Introduction: Type a Machines 3D Printing Small Letters
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About: Based in San Francisco I strive to incorporate custom lettering in the art that I design, print, and make.
Here is a test print from a thingiverse download that I scaled in KiSSlicer to reduce it by about 80% thinking that would speed up the print. For the most part the scale by x feature produced a solid product, but the letters are a bit hard to read. The letters from the test piece read ADASIA (thank you to the designer).
I made it at Techshop http://techshop.ws
Submitted by SFlettering for the Instructables Sponsorship Program
I made it at Techshop http://techshop.ws
Submitted by SFlettering for the Instructables Sponsorship Program
Step 1: Starting the Print
Here the raft layer is already in place and I am starting to move forward into the print process and approach the layer that has the letters. This test also includes a raft layer which appears almost too large and was difficult to remove.
Check out step 4 where I show how much material was removed.
Check out step 4 where I show how much material was removed.
Step 2: Printing the Letters
Here the printer is starting to print the letters and at this point it is smooth process and if you know the text it is easy to read. I think that the quality of the text given that I shrunk the original model down and this is early in my learning curve produced an excellent sample print for testing out how to print letters with a 3D printer.
Step 3: Final Print With Raft Skirt
After printing a choosing to use a raft layer in SKIRT style from the image you can see how much material needs to be removed. I found that both a pliers and a wire cutter where required to remove 90% of the raft layer and that is about all I was able to remove from the final piece without disturbing the bottom layer.
Step 4: Removing the Raft
To remove the raft layer I found 2 main methods worked and produced about the same result.
Method 1 is to simply cut it off with a wire cutter
Method 2 which worked better was to bend the plastic away from the piece and then cut the plastic that starts to break away off from the final print with the wire cutter.
A slow a methodical approach was required. At one point I pulled too hard on the raft and damaged the bottom layer of the print although you can not see the error from the top view
Method 1 is to simply cut it off with a wire cutter
Method 2 which worked better was to bend the plastic away from the piece and then cut the plastic that starts to break away off from the final print with the wire cutter.
A slow a methodical approach was required. At one point I pulled too hard on the raft and damaged the bottom layer of the print although you can not see the error from the top view
Step 5: "weeding" Your 3D Print - Raft Removal and Extra PLA
In my recent experience it is normal to have a decent amount of waste PLA. In theory some day we can recycle the excess PLA into a new spool, but at this level it was simply thrown away. The raft removal material is from more than 1 print.
Step 6: Final Item 3D Printed
After cleaning up the final piece this is my complete 2nd print on the Type A Machine Series 1 printer.
I think that the quality of the print is highly influenced by the subtle selection of print settings that require some trial and error to understand. This print used all default settings in addition to a scale by x value of 80%.
I think that the quality of the print is highly influenced by the subtle selection of print settings that require some trial and error to understand. This print used all default settings in addition to a scale by x value of 80%.