Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
lematic: body covers are barely one path
wide.
Lessons Learned
Here are a few more things that helped along
the way.
Free 3D design
I had to fine-tune some of the parts, so I
used Autodesk's 123D design software
to create my STL files, both for its price
(free) and its ease of use (see
Figure 19-5
).
Figure 19-4.
The brains of the bot
Here are some of the challenges I faced:
The toughest parts
A few parts, designed for aluminum or
injection-molded plastic, are almost im-
possible for a DIY printer. The front body
cover must be printed at the highest res-
olution—that's 16 hours on my printer,
and a lot can go wrong in 16 hours. I had
Shapeways
print the head and body cov-
ers, using their laser sintering process. I
hope to modify these parts for a DIY
printer—or to find one that can handle
them.
Figure 19-5.
3D-printed bracket
Rafts and support material
I like the UP! Plus 3D printer's accuracy
and its automatic generation of both
rafts (disposable footings that prevent
warping) and support material to prop
up overhangs, bridges, and screw holes
(
Figure 19-6
). I still had to play around
with the orientation of parts on the build
platform, because this can affect the
printing of overhangs and supports (see
Figures
19-7
and
19-8
).
Tricky widths
Some parts are one and a half or two and
a half extruder paths wide instead of two
or three. Many DIY printers and slicer
programs can't overcome this problem,
causing hollow passageways within
walls that weaken the part. Also prob-
