Clay 3D Printer Modification
Project type
Experience attained
Undergraduate Research
Year
Summer 2021
Solidwork Modeling, Additive manufacturing (FDM and SLA), Matlab Programming,Matlab App designer,Circuit design ,Use of Relays, speed controllers,buck converters, Machine Shop Tool use and Design for Machining
The 3D Potter 9 Pro 3D printer is designed to print clay using a cartridge and linear ram that extrude the material through a nozzle. The primary goal of this project is to minimize the time required for loading and unloading the material. The printer is intended to be used to study the printability of cementitious mixes, so minimizing the time the mix spends in the cartridge to harden is critical. The secondary goal of this project is to introduce a force measuring system to obtain data on the hardening behavior of the mix over the print time.
After several design iterations, it was determined that adding a drill motor to the printer assembly would be beneficial. The manufacturer's videos demonstrated the use of a drill motor for loading and unloading material, but this method required the disassembly of the cartridge extrusion assembly from the gantry and extrusion motor. To address this inconvenience, a permanent drill motor was installed on a custom linear guide above the extruder motor. This modification allows for the easy loading and unloading of material without the need for disassembly, thereby improving the functionality and efficiency of the printer
In order to facilitate the easy retraction of the ram without the need for disassembling the motor, it was necessary to divide the cartridge assembly into two distinct sections. Section A is permanently attached to both the gantry and extrusion motor, while section B allows for easy loading of material. While this configuration does have a limited material capacity, it meets the necessary requirements for our intended use of the printer. A render of the modifications is provided below for further clarity.
Primary Modification:
Secondary Modification:
Initially, the 3D printer did not have a mechanism for measuring the force exerted by the extrusion motor on the material mix. To remedy this, a force sensing resistor (FSR402) was installed on the underside of the piston, with a force range of 10 N to 100 N. This sensor was used in conjunction with an Arduino UNO and a MATLAB app to control and record the data from the drill motor. In addition, a model of the nozzle carriage was designed and printed on an SLA printer, enabling the use of a variety of nozzle sizes and providing the ability to easily load and unload multiple section B cartridges.
It is important to note that all of these modifications can be easily updated or removed for future use, as they do not affect the integrity of the printer's original components. The drill motor and sensor are both independently controlled apart from the printer, simplifying troubleshooting and maintenance. These modifications are designed to enhance the functionality of the printer without compromising its original intended design.
