FIRST Technology Challenge

3D Printing for FIRST Teams Authors: Kari Karwedsky, PTC , and Colm Prendergast, Mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1965 3D Printing Work Flow The 3D Printing Work Flow that we use is composed of 7 steps.   Step 1: Design your part using PTC Creo. Step 2: Export Model from PTC Creo in .stl format. Step 3: Prepare Model and Generate g-code file (or equivalent) for the printer. Step 4: Prepare and Level the 3D Printer Build Plate. Step 5: Load printer filament. Step 6: Print Model. Step 7: Clean up printed model. In this blog post, we will look more closely at Step 7. 3D Printing Step 7: Clean up printed model. Once the print job has been completed the first thing to do is to unload the filament. This is generally good practice and cleans out the extruder to avoid blockages. We usually run the load procedure first to ensure that the extruder flow is still smooth and there have been no problems encountered during the build process. After this has been verified remove the fila...

3D Printing for FIRST Teams Authors: Kari Karwedsky, PTC , and Colm Prendergast, Mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1965 3D Printing Work Flow The 3D Printing Work Flow that we use is composed of 7 steps.   Step 1: Design your part using PTC Creo. Step 2: Export Model from PTC Creo in .stl format. Step 3: Prepare Model and Generate g-code file (or equivalent) for the printer. Step 4: Prepare and Level the 3D Printer Build Plate. Step 5: Load printer filament. Step 6: Print Model. Step 7: Clean up printed model. In this blog post, we will look more closely at Steps 5 and 6. 3D Printing Step 5: Load printer filament. Loading the Printer Filament is the last step to be completed prior to printing. Most 3D printers use spools of filament that are un-rolled as the filament is consumed. In our case we use 1kg roles of PLA filament. For this project we will use a roll of MakerBot “True Red” PLA filament with a 1.75mm diameter.  MakerBot “True Red” PLA filament  PLA is a...

3D Printing for FIRST Teams Authors: Kari Karwedsky, PTC , and Colm Prendergast, Mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1965 3D Printing Work Flow The 3D Printing Work Flow that we use is composed of 7 steps.   Step 1: Design your part using PTC Creo. Step 2: Export Model from PTC Creo in .stl format. Step 3: Prepare Model and Generate g-code file (or equivalent) for the printer. Step 4: Prepare and Level the 3D Printer Build Plate. Step 5: Load printer filament. Step 6: Print Model. Step 7: Clean up printed model. In this blog post, we will look more closely at Step 4. 3D Printing Step 4: Preparing and Leveling the 3D Printer Build Plate. When getting ready to print, the Build Plate must be prepared and leveled. In most cases 3D Printer Build Plates are either Polycarbonate plastic or Glass. The Replicator 2 shipped with a Polycarbonate Build plate which was light and permitted direct printing. However, there were many reports of the plates warping which caused print problems...

3D Printing for FIRST Teams Authors: Kari Karwedsky, PTC , and Colm Prendergast, Mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1965 3D Printing Work Flow The 3D Printing Work Flow that we use is composed of 7 steps.   Step 1: Design your part using PTC Creo. Step 2: Export Model from PTC Creo in .stl format. Step 3: Prepare Model and Generate g-code file (or equivalent) for the printer. Step 4: Prepare and Level the 3D Printer Build Plate. Step 5: Load printer filament. Step 6: Print Model. Step 7: Clean up printed model. In this blog post, we will look more closely at Step 3. 3D Printing Step 3: Prepare Model and Generate g-code file (or equivalent) for the printer. In Step 1 we introduced two model files demonstrating a 0.5” shaft and bore that are intended to be connected together. We will use these as an example to demonstrate the rest of the 3D Printing process. Since we are using a MakerBot Replicator 2 printer we will be using the MakerBot Desktop software to prepare the model...

3D Printing for FIRST Teams Authors: Kari Karwedsky, PTC , and Colm Prendergast, Mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1965 3D Printing Work Flow The 3D Printing Work Flow that we use is composed of 7 steps.   Step 1: Design your part using PTC Creo. Step 2: Export Model from PTC Creo in .stl format. Step 3: Prepare Model and Generate g-code file (or equivalent) for the printer. Step 4: Prepare and Level the 3D Printer Build Plate. Step 5: Load printer filament. Step 6: Print Model. Step 7: Clean up printed model. In this blog post, we will look more closely at Step 2. 3D Printing Step 2: Export Model from PTC Creo in .stl format. Once your model is completed it needs to be exported from PTC Creo before it can be printed. There are several file formats that can be used for this and PTC Creo supports a wide variety of industry standard file formats. You should check the file formats supported by your printer software before exporting your model. We are using the STL format. ST...

3D Printing for FIRST Teams Authors: Kari Karwedsky, PTC , and Colm Prendergast, Mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1965 3D Printing Work Flow The 3D Printing Work Flow that we use is composed of 7 steps.   Step 1: Design your part using PTC Creo. Step 2: Export Model from PTC Creo in .stl format. Step 3: Prepare Model and Generate g-code file (or equivalent) for the printer. Step 4: Prepare and Level the 3D Printer Build Plate. Step 5: Load printer filament. Step 6: Print Model. Step 7: Clean up printed model. In this blog post, we will look more closely at Step 1. 3D Printing Step 1: Design your part using PTC Creo Most people reading this blog are probably familiar with using PTC Creo or another CAD program. Designing parts for 3D printing is a pretty straightforward process in PTC Creo. Most designs can be done using basic extrude and sketch functions to create different geometry. PTC Creo is an easy tool to use for this purpose. Using PTC’s training materials novices ...

3D Printing for FIRST Teams Authors: Kari Karwedsky, PTC , and Colm Prendergast, Mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1965 3D Printing Background As with all manufacturing processes it is important to understand the limitations of the materials and equipment that you are using when you are doing your initial designs in PTC Creo . The 3D printing process is no different. The following sections will introduce you to a 3D printing workflow and will identify some of the potentials issues that you may encounter during the process. At each step along the way useful tip-and-tricks will be shared to make the process more predictable. Like any manufacturing process, when you are producing a lot of parts, yield and repeatability are important.  Maximizing Yield and Repeatability makes any manufacturing process more efficient and predictable. If you have good yield and repeatability your process for making parts will be more predictable and will allow for minimal use of materials. The ...