3d scanning and printing :
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3D scanning
my favorite lipstick :
using the qlone app

This week we were asked to 3d scan and 3d print objects.

The first thing I did was attempt to scan some objects.

I was excited to try the Qlone app to scan objects using my own phone. The demos before beginning the process seem very hopeful, but the results are pretty sad. I tried the same object multiple times, and the result was always different but always not great and kind of comical so I kept scanning more objects. I did realize the result seemed better when I scanned slowly and when the object was at the center of the checkerboard map they ask you to use.

free gif from the qlone app  (stls are not free!!!)  :

I also tried scanning other objects, some were admittedly glossy, which I realize does not make for a good scan, but I was curious to see what would happen. I tried scanning a hollow object, a pot, but it couldn't recognize that it was not solid. I also tried scanning an object with fine details, like the bristles of a brush, but that also did not show clearly in the result - which I wasn't expecting. Again, I was curious to see what would be the outcome of scanning purposefully difficult / complex objects. Below are some of the results :

link to actual object : a short mint green cupcake stand :

link to actual object : group partner's nude top pot :

link to actual object : a shell comb :

Apparently, I have a lot of glossy / clear objects, which aren't able to be correctly captured by scanners in general... In other words, I didn't really find other items that would have been too exciting to scan that wouldn't have confused the scanner (I was hoping to scan "nice" objects to print and display on my final project, a circular conveyor belt - could have been cool to have actual objects displayed next to its 3d scanned / printed counterpart? Hmm.. I mean maybeee it would be interesting to display bad prints next to real object - ok, going to shelf this thought), but anyways, I am interested in possibly trying to scan these with the scanner at school and compare the results. I have a feeling that scanner will do these objects far more justice.

After going to lab on Thursday, I'm not so sure the scanner in the RPL would do a much better job than the Qlone App, so I decided to move onto 3D printing.

*micro* all in one 3d test print from thingiverse

After looking through previous years, I found an interesting print a classmate downloaded from thingiverse testing : stringing, sharp corners, bridging, scale and diameter, overhang, and tolerance.

used default settings :

one of many repetitive notifications :

After struggling with the printers in RPL (filament was "empty" and we were continually asked to take out and reinsert the cartridge, which was not empty / remaining filament debris removed but would then attempt to remove again???), we found a printer in studio 5 that we easily uploaded our file onto. After less than 2 hours, we had our test print in hand :

*micro* all in one 3d test print from thingiverse

Noodle like texture was found on the underside of the overhang test, the small pyramidal shapes were not very sharp, and most of the tolerance test was hard to see.

I anyways thought downloading a test print from thingiverse was quite easy and relatively helpful. I can imagine how one would download things off of the website that you really don't need to spend long hours modeling.

chain printed in ~ 4" x 4" boundary

For my 3d print, I wanted to print something that could conceptually be bigger than it once once. I remembered a project by Skylar where he printed a 50 foot linear chain that in a 5" cubed 3D print : project here.

In this respect, my print is an oversimplification of this project! However, I did make a decision to make a chain that is closed, rather than one that is open! I'm curious to see how long it ends up being.

Because I printed this on the zcorp, I wont have to deal with messy supports, which is maybe a cop out, but I also really love the texture of that printer.

zcorp interface : shows layer currently being printed

actual printer bed looks comically similar :

After uploading my print to RPL Sunday night, I kept my eye on the queue. I was around the fab lab doing other things and I noticed my print was on the screen - the next batch was being prepped. Once the queue indicated my file was printing late Monday afternoon, I checked in just to see where it was at. By early Tuesday morning, the print was ready to be excavated.

print ready to be excavated :

I wasn't able to excavate until after class around noon. By the time I got to the machine, the other print had already been taken out, and my print had been handled. Because there are technically no supports, if your print is on the fragile side, you have to be careful when vacuuming the excess powder.

Additionally, if you are not there to excavate your print, you are sort of relying on someone else to carefully excavate a print they don't necessarily know is fragile.

a dead end, lone chain, and other incorrectly placed connections :

What I had intended to be one circular chain was broken, but I also realized I had made both an excess and a lack of connections. Oops! I guess one should not model small repetitive chains at midnight.

chain after excavated (still in need of brushing / vacuuming) :

entirety of chain - broken and w odd connections :

I still like my chain, as useless as it is - will use it as some dysfunctional decor. I do realize now that I could have made the chain smaller, and I should have used a smaller bounding box...

After printing on the zcorp, I dont't think I'll use it to prototype my moving gears (that I think I will need?) for my conveyor belt. I'd want a stronger print for something like that, but I knew this chain would be for pure aesthetic purposes.

Files :
Dropbox