throughout my project, in the design, development, and modelling stages. I have found making 3D Printed models a very powerful way of connection the cient with there developing design.

A selection of the models I made during the development process.

Lancia Statos

Just for fun and to experiment with new materials I have decided to make a model Lancia Stratos Rally Car using the designs published by Makerbot. 

First components for the Stratos

I would like to use ABS for the main body, and this will be a challenge as it is a difficult material to print. ABS doesn't adhere at all to Blue tape, like I have used successfully with PLA, or the glass bed and is generally just hard work to print with. So much so that it is becoming increasingly unpopular in the 3D Printing world, with most manufactures saying their printers are "not optimised for ABS" (i.e. the prints lift off the bed). Comparing the cost of PLA and ABS material on eBay, for example, also shows which one is more popular. Although it has been a race to the bottom with both plastics, with the prices rapidly dropping with the expansion of the industry; the price of PLA has plateaued, whilst ABS continues to drop, and at present is about £10 cheaper then PLA.

For the few die hard 3D Printers who fight with ABS, the method seems to use a heated bed at a scorching 100-110°C. Although, I have seen the use of water soluble glues, Cubify use this method with their printers. However, getting a consistent adhesion isn't easy, and the base of the prints have a less then desirable finish/texture. I have a few ideas of my own to improve ABS printing, and will post about them later.

Biro-pipette

I am in the process of manufacturing a fully functional, accurate, pipette which uses the mechanism from a biro pen. I have been working with Open Source designs created by Tom Baden, Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN) University of Tübingen, Germany, which are part of a "Free and Open Source Software and Hardware (FOSS/FOSH) for capacity building in education and research" project.

The most difficult component so far has been the main body of the pipette where the adhesion with the bed has failed and print fell over. 

Three failed prints (LH) and the success (Far RH Horizontal))

I solved this issue by increasing the print temperature, to then instantly fall foul to another problem. My G-code (the CNC commands) generator software (Cura) was offsetting some of the layers, ruining the print. I have been to date unable to fix this software issue, but got around the problem by printing the design on its side. Although this required support structures, and I am not happy with the print quality, It was successful and with a little machining up the component will function perfectly.

Spool Hoder

I have printed a spool holder to mount to the side of my printer so that it can complete long prints without any intervention.

Blue Tape!

I have been working to improve the adhesion of prints to the bed by experimenting with different bed and extruder temperatures. I have had some success, with some very good prints, but some designs just would  not stick. A techniques I picked up at the 3D PrintShow is the use of Blue Tape on the print bed to aid adhesion. This has yielded great results. I can now constantly produced high quality prints, and don't have to use the heated bed, so is very cost effective. I would highly recommend using Blue Tape to any 3D printer user, everyone at the 3D PrintShow seemed to use it, even Makerbot.

Using Blue Tape

3D PrintShow London

I visited the 3D Print Show at Old Billingsgate Exhibition Centre London, on the 6th of September. Comparing this years show to last years, it is amazing how the industry has changed, especially the development of new ‘printer friendly’ materials.

I found this cool puzzle at the show and plan to model and print it myself. 

3D Printed Squirrel

A Squirrel I 3D printed just for fun, experimenting with support structures.

First Prints

These are the very first items I printed whilst I was still calibrating the printer.

Printer

My Printer is an Omni 3D Rapcraft with Dual Extruder which I bought with financial support from the Arkwright Scholarship Scheme. It has a heated bed and a print size of 210,210,240mm.

Omni 3D is a Polish 3D printer manufacture who I discovered at the 3D Print Show in London in 2013. Although it took five months to be delivered I have been very pleased with the printer. Constructed from extruded aluminium section the printer is very stable, but correspondingly heavy.

New Blog

I have been 3D printing for almost a year now and have decided to start a blog to show my ‘adventures’.