3D Printing with Linux
Kyle Rankin
Sr. Systems Administrator
Cyan Inc.
Agenda
- What is 3D Printing?
- Types of 3D Printers
- Laser-cut wooden box 3D printers
- RepRap family
- Others
- Linux 3D Printing Software
- Firmware
- Slicers
- User Interface
- Firmware Calibration
- Slicer Calibration
- ABS vs. PLA plastic
- CAD Software
What is 3D Printing?
- Printing three-dimensional objects
- Usually in plastic, but also metals, ceramics, organic matter
- Traditionally used by companies for rapid prototyping
- Traditionally expensive ($15k-$250k+)
- Now available for hobbyists at more reasonable prices ($400-$2000)
- Can get reasonably good-quality prints with home machines
- Sites like thingiverse.com allow people to share 3D designs.
What is 3D Printing?
Plastic Extrusion
- Similar to how a hot glue gun works
- 3D object broken down into individual layers
- Printer extrudes melted plastic layer-by-layer
- Without support material, limits to what you can make
- Bridging and overhangs possible, require well-calibrated machine.
Types of 3D Printers
- Two main categories of hobbyist 3D printers:
- Laser-cut wooden box 3D printers
- RepRap family
- Others
Types of 3D Printers
Laser-cut wooden box 3D printers
- Ultimaker (1194 euros)
- Printer surrounded by laser-cut wooden box
- Print head normally at top, print bed moves down
- More parts = more expensive ($800-$2000).
Types of 3D Printers
Makerbot Replicator
- One of the better-known, most popular brands of 3D printer
- Can have up to two print heads
- Pretty expensive ($1750-$2000).
Types of 3D Printers
RepRap Family
- Community-driven 3D printer designed for self-replication
- Frame is metal rods plus printable plastic parts for gears, frame
- Number of RepRap design generations
- Constantly being improved by the community.
Types of 3D Printers
Prusa Mendel
- Current most popular RepRap design
- Still constantly being improved
- Makergear Prusa kit $825
- Self-sourced $400-$600.
Types of 3D Printers
Printrbot
- RepRap derivative designed by Brook Drumm
- Designed to be simpler, cheaper than Prusa
- Has variants with lasercut frames, larger build areas
- Base printrbot kit $550.
Types of 3D Printers
Others
- Quantum ORD bot pictured, pre-orders around $300 for hardware kit
- Mendel Max, UP! printer, others based off extruded aluminum.
Linux 3D Printing Software
- Both the hardware and the software is open source
- Three main classes of software you need:
- Firmware
- Slicer
- User Interface
Firmware
- Software that runs on the circuit board
- Controls stepper motors, heaters, all printer hardware
- Translates gcode input into physical actions (stepper movements etc)
- Marlin and Sprinter current popular firmware for RepRappers
- Use arduino software to tweak settings
- Calibrate steps/mm, stepper acceleration, print bed size, etc.
Slicers
- Takes 3D drawing and slices into individual layers, converts to gcode
- Where you calibrate printer run time settings
- Temperatures, printer speeds, filament sizes, etc
- Slicer software: Slic3r, Repsnapper, Skeinforge.
User Interface
- Allows you to control the printer via a GUI or command line
- Lets you home the printer, set temperatures, send gcode to the printer
- Interfaces with slicers to load raw gcode or .stl files
- Lets you preview 3D designs and view print progress
- Popular UIs: ReplicatorG, Printrun (Pronterface).
Firmware Calibration
- Essentially confirm that when you say 'move 100mm' it moves exactly 100mm
- Send printer instructions, measure results, and compare/adjust firmware settings accordingly
- Once set properly, should be able to leave it alone
- Examples.
Slicer Calibration
- Change printer behavior and temperatures for specific print runs
- Adjust temperatures, printer speeds, filament sizes
- All filament can be different, require different settings
- Can set up duplicate objects on the same print run
- Examples.
ABS vs. PLA plastic
ABS
- Extrudes at 200-250C
- Works best with heated print bed
- Cools faster, easier to calibrate with
- Puts off fumes (possibly toxic)
- Less brittle than PLA.
ABS vs. PLA plastic
PLA
- Extrudes at 160-200C
- Biodegradable/compostable, made from corn and sugar cane
- Heated bed not necessary, PET tape works
- Cools slower, fast prints may require fan
- Safe, pleasant fumes (smells like pancakes)
- A bit tougher to calibrate (for me at least).
CAD Software
- Lots of open source options
- Blender: High-powered, large learning curve, better for video
- FreeCAD: GUI mouse-based CAD software
- OpenSCAD: CAD software with its own programming language, ideal for building parts
- The winner: OpenSCAD for making/replicating parts
- Google Sketchup works in WINE, easy to use, not open source