blog entry #3 part 1

i've learnt about the strengths and weakness FDM as well as SLA 

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) works by melting a thermoplastic filament and depositing it layer by layer to create the desired object. The filaments used are usually PLA, ABS, Carbon Fibre or more. 

strength: 
- cost effective 
- material variety 

- accessible in the market 
weakness: 

- nozzle clogging 

- required post-process

- rough surface on finished products 

we did an in-class presentation on what we can find about FDM (for my group) 

SLA (Stereolithography) uses photopolymerisation to create objects. Liquid resin is exposed to a light source (e.g. UV Laser or LCD Screen), it solidfies the resin layer by layer to form final product. 

strength: 

- high resolution

- material variety

- minimal post-process

weakness: 

- higher cost of printers

- limited build volume

as i've mentioned earlier about the filament used for 3D printing there are a few types of material used, such as PLA, ABS, Carbon Fibre and more. i've learnt about the pros and cons of each material

PLA (Polylactic Acid) 

pros: 

- biodegradable (most eco-friendly)

- ease of printing

- low toxicity & odor

cons: 

- heat sensitive

- limited chemical resistance

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) 

pros: 

- durability

- chemical resistance

- post-processing capabilities

cons: 

- fumes and odors

- printing difficulty

- moisture sensitive

Carbon Fibre: 

pros:

- strong yet light

- prevent sinking while item cooling

cons: 

- clogs easily

- makes brittle points 

to transform a Fusion360 drawing into a 3D plastic model

1. save the file as STL

    - select body on the left dropdown list

    - save as mesh

    - select STL (Binary) 

    - click "OK"

2. generate G-Code file

    - open CURA

    - select the 3D printer

    - open the file saved at the left 

3. adjust the position/ 3D printer setting

    - move the product (if out of printer) 

    - recommendation settings

        - quick prototyping: 0.2-0.3mm resolution, low infill (~10%)

        - final prototyping: 0.2mm, normal infill (20%)

4. save the G-Code file

    - slice

    - click "Save to File" onto a SD/ MicroSD card