This week we were tasked with two items. 1) 3D scanning an object. 2) 3D Printing an item that could not be created through subtractive means. To begin with my 3D scanning, I decided to scan a close friend of mine because I was interested in seeing how the 3D scanner would capture natural black hair. Below you will find the various frames of Calvin. Due to our height difference, I was unable to properly capture all of the hair texture but the overall hair texture is not accurately captured. Although, it was still a pretty cool experience.

Next, I tried to create my 3D printed item. I conceptualized creating a mesh cube where inside were maze like platforms and a ball. This item would be a sort of fusion between a Rubik's Cube and a Maze Ball. I struggled a lot (and am still struggling) to create this project. The problems first began as I tried to create the structure within Fusion 360. The method that I have found has worked best to create this enclosed maze was to 2D sketch the general shape on a side of the cube and the extrude it to perpetuate elsewhere in its 3D form. However, you can engage a 2D sketch within 360 that actually begins within the fact of the cube rather than on the surface which requires more manual entry to accurately perpetuate the shapes. Similarly, I ran into an isse where creating a mesh surface on the top and bottom of the cube, also created slits on the left side of the cube. I never figured out why that happened but did learn that if I deleted the sketch on the top and bottom would remove the problem. Lastly, I learned I should have sat down with a detailed written plan of the maze before beginning to create the CAD. As I was creating the figure, I would often get confused as to where I was placing the platforms and if I was actually allowing the ball to flow throughout the cube. The CAD images for my maze are found below.

After I got my CAD completed, I found out that the maze would take me 3 days to print -- which I thought was unreasonable for using a shared printer within this class. Part of the problem is that I wanted my cube to by 10 centimeters for its length so that way people are able to actually see into this cube and complete the maze. However, an object of that size takes too long to print. Also, scaling down the maze would break the constraints of the printer by making the platforms to thin to still work and the mesh netting of the surfaces to be too small to allow users to see into it. As a conseuqence, I removed the interior maze platforms to just the exterior cube and a free-floating sphere within the cube. I also then scaled the cube down to 40% of the original size to make the the print time 8 hours. The area I worry about the most is the creation of the sphere and removing the supports. The simplified object is the very first image on this page.

My aformentioned designed failed in printing in multiple ways. 1) The printer literally never finished the print. The filament got tangled and the printer stopped. 2) My item printed with a lot of supports as I initially expected; however, the removal process of those supports were extremely hard. Given the cube didn't finish printing I was able to reach into the cube much more than the intial plan and I still struggled to remove all the supports. Surprisingly, the sphere worked out perectly. After this failure, I decide to simplify even more. I just wanted to get a hollow cube with a free moving sphere inside. This time I struggled with completely center the spehre within the cube such that I can maximize its diamete; however, I eventually got the CAD going. This run time was much shorter than my previous ones at 1 hour 26 minutes. This print also didn't need any support! The final product can be found below and still acheived my original intention of designing a fun desk toy.

For the files connected to this week they are all found below:
the final product
If you would like to create any of the original attepmts (which I would recommend doing if you have access to a printer with soluble supports, you can find them here
mediumly complicate version full version of the maze