MAT 238_COMPFAB_Week4

This week's assignment was to create a 3D printed object with GCode generated in Grasshopper. We had two options for completing this assignment: by creating a 3D printed textile or by creating our own slicer. I choose the second option because it would be more useful for my future projects.

Rhino, Grasshopper, Ender 3 Pro, Hatchbox blue UV PLA fillament.

The vase design starts from a line subdivided into the desired number, then in each point, there is a circle and we control the circles radius through a graph mapper. The seam and the extra subdivision create the main edges of the case and the twirl between the top an the bottom of the vase. After deciding in the final design, I used the provided python script for the custom slicer. I had to adjust the size and the location of my object several times to get an acceptable result. At first, the object was way too small and the slicer was not working properly, I scale the object, changed the layer height and it was working!

I opened the exported GCode file in NC Viewer and it looked good. I tried to print it but there was some problem starting the design ( the extruder was starting 4mm higher than the starting point!) I generated it again and I also exported one .stl file and imported it in Cura to see what GCode it would produce. I eventually compared the two Gcode files and there was actually a command sending the extruder 4mm higher at a specific point. I removed this command and it worked.

I'm quite satisfied with the final result. Although I feel I need to work more with the custom slicer to see what I could do with objects with an offset.