Blog for the RepRap project at www.reprap.org - a project to create an open-source self-copying 3D printer. To get all the early posts on this blog with all the images as a single PDF visit this page.
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Selectively making parts of object stronger
I've published small hack how to make some parts of object stronger then the rest :-)
@Josef You can make them stronger still by simply setting the perimeter limit to about 200 or so and avoid using infills completely. That's what I do. The only drawback is that you have to calculate the extruder flow rate very carefully. If you get it too high you get the excess sitting on top of the print plane since it has no voids to ooze into. :-)
You could try diagonal holes, to customise the strongest direction. Also, I find having a fan reduces layer adhesion (though is essential for beautiful prints), perhaps turning the fan off for these reinforcement structures would be good.
In general, more intelligent control over where fan is on/off is needed.
If you use horizontal holes with a diameter equal to the layer height you will force SF to do n solid layers over then, and the infill will extend to the next boundary.
You could stagger the horizontal holes and force a fully solid area (apart from those small gaps).
They could stop just short of the outline so they would be covered and invisible.
John, if you want to make part stronger (wrt lamination) dip the part into acetone or similar solvent for few seconds and it will make part much stronger.
@Josef You can make them stronger still by simply setting the perimeter limit to about 200 or so and avoid using infills completely. That's what I do. The only drawback is that you have to calculate the extruder flow rate very carefully. If you get it too high you get the excess sitting on top of the print plane since it has no voids to ooze into. :-)
ReplyDeleteperfect for wishbones that are biased...
ReplyDeleteYou could try diagonal holes, to customise the strongest direction.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I find having a fan reduces layer adhesion (though is essential for beautiful prints), perhaps turning the fan off for these reinforcement structures would be good.
In general, more intelligent control over where fan is on/off is needed.
If you use horizontal holes with a diameter equal to the layer height you will force SF to do n solid layers over then, and the infill will extend to the next boundary.
ReplyDeleteYou could stagger the horizontal holes and force a fully solid area (apart from those small gaps).
They could stop just short of the outline so they would be covered and invisible.
John, if you want to make part stronger (wrt lamination) dip the part into acetone or similar solvent for few seconds and it will make part much stronger.
ReplyDeleteCould the printer pause over a small vertical hole after many layers, with the extruder used to inject material ?
ReplyDeleteThis would form a vertical filament interconnecting a whole set of layers...