So one of the downside of printing PPE on a home 3D printer is speed. the machine can only extrude so much plastic so fast so how do you speed up the process? Well one option is using GCODE – G-code is a language that humans use to tell a machine how to do something. With 3D printing, g-code contains commands to move parts within the printer. G-code consists of G- and M-commands that have an assigned movement or action. So with GCODE we can get the machine to push off the printed part and then start printing again.
The process worked by adding Gcode into the ending stage of the print and then repeating the printing GCODE. However, the heated bed had to be cooled prior to the print being removed from the bed and this is hit and miss. If you want to attempt this it can be seen here:
Due to the inconsistency with this I wanted to find a better way of producing the shields so I decided to try stacking them. You can fit two shields on the print bed but this still takes time to print.
So I decided to adapt and duplicate the model in Fusion 360; leaving an air gap between each model. This should allow the masks to be printed in stacks and easily separated. The process is straightforward: import the standard STL available here: https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/25857-prusa-face-shield, you then have to convert the mesh to a brep and them it is a simple task of move and copy the mesh on the z height using 5.35mm to leave a gap between each frame and doing this for the amount of frames you need.
You can then add this to your slicing software to be able to prepare for printing. This is a good way to produce multiple models quickly and easily without messing around with GCODE.
Gcode: G1 X90 Y225 Z20 F3000; Move up and back M300 S3520 P200;A7 M300 S4698.63 P200;D8 M300 S5274.04 P200;E8 M300 S6271.93 P200;G8 G1 X90 Y225 Z1 F3000; lower G1 X90 Y1 Z1 2000; Remove print G1 X90 Y30 Z1 8000; shake it G1 X90 Y1 Z1 8000; shake it G1 X90 Y30 Z1 8000; shake it G1 X90 Y120 Z1 8000; Drop It G28 ;Home G92 E0 ;Reset Extruder G1 Z2.0 F3000 ;Move Z Axis up Shield STL: https://3dverkstan.se/protective-visor/
I am currently printing a batch of face shields for the Aldingbourne trust Trust:
If you would like to support this en-devour please consider a small donation towards PLA filament at go fund me link: gf.me/u/xwb4dr or if you have your own printer join in the cause through 3DCrowd uk or independently. Please subscribe to my YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/ahcmeuk and follow on Instagram: @ahcmeuk
Tags: #covid19 #ppe #faceshields #stayhomestaysafe #nhs #nhssuperheroes #lockdown #lockdown2020 #ppeshortage #coronavirusoutbreak #pandemic #outbreak #3dprinting #3dprint #3dprintedppe
