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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5 CODER PRINTS

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

PRINT

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.