3D Printing
2013 - Present3D printing has proved immensely useful throughout various university assignments and work-related projects both for part validation and functional models. This led to the purchase of Stereolithography (SLA) Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K with various functional resins. Resin printers are favoured for their speed and accuracy in parts and with the latest innovations in resins can now also provide functional parts. This page will cover some of the various mini-projects which have utilised different 3D printing technologies including SLA, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).
These days, advanced computer-aided design (CAD) packages such as Solidworks, Fusion360, Rhino3D etc. have made modelling, prototyping and even manufacturing a quick and easy process with a skilled user being able to produce highly accurate parts before then rendering to see what the model would look like in simulated environments.
However, it is still hard to understand the scale of some models as there is usually nothing to reference it within the design environment and humans use comparison to understand scale. This is where quick, highly accurate 3D printing proves useful.
Ruapehu Pendant
This mini-project was initiated by Reuben, a friend and fellow student, as a unique birthday gift to his significant other. The part was first designed in CAD and then printed on the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K with Aqua-Gray 4K resin to achieve a 35µm resolution. This allowed for better visualization of how the pendant would look and be manufactured. The initial prototypes showed that the hole for the chain was too small and that the supporting ‘ring’ was too thin for both structural strengths and manufacturability as it was to be cast in silver. From here, the modifications were quickly changed and the prototypes reprinted. After confirmation, the STLs were sent to imaterialise for printing and finishing and the finished product was received a few months later.
Carrie’s ring
Following the Canadian ‘Iron’ Ring tradition, an opportunity was presented to learn about SLS printing with titanium and to give a meaningful leaving present when a colleague left Toku Eyes. Designed in Solidworks, using equation-based features, the ring can be easily modified to suit different finger sizes. It is made from titanium (ti6al4v) due to its metallurgic properties/ bio-compatibility, as well as being a homage to the medical industry. The ring is hand finished using sandpaper, a Dremel, and various polishing compounds to achieve a polished finish.
3D printing (FDM) was utilised to both test the different ring sizes which would fit Carrie, and also to manufacture (SLS) the ring through outsourcing to RAM3D.
The ring has the Latin ‘ALIS PROPRIIS VOLAT’ embedded on the inside which reads in English ‘She flys with her own wings’.
Kuan’s prints
The next gallery showcases just a few of various other 3D Printing projects which have their own project pages and will be linked below.
The 3D model on the left is of the world-famous climbing mountain El Capitan in Yosemite, CA. The STL was produced via a true volumetric scan of the wall and surrounding area and printed on the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K with Aqua-Gray 4K resin.
