Author: Henry Welch

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Bambu Labs X1 3D Printer

Bambu Labs X1 3D printer

  1. Export your 3D file to STL or 3MF
  2. Slice the exported file in Bambu Studios and upload to a micro SD card. Use the following settings:  Bambu Lab X1 Carbon 0.4 nozzle – Textured PEI Plate – Generic PLA
  3. Turn on the machine
  4. Put the SD card in the machine.
  5. Navigate through the touch screen and select your file.
  6. Wait with the printer until the first layer is complete before leaving the machine.
  7. Come back to remove your print from the print bed once complete.

Location:  ONA
Cost: Free
Area: 250x225mm
Height: 250mm

PLA filament, 1.75mm:
White, grey, black and beige – provided by the Raplab.

  • Download the Bambu studio software onto your personal computer.
  • Click on the prepare button. (1)
  • Select the correct printer and plate type (2): Bambu Lab X1 Carbon 0.4mm nozzle + Textured PEI Plate
  • Select the correct filament settings (3): Generic PLA for all 4 selections. Colours: 1.White 2.Grey 3. Black 4. Beige
  • Import your model by pressing the add button. (4) The model can be altered with the use of buttons under the same toolbar. Such as “scale”, “rotate” and “lay on face”.
  •  Right click on your model and select “Change Filament” to select the desired colour of your model.
  • Select a  preset. (5) “0.2mm Standard @BBL X1C” is the most commonly used setting. Keep in mind that the lower the layer height the longer the print will take to finish and may be more prone to failing.
  • The settings can then be further adjusted under the “Quality”, “Strength”, “Support”, and “Others” tabs.
  • If your model has overhanging parts, be sure to select “Enable supports” (6)
  • Once happy with the settings, click the Slice plate button (7)
  • Check the print time. (1) Bare in mind that the machines will be turned off at closing time. 
  • Analyse the model using the sliders (2) & (3).
  • Adjust the previously made print settings if needed.
  •  Press “slice plate” again if changes are made.
  • Click the dropdown arrow (4) and select “Export all sliced file”. Then click on the “Export all sliced file” button (4).  
  • Save the file to a Micro SD card.
  • Press the standby button to turn on the machine and place the SD card into the card terminal.

Touch the folder icon on the touch screen.

Select the SD card icon and followed by your file

Touch the PLA icon to make a last minute change to color if needed.

Then touch print now.

 

Wait with the machine until the first layer is complete. Press the stop button if something goes wrong.

If all goes well. Set a timer on your phone to know when to pick up your print.

  • Lift out the build plate and bend slightly to remove the print
  • Pick off any print material stuck to the build plate with the plastic scraper
  • Ensure there is no residue on the heat bed before placing the build plate back. Make sure it is positioned in the correct orientation.
  • Remove your SD card
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Small Vacuum Former

Small Vacuum Former

Quick start video found here

  1. Turn on the machine by turning the right hand knob to the desired temperature and wait for the flashing yellow light to turn green
  2. Sandwich your material in between the trays and clip together using the handles
  3. Press the frames into upper position
  4. Place mold on the vacuum bed
  5. Check the plasticity of the material by eye
  6. Press the frames into the lower position to trigger the vacuum
  7. Unclip the traps and remove you part 
  8. Turn off the machine
  • Cost: free
  • Size 200mmx200mm
  • No undercut on the mold
  • PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol)
  • PS (Polystyren / Polystyrol)
  • PVC (Polyvinylchlorid)
  • PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylat (Plexiglas, Acrylglas))
  • PE (Polyethylen)
  • 0.3mm to 2mm thick

Material for the mold: (hear resistant material)

  • Poly
  • Metal
  • wood
  • foam (thermoset)
  • Plaster

Tutorial

  1.  
Helpful quick start video found here
 
    1. Turn on the machine by turning the temperature knob (1) to your desired setting. We would suggest using the setting “5”.
    2. Wait for the heater (2) to reach temperature. The flashing yellow light will turn green once this has happened.
    3. Unclip the top tray (4) from the bottom tray (3) by lifting the outer part of the yellow handles (5).
    4. Lift the upper tray (4) and place your material underneath on top of the lower tray (3). 
    5. Clip the trays together with material in between. This can be done by applying downwards pressure on the trays followed by clipping the outer yellow handles downwards.
    6. Use the inner part of the yellow handles to press both trays and material into the upper position. It should lock in place about 5cm away from the heater.
    7. Place your mold on the vacuum bed (6)
    8. Wait for the material to heat up. Keep an eye on it to check on the plasticity. Once the material droops downwards by about 5cm it is ready.
    9. If you have to produce many of the same pieces, it may be a good idea to use your phone stopwatch check long your material takes to reach the optimal plasticity.  Then the timer for the machine can be used.
    10. Use the yellow handle to press the both trays downwards which will trigger the vacuum bed.
    11. Wait 10 seconds and then remove your material and mold.
    12. Turn off the machine
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Tower

Parametric Tower

Scale: 1:1000
Material: 4mm PMMA (Floors), 10mm PMMA (Core)

Installing Rhino3D and Grasshopper

Please refer to this page for downloading and installing Rhino and Grasshopper as well as an in-depth introduction to Rhino and Grasshopper. 
 

Download the Grasshopper Definition

After successfully installing the software you can download the Grasshopper definition for this tutorial here.

Individual Design Exploration

  1. Open Rhino7 and load the grasshopper file.
  2. Use the sliders in the four pink boxes to adjust the overall shape of the tower (Fig. 1).
  3. Explore your design options in realtime in the Rhino viewport (Fig 3).
  4. Once you are done designing double click the design / fabrication toggle in the pink bubble.
  5. Right-click the component “Lasercurves” and press “bake” to generate the curves for laser-cutting.
Optional: Measure your material thickness and adjust drawings accordingly!

Laser-Cutting Preparation

  1. Go to top-view in Rhino and print to PDF (Ctrl+P).
  2. Check your document size and line weight according to the specifications.
    (Use the how to export a PDF guide for Rhino if you run into any problems)

Making

  1. Download the PDF-File for the core and the base form here!
  2. Laser-cut both files (the one you created (4mm) and the one you downloaded (10mm)).
  3. Sand the 10mm core with 150 grit sandpaper to create a translucent matte finish.
  4. Square off one end of the core using the disk sander. 
  5. Use a paintbrush and dichloromethane to adhere your core to the base
    (the part with the engraved square)

Assembly

  1. Slide your laser-cut pieces down the core.
  2. Once all the pieces are on the core, score a line on the core to indicate the full height.
  3. Remove some of your floors and cut your core to size
    (leaving an extra 0.5mm or so)
  4. Slide the floors back onto the core except one. Use the Sanding jig, provided with the core and base PDF file to sand your core to the final size.
  5. Add your final parts to the core

FINISHED!

Examples