This week, we spoke with Jeff Ginger who walked us through the 3D printing process. From idea to modeling to creation, Jeff presented numerous accounts of creations in the FabLab. I had no idea I was walking by the FabLab every day to get to BIF, but now I know all the cool things that the FabLab has helped create. Although the artistic creations intrigued me, I was most enthralled by the open atmosphere of the FabLab. While 3D printing has been available for architecture, business, and engineering students for a few years, community members have often missed out on the 3D printing opportunities available to students. Nothing exemplifies the openness of the FabLab quite like this picture from Instagram of a Grandmother and Grandson creating a Cubs t-shirt.
Because I am a lifelong Cubs fan, this picture inspired me to combine my love of baseball with my new 3D printing abilities. 3D printing technology is already helping athletes recover from injuries, when will it start affecting gameplay? 3D printed football helmets, baseball bats, tennis rackets, and hockey sticks could soon become the norm.
In this week’s session, we learned the basics of the 3D printing execution phase. Billy and Dash showed us how to use Tinkercad to imagine and design 3D printable objects using geometric shapes. One of my group members made a heart keychain with her name on it, and I created the team logo with the help of the other members. Billy helped me perfect the puzzle piece design with our team name inscribed on the top. Dash taught Team Synergy how to export .stl files to Cura. Billy then showed the class how to choose the right setting for our builds. Although this was very useful, the bottom wall thickness was far too great, leaving some extra building material at the bottom. In addition, the word “SYNERGY” was not well written by the machine. I suspect the .8 mm nozzle or layer height is the cause of this discrepancy.
This week’s class was a humbling experience as I came to a far greater appreciation for some of the magnificent creations on Thingiverse. Rotating structures, world wonders, and puzzles all seem far grander and more intricate. I have come to appreciate the masters of this craft by trying it myself. I look forward to improving my 3D printing skills in the coming weeks.
Jason