Because of Covid-19 and not having an internship for the summer, I decided I would try to create my own projects to apply what I learned in my engineering classes. I knew a 3D printer would help me create the parts I make in Solidworks, PTC Creo, or Fusion360. 

A problem I had to solve was calibrating the printer. I was careful in making sure the frame was square and level to the table. I also spent the time learning how to manually level the printing bed so that the first few layer prints can have good adhesion. These problems taught me about the importance of tolerance and calibration.

​

I leveled the bed by using prints such as the X or 5 squares. I found that if the bed is too close to the novel the material is transparent or with ridges, and if it is too far there are gaps between the filament. You can see this in the close-up photos.

Even after the bed seemed level, I learned some areas of the bed came warped since the first layers would either be transparent (to close to the nozzle) or have gaps (far away from the nozzle). 

​

Skills Learned

• Calibration of equipment

• Proper care for equipment

• Remembering important parameters to print PLA (Bed temperature, nozzle temperature)

• Uploading firmware to prevent thermal runaway