Prototype Lab

The prototype lab contains a group of 3D printers and a laser cutter (more to come in the near future)!

The Aces of the Prototype Lab are: Ben Kraske (bkraske16@georgefox.edu) and Gabi Lorenzo (glorenzo16@georgefox.edu).

General 3D Printing Knowledge

3D printing is the process of joining material together to create a three-dimensional object using computer control. It is a form of additive manufacturing. Objects are created using a 3D model. There are many different types of 3D printing, and the Prototype Lab utilizes two types which are FDM (fused deposit modeling) and SLA (stereolithography).

In the Prototype Lab, objects are most commonly printed from an STL file. This means if you create a part in SolidWORKS that you must save the file as a STL instead of a SLDPRT. Once the file is in STL form, it can then be processed by a slicer software. The slicer software converts the 3D model into thin layers and produces a G-code file. G-codes communicate with the chosen 3D printer, giving it directions on how to print the object.

Different 3D printers will run with different slicer programs. Typically a program will allow you to edit various parts of the process. One common consideration will be that of the layer thickness. This is the resolution at which the printer will print at. Each printer will have its own range of resolution. The thinner the layer thickness (higher resolution), the more detail you will get, but the print will be created more slowly. The thicker the layers (lower resolution), the less detail you will receive, but the object will be printed more quickly. Another consideration is support. For objects with overhangs, holes, etc., support will be needed. This will give the printer a surface to print on so that it can continue to build the print layer by layer. Each printer uses supports differently. Some printers have break away support while other have dissolvable support material.

Example of an object (blue) printed with supports (white)

There are common places of potential failure which you should watch for every print. The following points of failure specifically apply to FDM prints.

• Adhesion:
  • When the print first starts, it is prudent to ensure that the filament is properly adhering to the build plate.
  • Watch the print until the first dozen layers have been printed to make sure it is starting off successfully.
  • The print can start sliding around the plate at anytime, although it is much more likely to fail toward the beginning of the print.
  • A tall and skinny print is much more likely to struggle with adhesion than a short and stout print. Taking time to discern the best orientation for your print is always a good call.
  • Adding a raft (sometimes called a brim) will also help if you print is struggling with staying adhered to the plate.
• Clogging
  • Sometimes the extruder will clog causing the print to fail.
  • This typically can be seen when a clump of filament balls up at the end of the nozzle.
  • If this occurs, immediately cancel the print and remove the clumped filament. Make sure that the nozzle is still able to extrude filament, if not, you may need to open up the extruder and clean it. Keep working on it until you are able to extrude filament again.
• Air Extruding
  • This means that the extruder thinks it is extruding filament when it really is not.
  • Immediately cancel the print. Then restart the print.
  • If the printer is still air extruding, cancel the print and unload the filament. You can try reloading and starting the print again.
  • If the problem persists, you will probably need to take the extruder apart and clean it out before attempting any further prints.

General Laser Cutting Knowledge

Laser cutting directs a high-powered laser through optics. The laser cutter follows a predetermined pattern to engrave or cut the material. Laser cutting is a great way to get a professional-looking surface finish.

• Can be used for many different materials ranging between wood, glass, rock, plastics, and even engraving Hydroflasks.
• Works best on flat surfaces or cylinders with constant diameters.

There are a couple common steps that must be done correctly when using the laser cutter:

• Always make sure that the lens and cone are clean before starting a print.
• Correctly focus the laser above the material, using the correct focusing tool based off of the lens type.
• Choose the correct material profile for the material you are using.
• Clean the bed of the laser cutter when you are finished.

Equipment Overview

Name	Company	Model
Dissolvable Support Bath	Support Cleaning Apparatus	1200HT
F370 3D Printer	Stratasys	F370
Formlabs 3D Printer	Formlabs	Form 3
Laser Cutters	Trotec
Markforged 3D Printer	Markforged	Mark II
Prusa 3D Printer	Prusa	i3 MK3 / i3 MK3S
Speedy 300	Trotec	Speedy 300
Speedy 400	Trotec	Speedy 400

Equipment	Icon	Image
Dissolvable Support Bath
F370 3D Printer	[[|center|x100px|link=F370 3D Printer]]	[[|center|x125px|link=F370 3D Printer]]
Formlabs 3D Printer
Laser Cutters
Markforged 3D Printer
Prusa 3D Printer
Speedy 300
Speedy 400

• 

  Dissolvable Support Bath

• 

  Form-2

• 

  Laser cutter image

• 

  Mark two

• 

  Prusa printer image

• 

  Laser cutter image

• 

  Speedy 400

3 commandments

1. Safety First

Safety First is the rule we hold highest of the 3. Given the delicate nature of our machines, and the different chemicals and materials we use in the Prototype lab, this rule applies to both the safety of you, and the machines.

Keeping yourself safe in the Prototype Lab is very easy, as there are very few ways to hurt yourself or the machines. However, proper procedure must be followed at all times