Stream of I3V 12" Build Consciousness

[lakester]

I've been working on a fast path from outline drawing to die tool or cookie-cutter suitable for use with clay pottery.

Inkscape is the tool I use to create the original outlines.

I finally had reason to generate some vector/outline shapes that originated in image data.

The process of line detection or vectorization is imperfect. Depending how one has tuned what are primarily image filters, shapes may be included in the initial vector product that ya don't want in the final product.

Inkscape primarily implements the SVG drawing model.

This means that when you want to crop/clip something out of a drawing..., you effectively create a stored clipping operation.

This does not modify the underlying drawing..., but merely manipulates your view of it.

Part of my "process" involves exporting the drawing to DXF format. Unfortunately, there is no analogous operation that Inkscape understands to produce the "clipping" effect..., so..., Inkscape just simply dumps all vector data to the DXF.

Which means the thing ya didn't want..., ya get anyway.

So..., "word": before you run the "Trace Bitmap" operation in Inkscape..., and if you plan to export it to DXF, then:

• Either be ready to do "edit nodes" prior to the DXF export, or...,
• Try to make sure the image you're vectorizing is as clean as possible.

Heh..., but once you've done that, remember: 3d printing is still pretty dang cool.

[lakester]

So there I was, sitting in the next room, and I hear a soft <snap-tinkle-tinkle> from the direction of the 3d printer sitting in the other room.

I check it out, and, just sitting there, not having done anything for around 48 hours, the PLA filament between the spool and extruder had snapped.

The machine had been in the home position.

I was aware that the PLA had started to become brittle..., but it had been printing OK, so I shrugged and went about business.

What's odd is that the separation point was at a position I would have considered to have the least tension or stress on it of the entire arc of filament between the two end points.

This may be my cue to try one of the hokey re-conditioning methods I've read about, and possibly to get in the habit of zip bagging my PLA spool w/ dessicant during even fairly short periods of non-use.

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In other news..., I keep hitting what seems to be a recurring theme: incompatibilities between various 3d/drafting/drawing/processing systems at the file interchange level.

Every time I find a way I like to do something with software module "A", and want to pass it along for additional processing by module "B", using some file format or another e.g., DXF or STL, nagging problems arise that shoot down the entire effort.

In this case, it would be nice to use FreeCAD's 2D drafting abilities, and perform some additional operations upon the results using OpenSCAD. FreeCAD's OpenSCAD integration isn't really what I'm looking for, or at least it doesn't seem to be (to be honest, I'm not quite sure I get the point of that integration as it now stands..., so maybe I need to give it a harder look to make sure I'm not missing something). I'd much rather treat the two as independent steps in a pipeline rather than try to grok whatever it is that FreeCAD thinks it's trying to accomplish with its OpenSCAD integration.

Sigh..., oh look..., there's a road sign up ahead. "Next Exit: Blender"

Yeah..., I know..., I've said that before. But one of these days Alice..., one of these days...

[lakester]

Not much new to "report"...

Have been playing around w/ Slic3r 1.2.9 a bit. Unfortunately, it's a little prone to seg faults with things that work with 1.1.7.

OTOH..., significant performance work appears to have been done, which puts it more in line with other slicers.

FWIW..., Using 1.2.9's "Repair STL" operation does seem to take a seg-fault-causing STL and successfully turn it into a useable OBJ file.

[lakester]

Here are the first successful results of my attempts to use 3d printing to assist in the production of pottery.

https://plus.google.com/118417197410...ts/jPbPaM8Kttr

Nothing fancy..., yet.

[CoffeeCup]

Hello Lakester. Interesting use you are putting your MakerFarm to. I like it.

The process of line detection or vectorization is imperfect. Depending how one has tuned what are primarily image filters, shapes may be included in the initial vector product that ya don't want in the final product.

I believe I tried using Inkscape for this exact reason at one point when doing some 3D modeling of my motorcycle engine. I'm not 100% positive on that though. I remember doing something similar but it never panned out in the end.

I snapped photos of my engine part and then using Inkscape I tried an automatic vector tracing feature. I believe it wasn't to my satisfactory so I ended up tracing it myself manualy. Later in my 3d modeling program (Blender) I used those vectors to make a 3d Model.

Now I've learned other ways to 3D model using reference images. It's accurate but I'm still learning how to perfect it. Mainly getting good reference photos without perspective is the key. My current plan is to design and 3d print an adjustable iphone cradle i can clamp to my table. Having the ability to adjust the height of my camera lens exactly where i want it and lock it into place will be valuable. I can lock it's height to the center height of the real life object I want to design.

Using this method I'm currently accurately replicating a fluid reservoir cover on my motorcycle.

[lakester]

Hello Lakester. Interesting use you are putting your MakerFarm to. I like it.

Thx!

I believe I tried using Inkscape for this exact reason at one point when doing some 3D modeling of my motorcycle engine. I'm not 100% positive on that though. I remember doing something similar but it never panned out in the end.
....

Yah..., for the target medium, clay, Inkscape is OK. Same as you, when it's something based on an existing image, I'm finding it much easier to just trace it out, and export the resulting DXF. Inkscape is generally good for anything I do freehand as well. Again..., because the target is clay, precision isn't a big concern and all the shapes tend to be fairly simple.

Good luck with the phone cradle!

P.S.: I'm a little envious that you're working with Blender..., just don't know when I'm gonna find the time to learn it...

[lakester]

Long time no update.

I've been running with the original wood y-bed for around a year, and was living with the warping, since it was just missing direct interference with anything.

For a long time the bed had a clicking sound that I could never really isolate or eliminate..., and owing to the warp, the mechanical leveling was at the outer limits of possible.

The clicking and general feeling of "less than a precision instrument" wrt the likely binding of the delrin wheels, and the interest in taking the leveling thing to the next level finally reached a breaking point.

Finally got around to the aluminum bed upgrade.

I'd like to say that when I print something now, the angels sing and people stop me in the street to ask all manner of questions about 3d printing..., but I can't say that.

What I will say is that the y-bed now moves smoothly AND silently. Not much real change in print quality. My hope is that the bed is generally more stable and the manual mesh leveling doesn't have to be done too often.

The next upgrades being planned:

• Rear spool holder (lower the CG of the printer a bit)
• Print a new Wade's extruder assy and mod with PTFE tubing.
  
  • I STILL may go with IBDFV2 someday, but for now, I want the cheapest solution to printing w/ ABS and flexible mat'l on the same machine.
  
  
• PWM/PID driven SSR for HB

That is all.