The 3 D Printing Process General Overview Created

The 3 D Printing Process General Overview Created by: JJ Johnson

YOUMAGAZINETV. "Inforgraphic: How a 3 D Printer Works. " Online video clip. You. Tube, 7 June 2013. Web. 8 January. 2014. Step 1: Get a design Object Step 4: Print Step 2: Position Object Step 3: Slice

The Orion 3 D Printing Process Option #1 Printing downloaded files 1 Download an. STL file from a site such as Repables 2 3 Slice the file using Slicer (built into Repetier Host) Print the part

The Orion 3 D Printing Process Option #2 Creating your own files 1 Create a CAD model in your choice of software (Inventor, Solidworks, Sketchup, etc. ) 2 Export as an. STL 3 4 Slice the file using Slicer (built into Repetier Host) Print the part

Free 3 D Printable Files There are numerous sites that offer files ready for 3 D printing, created by users from all over the globe. The files typically come in the standard. STL file format making the process of downloading and printing quick. In order to get started printing downloaded files you must have an understanding of Slicing. STL files and how to getting the resulting G-Code to your printer. Printable Repositories • • http: //3 d. si. edu/browser http: //repables. com/ http: //grabcad. com/ http: //www. shapeways. com/themes/3 dparts

. STL Files “The STL file format has become the Rapid Prototyping industry's defacto standard data transmission format. STL format approximates the surfaces of a solid model with triangles. For a simple model such as the box shown in figure 1, its surfaces can be approximated with twelve triangles, as shown in figure 2. The more complex the surface, the more triangles produced, as shown in figure 3. ” (Quickparts, 2013, para. 1) What is an. STL File? (n. d. ). Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http: //www. quickparts. com/Learning. Center/What. Is. An. STLFile. aspx

Repetier Host Your 3 D printer does not understand the information contained in an. STL file without further processing. 3 D printers interpret information called G-Code. In order to generate G-Code you need a tool called Slicer, which is built into an Open Source (FREE) software called Repetier Host, when connected to your 3 D printer, allows you to control all of the functions of the printer such as temperature settings, speed, filament flow rates, cooling, etc. Settings such as these can be altered before, during, and after printing. This software is widely used and a necessity for anyone printing using the Orion 3 D printer. LATER LESSONS WILL EXPAND ON THE USE OF REPETIER

Slicer “Slic 3 r, an open source software on its own. But built into the Repetier-Host software, is the powerful tool that you need to convert a digital 3 D model into printing instructions for your 3 D printer. It cuts the model into horizontal slices (layers), generates toolpaths to fill them and calculates the amount of material to be extruded. ” (Slic 3 r: About, para 1) Slic 3 r - About. (n. d. ). Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http: //slic 3 r. org/about

Animation of STL Generation and Slicing Econolyst. "Animation of STL Generation and Slicing. " Online video clip. You. Tube, 5 March 2008. Web. 5 January. 2014.

G-Code “G-Code is a language in which people tell computerized machine tools what to make and how to make it. The "how" is defined by instructions on where to move to, how fast to move, and through what path to move. ” Slicer automatically generates the GCode required by your printer when slicing a part. Typical GCODE your 3 D printer uses • • • G 28: Home All Axis XYZ: Coordinate Location E: Filament Extrusion F: Feedrate (Speed) M 190: Heated Bed Temperature (Wikipedia, 2014, para. 2) G-code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n. d. ). Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/G-code

Time to Print ● The information that was just presented to you is essentially the whole process required to print a part. In review: ○ Obtain an. STL file ○ Load the file in Repetier-Host ○ Slice the object ○ Print ● You can get as advanced as you like, learning 3 D modelling, advanced slicer configurations, or printing with exotic filaments, but one thing is sure, its never been easier or more affordable to get 3 D printing.

Review • • • What type of file is required to print an object? What is the purpose of Repetier-Host? What does it mean to “slice” a file?