3D Printing and Logo Guide

3D Printing Extra Credit

The 3D printing extra credit is given for designing your company logo in any CAD (Computer Aided Design) software of your choice and having it approved for printing by a 3D printing specialist. Your logo will then be printed on a first come first served basis (If EG cannot print your design due to time or material constraints you will not be penalized).

Specifications

• Must be 2 colors
• Maximum material usage 15 grams total
• Logo’s must be integrated with you project is some way
  • Pin worn during final presentation
  • Used as a part of your SLS model
  • Attached to robot during commissioning video
    • Add provided Lego technic beam model to your part to allow it to be connected to your robot (in important downloads)
• Must be original content
• Submitted by Milestone 3

Software

To design your logo you will need any CAD software as well as Makerbot Desktop Software. There are many options for software that can be used, the only necessary feature is that the software can export files as an STL (stereo lithography) extension. Some examples of these pieces of software are:

• Autodesk Inventor – Free student edition
• 123D – Free (Online)
• TinkerCAD – Free (Online)
• Blender – Free (Open source)
• OpenSCAD – Free (Open source)
• Solidworks – Available in NYU computer labs
• Rhinoceros – Free for mac

To make a 2 color design you will need to save your logo in two separate STL files (one for each color). The two files are then imported into Makerbot Desktop aligned and the extruders are selected (For more info see the “Makerbot Desktop Guide”).

Design Considerations

Make a flat bottom: A large flat bottom increases the adhesion between the build platform and the part, keeping the part from shifting around during a print.

Keep overhangs close to 45 degrees: Each layer of a 3D print needs to be supported from below. You can avoid adding additional supports to a print if all the overhanging parts are at no more than a 45 degree angle from vertical.

Avoid thin walls and thin columns: Thin walls and column often do not come out well. The thickness of a thin wall should be a multiple of 0.35mm. Thin columns will usually come out distorted because they melt under the nozzle.