Self-assembly 3d-printer or purchase ready-made equipment for the design. 3d printing. Part 3

In two posts ( Part 1 and Part 2 ), I talked about the intricacies of assembling and configuring the software of the MC5 3d-printer. In this part, you will be told about what a slicer is and how to set it up for “slicing” 3D models for printing, about the requirements for 3D models and why it is not so easy to take and calibrate a 3D printer.

If a turner to give any detail, with a request to make the same, he will make it. But it will take some time to measure the dimensions of the part, thinking through manufacturing operations, preparing the machine and manufacturing itself. Perhaps even make a sketch of the details.

In order to make the same part on a 3d-printer, we don’t need a fiddler turner. We need:
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• Parametric 3d model details
• Converter 3d-models in machine code G-code
• 3d printer

Using measuring tools and a CAD system, we will get a 3D model of the part that must be saved in one of the special file formats. In this case, I used .STL. In this file, information about the object is stored as a list of triangular faces that describe its surface and their normals:



The figure shows the difference between a standard CAD file and an STL file.

What is a slicer?

Slicer (from the English. Slice- cut) is an auxiliary software that converts the 3d model into machine code (as a rule it is G-code). This code contains the commands for the 3d printer control board (or CNC machine). The temperature of the heating element of the extruder, the feed rate of the plastic thread, the speed of movement, the speed of the cooling fan and most importantly all the coordinates for building a physical copy of the 3d model and its auxiliary elements.

In the software for managing a 3d-printer - Repetier, it is possible to use one of the three slicers: Slic3r, Skeinforge, Cura. Each of them has its own algorithms for converting models. I use the first one.

At this stage you need:

1) Have a clear idea of ​​the part (its function, what mechanical loads it will experience and in what environment to be.
2) Select the appropriate material for printing ABS or PLA plastic.
3) Set the parameters in the slicer.
4) Generate G-code (cut into a 3d model).
5) Perform printing.

The 3d-model can be checked for suitability for printing and corrected by using the free version of the program netfabb


If during printing, something goes wrong, you need to check the mechanics and electronics of the 3d printer. If everything is in order with her, then we return to item number 3 and repeat all over again. The beauty of 3d printing is that it is impossible to select universal parameters in the slicer for all parts, this is done individually for each (if they are not identical).

For example, in this photo, I accidentally turned off the power supply, the printing was interrupted, and since I had saved the g-code, then restarting the print job started anew:



Finally, a video of the MC5 3d-printer at very high 3-d printing speeds:



Now it remains long and hard to comprehend Zen 3d-printing. In the network a lot of information in English and in Russian. The most important thing is to follow safety precautions and do not leave your child’s 3D printer unattended for long. Collecting something with your own hands or buying ready-made - the choice is yours.