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3D PRINTING AT THE BAC REV. December 2017
3D PRINTING AT THE BAC
REV. December 2017
3D PRINTING HOW IT WORKS
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YOU BRING ONE OR MORE SCALED 3D MODELS TO THE CODER LAB:Rhino models are great3DS Max models are OKSketchup models are OKAutoCAD models are OKRevit models are not recommendedSTL or OBJ files that meet the following are perfect
YOUR MODEL MUST BE CLOSED, SOLID, “WATERTIGHT” AND HAVE NO “PARTS” UNDER .5MM/.03” THICK:A Closed model is one that has no bare, un-joined edgesA Solid model has no coincident or intersecting geometryA Watertight model is one that, if the INSIDES of the walls were filled with water, it would not leak.
LOAD YOUR EXPORTED FILES INTO SOFTWARE:1. “Add” you files to the 3d printer software2. Scale, Orient, and locate your objects correctly3. Have CODER LAB staff review your settings4. Once approved, fill out the MAKERNOTES form and export the printing file
TURNAROUND TIME:1. Due to many variables in the 3D printing process, we cannot guarantee a delivery time2. Printing order is determined by queue and is on a first-come, first printed basis3. During midterms and finals it can take a week or more to obtain your print.4. We cannot print overnight as the printers must be monitored5. Print jobs are limited to 10 hours per job, and 10 hours per student per week during “crunch time”
APPROVED OPERATORS:Only These People are approved to operate the 3d printersDavid HansenJason CourtemancheKenneth YoenEdwin HernandezSherley PompilusMichael Lo Piccolo
APPROVED USERS: Any student, Faculty, or staff of the BAC who has read and understood this document
APPROVAL REQUIRED:1. Your file must be approved by an approved operator before it will be printed.2. We cannot accept files by email or remote upload.3. If we point out errors/ problems with your file that you do not want to take the time to correct, we may refuse to print your file or if we do print your file, we will make only one attempt and may stop the print at any time, if it looks like it will degrade the performance of the 3d printer.
MATERIALS AND PRICING:1. We print with both Formlabs resin and Zortax z-abs2. Black and white are available for the Formlabs for 30 cents a gram3. Black, white, grey for Zortax for 10 cents a gram5. Red, Blue, Clear for the Zortrax for 30 cents a gram4. Models are weighed after printing and taken out of print account funds.
3D PRINTINGPOLICIES
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3D PRINTING FILE SETUP TIPS
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SIZE AND ORIENTATION:1. Make sure you scaled model fits inside the Formlabs(4.9 x 4.9 x 6.4”), Zortax(7.5 x 7.5 x 7”)2. Make sure your model “sits flat” on the c-plane - this is very important!!!3. If possible, orient the model so the most supported side is facing down4. Scale your model to print-size before exporting the .stl or .obj (it needs to be in inches or millimeters- millimeters preferred)
GEOMETRY-BASICS:1. 3D printers can’t make zero-thickness planes-everything needs a thickness2. “Open” shapes are ok, but they need wall thickness - RECOMMEND .5MM MINIMUM3. Models should be “WATER TIGHT” - if it’s not water tight, it’s not a solid, and won’t print well4. Clean up coincident geometry - don’t have shapes inside of other shapes
GEOMETRY - OVERHANGS AND SLOPED SURFACES:1. The Zortrax and Formlabs build up (or down) layer-by-layer and cannot print in mid-air2. Cantilevers will need support material or may be printed sideways or upside down3. If there is a part of the model that “hangs down” it will need supports or will not print
MODELING SOFTWARE1. Rhino is recommended, Sketchup can work but needs work and careful attention to surfaces2. Revit is very much not recommended3. AutoCad 3d is also not recommended, but can work
MODEL CLEAN UP:1. Surfaces need to be oriented correctly - to the “outside” of the model2. Be mindful of and remove from the printing model, geometry that intersects other geometry3. Consider removing very small geometry for small - scale buildings- door handles, mullions, etc.
Time is a factor:1. 3D printing is not fast - it can take several to many hours for one print job.2. Plan to spend a couple hours cleaning up your digital model before exporting 3. It might be faster to retrace the “exterior surfaces” (all the things you can see)4. The digital model you may have made for the visual content, will likely not work well for 3d printing.
Don’t sweat the small stuff:1. It is supposed to be a model, it shouldn’t show every possible detail.2. If time is limited make sure the big parts are modeled correctly first then work down in detail level3. Models should be “water tight”- if is not water tight then it’s not solid and it won’t print well.
Be realistic about realism:1. At 1/32” or even 1/16” it can’t print door handles, panes of glass, etc.2. Maybe don’t model each stair, model the idea of the stairs3. If you want entourage in your model you should print it separately(laser cutter)
They are accurate, but not precise1. Only use one printer for all parts of the same model - be sure to let us know!2. If you are making interlocking pieces, test the fitment using small pieces first
3D PRINTINGTHE LOWDOWN
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FILE OUT THE JOB FORMTHIS JOB FORM IS USED BY CODER TO
EFFECTIVLEY PRINT AND TRACK YOUR JOB
FILLING OUT THE JOB FORM
PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY!
DATE Enter the MONTH and DATE your job is submitted. EX: 11/21
NAME Enter your name as it is known to the BAC.The same one you log in to the computers with
COLOR Choose black, white, grey, clearONLY ONE COLOR PER PRINT JOB
If you want the same FILE printed in MULTIPLE COLORS, you will need to SUBMIT MULTIPLE JOBS
ESTIMATED WEIGHT/ TIMEEnter the Weight and Time that the printing software gave you when exporting or previewing your file.
PRINTER Z for ZortraxF1+ for Formlabs
3D PRINTING PROCESS
DEVELOP A CLEAN CLOSED MODEL FOR PRINTING
PRINT SIZEZORTRAX: 7.5X7.5X7
FORMLABS:4.9X4.9X6.4MAXIMUM
FROM:RHINO
SKETCHUPETC
*.STLOR
*.OBJ
IN THE CODER LABOPEN:
Z-SUITE OR
PREFORM
*.STLOR
*.OBJ
ADJUST PARAMETERSSCALE
POSITIONORIENTATION
ZORTRAX TO: .ZODE AND ZPROJ
PRFORM TO:.FORM
SCALED TO
EXPORT AS
IMPORT/ADD
CODER STAFFWILL REVIEW
THEN EXPORT TO
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STUDENTRESPONSIBILITY
ZORTRAX M200Z-SUITE Launching
LAUNCH Z-SUITE ON THE DESTOP
THE KEY IS LOCATED INTECH_COURSES>3D_PRINT_FILES> ZORTRAXKEY Z3A7C6CC7
ZORTRAX M200Z-SUITE OVERVIEW
ADD OBJECT
REMOVE OBJECT
ROTATE VIEW
MOVE VIEW
SELECT VIEW
ROTATE OBJECT
MOVE OBJECT
SCALE OBJECT
AUTO ARRANGE
SPLIT OBJECT
7.5”
7.5”
7”
THE BED: THE PRINT AREA IS 7.5” X 7.5” X 7”
ADD OBJECT:USED TO IMPORT AN OBJ OR STL
VIEW SECTION:ROTATE, MOVE OR SELECT A PRESET VIEW
TOOL SECTION:ROTATE, MOVE, SCALE, AUTO ARRANGE, SPLIT MODEL
SELECT OBJECT
ZOOM VIEW
ZORTRAX M200ROTATION
ROTATE
ROTATE YOUR MODEL ON X, Y, Z AXIS
ROTATES IN 450 OR BY SLIDER BAR
MOVE
MOVES YOUR MODEL ON X OR Y AXIS
MODEL CAN ALSO BE MOVED WITH MOUSE OR WITH THE COORDINATE SYSTEM
SCALE
SCALES YOUR MODEL WITH X, Y, Z AXIS BY PRESSING ARROWS NEXT TO X,Y,Z
LOCK ENABLED KEEPSEVERYTHING SCALED PROPORTIONALLY
ZORTRAX M200SPLIT
SPLIT
SPLIT YOUR MODEL ON X, Y, Z AXIS
ALLOWS MODEL TO BE SEPARATED INTO DIFFERENT PARTS
THIS CAN NOT BE UNDONE
ZORTRAX M200ANALYZE
ZORTRAX M200 SUPPORT
SUPPORTS
SUPPORTS
TO GENERATE SUPPORTS CLICK GENERATE
SUPPORTS HELP MAINTAIN THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE MODEL AND PREVENTS THE MODEL FROM DROPPING
SUPPORTS
ZORTRAX M200PREPARING PRINT FILE
CURRENT SETTINGS ARE RECOMMENDED
SUPPORT:SUPPORTS MODEL CANTILEVERS
SMART BRIDGESUSEFUL FOR SMALL
OPENING WHICH NEED SUPPORTS
SUPPORT LITE - LESS FILAMENT AND EASIER TO REMOVE
SEAM:NORMAL- EXTRUDER GOES TO A FIXED LOCATION FOR WHEN
BEGINING NEXT LAYERRANDOM - EXTRUDER GOES
TO A RANDOM LOCATION FOR NEXT LAYER
CURRENT SETTINGS ARE RECOMMENDED
PROFILE: Z-ABS USED FOR WHITE, BLACK, GREY,BLUE, REDZ-GLASS USED FOR TRANSPARENT
QUALITY:HIGH- QUALITY OF MODEL INCREASES BUT SO DOES PRINT TIMENORMAL- GOOD QUALITY MODEL
INFILL:HIGHER SELECTION INCREASES MODEL DENSITY AND PRINT TIME
ZORTRAX M200PRINT OUTPUT
MODEL WILL PRINT EXACTLY AS SHOWN IN THE OUTPUT SCREEN
ESTIMATED TIME - 1H 15M
FILAMENT USAGE - 12g
BOTH THESE DETAILS ARE USED WHEN FILLING OUT MAKERNOTES
HAVE A CODER REPRESENTATIVE AP-PROVE YOUR MODEL
ZORTRAX M200SAVING PRINT FILE
CLICK EXPORT TO PRINT
NAVIGATE TO:Computer\tech_courses\3D_PrintFiles
FILE NAME WILL CONSIST OF FIRST INITIAL, LAST INITIAL, UNDERSCORE, ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR MODEL
EX: ZZ_TEST
HIT SAVE
ZORTRAX M200SAVING PROJECT FILE
SELECT FILE>SAVE AS
NAVIGATE TO:Computer\tech_courses\3D_PrintFiles
SAVE USING THE PREVIOUS SETTINGFIRST INITIAL, LAST INITIAL, UNDER-SCORE, ONE WORD DESCRIBING YOUR MODEL
HIT SAVE
FORMLABS: PREFORMOVERVIEW
4.9”4.9”
7”
SCALE OBJECT
MAGIC WAND
ROTATE OBJECT
SUPPORTS
MOVE OBJECT
ZOOM
VIEWS
TO ADD YOU’RE MODEL INTO PREFORM GO TO FILE>OPEN
THE MAGIC WAND MOVES,ROTATES AND GENERATES SUPPORTS FOR THE MODEL
FORMLABS: PREFORMSETTINGS
SETTINGS
CLICK ON PRINT SETTINGS FOR THE PRINT SETUP MAN-AGER
CURRENTLY WE ONLY OFFER WHITE AND BLACK
FOR LAYER THICKNESS SE-LECT FASTEST PRINT (.1mm)
FORMLABS: PREFORMSCALE
SCALE YOUR MODEL WITH X, Y, Z AXIS BY PRESSING ARROWS NEXT TO X, Y, Z
WITH LOCK ENABLED EVERYTHING SCALES PROPORTIONALLY
FORMLABS: PREFORMROTATE
ROTATE YOUR MODEL ON X, Y, Z, AXIS
USE ARROWS TO INCREASE/DECREASE ROTATION BY 10
PROVIDED PRESETS ROTATE MODEL ON TOP, BOTTOM, LEFT, RIGHT, FRONT, BACK SIDES
FORMLABS: PREFORMSUPPORTS
SUPPORTSSELECT GENERATE ALLTHIS WILL CREATE SUPPORTS WHICH WILL HELP OVERHANGS STAY WHERE THEY BELONG
INTENSITY: THICKNESS OF THE SUPPORTS
POINT SIZE: CHANGES THE SUPPORT THICKNESS AT THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE MODEL
IF YOU’RE MODEL HAS SECTIONS THAT ARE RED YOU WILL NEED TO SELECT EDIT ALL
FORMLABS: PREFORMEDIT SUPPORTS
CLICKING NEAR RED SECTIONS WILL ADD A SUPPORT MARKER
ONCE ALL OF THE RED IS GONE SELECT APPLY SUPPORT EDITS
YOU WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PREVIOUS PAGE WITH THE UPDATED SUPPORTS
FORMLABS: PREFORMMOVE
CLICK AND DRAG TO MOVE YOUR MODEL
LAYOUT ALL LETS THE PROGRAM SELECT WHERE IT WANTS TO PLACE YOUR MODEL
FORMLABS: PREFORMOUTPUT
ESTIMATED TIME
CLICK ONE THE CALCUTLATE PRINT TIME BUTTON FOR AN ESTIMATED PRINT TIME
MODEL WILL PRINT EXACTLY AS SHOWN IN THE OUTPUT SCREEN
ESTIMATED TIME - 1H 16M
THESE DETAILS ARE USED WHEN FILLING OUT MAKERNOTES
HAVE A CODER REPRESENTATIVE APPROVE YOUR MODEL
GO TO FILE>SAVE AS
NAVIGATE TO:Computer\tech_courses\3D_PrintFiles
SAVE USING FIRST INITIAL, LAST INITIAL, UNDERSCORE, ONE WORD DESCRIBING YOUR MODEL
HIT SAVE
PROBLEMSTROUBLESHOOTING YOUR PRINT JOB
OBJECTS NOT FLAT ON BED
If a part of the model is not flat on the bed they will not print successfully.
Most often this will occur when one piece of the model is lower than the rest.
The mushroom on the left is fully surrounded by the raft.
The mushroom on the right isonly partially surrounded by the raft and will fail to print.
If parts of your print are found to be floating when we attempt to print, we will cancel the print job and mark it as a bad file.
