Digital Fabrication

An Introduction to 3D Printing,

Laser Cutting and CNC Milling

By the end

• Digital Manufacture, what’s that?

• What you can make, understand how

• Where to start with designing

• How to get it made

• Education

• Invention

• Tool Access

What is Digital Fabrication?• CAD > Fab

• Machine is controlled digitally

(computers)

Manual skills becomes computer skills

• Manual: Manual Lathe

• CNC: CNC Lathe

• What does the difference mean?

What uses Digital Fabrication?

Revolution is afoot

• Removes

barrier

• No stock

• Customisable

• Complexity is

free

Tools Available to You

• Laser Cutter

• 3D Printing

• CNC Machining

Laser Cutting

Raster Engrave + Vector Cut

How it fits in

• Paper, plastic, wood, metal

• Limits (2D, thickness, materials)

• Cards, cogs, jewelry, rapid mock

• Great for: 2D, engraving, snap

together, precise cuts, ~ zero tool

diameter, kerf manipulation

Think about…

• Material burns

• Material warping

• Kerf

3D Printing

How it works

Types

• Extrusion (plastics, concrete)

• Powder (high detail plastics, sandstone)

• Liquid (plastic)

• Sinter (Al, Ti)

When to use 3D printing?

• Internal geometry

• Multiple parts

• Prototyping

Think about…

• Overhangs + supports

• Bed lift

• Material selection

• Infill

CNC Milling

• Like 3D printing but ‘Subtractive’

Details on CNC

• 2.5D to 5D

• Bits, routing, drill, tap

• Plastic, wood, metal, glass

When to use it

• Harder materials

• 3D, highly accurate

• Dies

Think about…

• Tool thickness (internal corners)

• Number of part rotations

Preparing your designs

• Half design, half for machine

Laser Cutting - Rules

• Recognise Cut vs Raster

– Vector + Red + hairline = cut

– Image or thicker + not red = raster

• Files

– SVG, AI, EPS, DXF (vector capable)

– Not JPEG, PNG etc (unless only raster)

Laser Cutting – Software Recommendations

• Adobe Illustrator (designer, $$)

• Inkscape (general, free)

• Fusion 360 (accurate, varies free to $25/m)

3D Printer – Rules

• Accepts 3D models

– STL or OBJ

• Careful with overhangs

3D Printer – Software Recommendations

• Autocad Fusion 360 (parametric)

• Blender (freeform, free)

• Sketchup (free, plugin to STL)

CNC Milling – Rules

• Accepts 3D models

– STL, OBJ, DXF

• Think of # dimensions needed

• Think of tool diameter (remove

square internal corners)

• CAD to CAM cost (feeds + speeds)

CNC Milling – Software Recommendations

• Autocad Fusion 360 (recommend)

• Blender (freeform, free)

• Sketchup (free, plugin to STL)

Getting it made – Finding Suppliers

• http://misformaker.com.au/equipmen

t-access-locations

/

• Maker space coming soon

• Or Email and we connect you with

the right one

(hello@misformaker.com.au)

Thank you gift

Each person receives:

• $15 off fabrication through M4M

• Obligation free consultation

• Discount on future presentations

• Discount on ‘Custom Earrings’

fin

Any questions, comments…

Email: hello@misformaker.com.au

Or just ask now!

Thank you

Future

• Maker Space

• Electronics Class

• 3D Modeling software class