For this assignment, you’ll install and start learning Autodesk Fusion 360, a free (for us!) professional-level 3D modeling program.

Learning objectives

The idea behind this assignment is to introduce you to 3D modeling and get you comfortable with the idea of designing for 3D printing.

Deliverables

See the notes below for details on each deliverable, including how to turn them in, as well as for grading criteria.

1. An interesting design for a wearable object that is three-dimensional and 3D-printable. Please note the particular requirement under Turning in of adding your name to the design file.
2. The object you designed printed out on a 3D printer.
3. Several high-quality photographs of your printed object from different angles.

What to do

Installation

First, you’ll need to install Fusion. Visit the page for education to find out what to do; you’ll have to create an account. Problems? Discuss on Slack!

Next, follow the instructions on this page to set the default modeling orientation to make 3D printing easier. (You’ll need to make a new file after you do this to make it work.)

Other programs you will want to install are Meshmixer and LulzBot Cura.

Setting up Cura

We’ll set up three different printers in Cura for the three printers in the lab.

LulzBot Mini

1. Start Cura; It will ask you which kind of printer you have.
2. Select “LulzBot Mini”. Click Next.
3. Select “Standard LulzBot Mini”. Click Finish.

LulzBot Taz 4

1. From the “Machine” menu, select “Add new machine”.
2. Select “LulzBot TAZ 4 or 5”. Click Next.
3. Select “Stock TAZ 4 (PET & v1)”. Click Finish.

Qidi X-One

1. Save this file to your computer.
2. From the “Machine” menu, select “Add new machine”.
3. Select “Other Printers”. Click Next.
4. On the next screen, with the list of printers, select “Other (Ex: RepRap, MakerBot, Witbox)”. Click Next.
5. On the next screen, select “julia”. click Next.
6. Click Finish.
7. Select the Machine menu, then “Machine settings”.
8. Change the following three settings to 150:
   • “Maximum width (mm)”
   • “Maximum depth (mm)”
   • “Maximum height (mm)”
9. Ensure that the “Heated bed” checkbox is activated.
10. Click “Change machine name” and change the name to “Qidi X-One”.
11. Click “Ok”.
12. From the “File” menu, select “Open Profile”. Select the Qidi_X_One_Profile.ini file you saved earlier.

Learning

Now, you’ll need to learn how to use Fusion.

• Watch and follow along in tutorials:
  • At Learn Fusion 360 in 60 Minutes, watch at least:
    • Foundational Concepts (captioned)
    • Sketch (captioned)
    • Model (captioned)
  • Fusion 360 for Beginners Webinar (captioned)
  • Designing an Arduino Uno Enclosure with Fusion 360 (captioned)
• Text-based help is also available at the Fusion 360 help site; a good place to start is Getting to Know Fusion 360.

Design assignment

Your goal is to design something that you can 3D print that is wearable. The thing you design must adhere to the following requirements.

• 3D-printable:
  • your design should be informed by the things we discussed in class about what makes an object able to be printed or not; and
  • your actual printed object should be essentially identical to your design (that is, the features in the design you turned in should show up in the object you turn in).
• Three-dimensional: your design and printed object should not be something that would be (easily) producable on the laser cutter, but should take full advantage of the 3D printer’s ability to make 3D objects.
• Wearable: your design must be something wearable. It can strap on your wrist, hang around your neck, slip on your finger, go through a buttonhole, clip on your pocket, hang from your ear, or be wearable in some other way.
• Interesting and/or creative: don’t turn in something that you spent 10 minutes on. I’ll be able to tell! Use your creativity—get inspired by objects online or in the world.

Printing

You should print your design to turn in. You’ll want to do some test prints early to ensure that you are able to print your object, and to avoid a rush to the printers as the deadline approaches.

Here are some tips for printing:

• Pay attention to overhangs. As we discussed in class, too much overhang will cause your print to fail. We also talked about methods to check before you print whether you have too much overhang; for example, Meshmixer will analyze the amount of overhang you have.
• Check the slice preview. By using the “Layers” view option in Cura, you can look at the layers of your print job—make sure it looks correct!
• Check the estimated time. Cura isn’t very good at estimating time to print, but it can give you a rough lower bound; multiplying by 1.5 or 2 will give you a better idea. Make sure your print job isn’t going to take 8 hours! If it is, try making your object smaller or using less infill.

Saving an STL file from Fusion 360

In order to print your object, you’ll need to send it to Cura. First, in Fusion, select the “Make” button in the toolbar. This should bring up a little window labeled “3D print”. It defaults to being in selection mode; you will need to select the object(s) you want to print. The easiest method is to open the “Bodies” folder on the left and select your object that way.

Make sure that the “Send to 3D Print Utility” box is not checked. Click “OK” and you’ll be able to save the file.

Using Cura

In Cura, you can click the “Load Model” button to load your STL file. It will automatically slice the model for you; you can click the “View Mode” button in the upper-left to change to the “Layers” view. You can also change to “Overhang” view to see an analysis of overhang.

Once you’re ready to print, select the “Save gcode” button and save the .gcode file.

Printing

To print on the Qidi, you’ll need to get the SD card from the left side of the printer and put your file on it. When you put the card back in, note that it goes in upside-down! Then navigate through the menu to find your gcode file and print.

To print on the LulzBot printers, you’ll use a web interface. The LulzBot Mini’s site is http://129.21.24.150/ and the Taz 4’s site is http://129.21.24.150:8080/. You’ll need to login; the username and password are the same for both printers and are on a label stuck to the Mini’s frame.

Once you log in, you can upload your .gcode file with the blue “Upload” button on the bottom left. It will appear in the list of files above that button; you can then select the tiny button that looks like a printer () next to the file, which should load the file and start printing. The “Control” tab will show the camera view of the printer.

Photographing

Take and turn in several high-quality photographs (not crooked, in focus) illustrating how your design is worn.

Turning in

You’ll show your final output object in class on the due date. You should turn in your photographs and design file via direct message to me in Slack by 1:59 pm on the due date.

To turn in your design file, you will do two things. You will add your name to the file, and you will export it.

To add your name to the file, go to the Sketch drop-down menu and select “Text”. Then pick a plane and click it. Type your name. Save the file.

To export, follow the instructions here for generating a .f3d file. Rename it according to the instructions below and send it to me in a direct message.

Please name your files 3d_printing-<yourname>.<ext>, replacing <yourname> with your name and <ext> with your file extension. For example, 3d_printing-dan.jpg. If you have more than one file of a type, please add a number, as in 3d_printing-dan01.jpg.

Grading

See the syllabus for how much this assignment contributes to your final grade. The grade for this assignment is determined as follows:

• Printable: printed object looks very close to design (20%)
• 3D: design/object is actually 3D (20%)
• Wearable: object is wearable (20%)
• Creativity: design is interesting/creative (30%)
• Photos: photos are good-quality and show how design is wearable (10%)