Abstract
The goal of the independent study is to develop a training module that educates users on how to successfully incorporate 3D printed parts into functional prototypes. To start, online research was conducted on recommended practices for 3D printing of functional prototypes. During this research, I identified 3D printing visualizations that demonstrated these recommended practices and printed them for use in the module. I also researched other academic makerspaces with respect to their 3D printing capabilities and training provided to users. Then, I performed mechanical tests on 3D printed ”dog bone” specimens to characterize the effect of print orientation on the strength and elongation. It was found that the specimens printed in the vertical orientation were significantly weaker than those in the flat and horizontal orientations. This difference based on print orientation is likely due to the vertical specimens’ strengths being reliant on layer adhesion rather than infill pattern. These observations held true for the gyroid specimens as well, but the differences between the print bed angle significantly decreased. Additionally, the overall maximum loads significantly increased for all print orientations, which could be attributed to the gyroid infill being much stronger than the grid infill overall. Finally, I surveyed members of our makerspace about their current understanding and experience with 3D printing. The culmination of the research and experimentation resulted in a training module for the Spartan Light Metal Products Makerspace on functional prototyping with 3D printing. The module itself details various information regarding 3D printing terminology, commonly encountered problems, and ways to address these problems. Included in the module are images of 3D printed visual demonstrations that showcase to users what the terminology means and what the printing capabilities of the printers are.
Document Type
Final Report
Class Name
Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences Independent Study
Date of Submission
12-14-2023
Recommended Citation
Xue, Amy and Okamoto, Ruth, "Successful Functional Prototyping with 3D Printing" (2023). Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study. 253.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mems500/253