3D Printing Projects

Book description

Even if you've never touched a 3D printer, these projects will excite and empower you to learn new skills, extend your current abilities, and awaken your creative impulses. Each project uses a unique combination of electronics, hand assembly techniques, custom 3D-printed parts, and software, while teaching you how to think through and execute your own ideas.

Written by the founder of Printrbot, his staff, and veteran DIY authors, this book of projects exemplifies the broad range of highly personalized, limit-pushing project possibilities of 3D printing when combined with affordable electronic components and materials.

In Make: 3D Printing Projects, you'll:

  • Print and assemble a modular lamp that's suitable for beginners--and quickly gets you incorporating electronics into 3D-printed structures.
  • Learn about RC vehicles by fabricating--and driving--your own sleek, shiny, and fast Inverted Trike.
  • Model a 1950s-style Raygun Pen through a step-by-step primer on how to augment an existing object through rapid prototyping.
  • Fabricate a fully functional, battery-powered screwdriver, while learning how to tear down and reconstruct your own tools.
  • Get hands-on with animatronics by building your own set of life-like mechanical eyes.
  • Make a Raspberry Pi robot that rides a monorail of string, can turn corners, runs its own web server, streams video, and is remote-controlled from your phone.
  • Build and customize a bubble-blowing robot, flower watering contraption, and a DIY camera gimbal.

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Table of contents

  1. Preface
    1. What You Need to Know
    2. Project Files and Code
    3. How This Book Is Organized
    4. About the Authors
    5. Conventions Used in This Book
    6. Using Code Examples
    7. Safari® Books Online
    8. How to Contact Us
  2. 1. LAMP3D
    1. Parts, Tools, and Files
    2. Get Your Parts Printing!
    3. Wiring the Barrel Jack
    4. Add the LED Driver to the Barrel Jack
    5. Solder Wires to the LED
    6. Assemble the Arm
    7. Connect the Base
    8. Final Electronics Assembly
    9. Finishing Up
    10. Possible Upgrades and Improvements
  3. 2. 1950s Raygun Pen
    1. Parts, Tools, and Files
    2. Brainstorming the Raygun Pen
    3. Selecting a Pen
    4. Prototyping the Grip
      1. Paper Sketch to SVG conversion
      2. Importing into Tinkercad
      3. Rescaling and Adjusting the Imported SVG
      4. Testing the Prototype
    5. Developing the NeoPixel Shell
    6. Prototyping the Circuit
      1. Solder the PCB Headers
    7. NeoPixel Animation
      1. Download the Code
      2. Install the NeoPixel Library
      3. NeoPixel Ring Code
    8. Connect the NeoPixel Ring
    9. Breadboard the Circuit
      1. Attach Jumpers to the Battery Box
      2. Power, Ground and PCB Connections
      3. Pen Test
    10. Transferring the Circuit
      1. Hardwire the Headers
      2. Spray-Paint the Mint Tin
      3. Trace the Base
      4. Cut the Wiring Holes
      5. Begin Inserting Components into the Tin
    11. Final Electronics Assembly
      1. Add the Grip
    12. Light It Up!
    13. Upgrades and Improvements
  4. 3. Two-Axis Camera Gimbal
    1. Parts, Tools, and Files
    2. Tilt Body Assembly
      1. Mount the IMU Board
      2. Insert the Motor
      3. Seat the Bearing
    3. Roll Body Assembly
      1. Route the Motor Wires
      2. Secure the Motor Mount
      3. Secure the Tilt/Roll Body Assembly
    4. Base and Roll Motor Mount Assembly
    5. Final Assembly and Balancing
    6. Electronics Setup
      1. Solder the Headers
      2. Plug in the IMU Board
      3. Connect the Motors
      4. Mount the Board
    7. Software Configuration
      1. Install the Software
      2. Install the VCP Drivers
      3. Open the SimpleBGC GUI
      4. Add the Battery
      5. Connect and Begin Calibration
      6. Modify the Controller Settings
  5. 4. BubbleBot
    1. Parts, Tools, and Files
    2. Fabricate the Chassis
    3. Assemble the Chassis
    4. Paint the Chassis
    5. Assemble the Fan Mount
    6. Attach Fan to Chassis
    7. Attach the Stepper
    8. Attach the Shaft Coupler to the Axle
    9. Make the Bubble Solution Reservoir
    10. Print the Bubble Wand
    11. Assemble the Bubble Wand
    12. Attach the Bubble Wand
    13. Solder the Headers
    14. Solder the Stepper Wires
    15. Add Power Connections
    16. Connect the Sensor
    17. Add the Fan
    18. Download and Customize the Code
  6. 5. DDriver Rechargeable Screwdriver
    1. Parts, Tools, and Files
    2. Screwdriver Teardown: Can I Fix It?
      1. Exploring the Innards
      2. Can I Just Replace the Motor?
    3. We Can Rebuild It!
      1. Solder Wires to the Breakout
      2. Prep the Plastic Parts
    4. Light-Pipe Upgrade (Optional)
    5. Add the Electronics
    6. DPDT Switch Buttons!
  7. 6. Animatronic Eyes
    1. Parts, Tools, and Files
    2. 3D Printable Files
    3. Build and Assemble the Link Wires
      1. Bend Wire with Pliers
      2. Cut Wire to Length
      3. Repeat for Different Lengths
      4. Glue the straight 80mm wires to Micro Ball Links
    4. Assemble the Eyeball Gimbal
      1. Connect the “L”-Shaped Links to the Drive Bars
      2. Install the Ball Studs into the Eyelids
      3. Screw the Up/Down Drive Bar to the E-Bar
      4. Install the Outer Gimbal Rings
    5. Assemble the Eyeballs
    6. Install the Servos
    7. Build the Servo Horns
    8. Set Up the Electronics
      1. Assemble the Servo Motor Shield
      2. Connect the Servo Shield to the Receiver
    9. Load the Code
      1. Final Connections
    10. Installing and Centering the Servo Horns
      1. Eye Servo Horn Adjustments
      2. Adjusting the Offset Values in Code
      3. Eyelid Servo Horn Adjustments
      4. Install Eyelids
      5. Test the Eyes
    11. Enjoy Your Accomplishment!
  8. 7. Inverted Trike RC
    1. Parts, Tools, and Files
    2. Printing Tips and Profiles
      1. Baseline Settings
    3. Front Wheel Assembly
    4. Front Steering Assembly
    5. Back Wheel Assembly
    6. Frame Assembly
    7. Steering Components
      1. Mount the Steering Servo
      2. Insert the Shock Absorbers
    8. Electronics
      1. Insert the Speed Controller
      2. Connect the Wires
      3. Adding the Receiver
    9. Programming and Usage
    10. Extras
  9. 8. Skycam
    1. Parts, Tools, and Files
    2. Assemble the Top Plate
      1. Attach Switches
      2. Mount the servos
      3. Add the Wheels
    3. Raspberry PI SD Software Setup
    4. Install Google Coder for Raspberry Pi
      1. Google Coder
      2. Coder Interface
    5. Install Pi-Blaster on Your Raspberry Pi
    6. Install MJPG-Streamer and Enable Your Camera
    7. Assemble the Midsection
      1. Mount the Raspberry Pi
    8. Add the Endstops
    9. Camera Assembly
      1. Add the Pan/Tilt Servos
      2. Assemble the Camera Case
      3. Mount the camera tilt arm
    10. Attach the Camera to the Bottom Plate
      1. Test Fit
      2. Connect Pi Camera
    11. Electronics!
    12. Power and Signal
      1. Power/Regulator Board
      2. Signal Board
    13. Connect the Pi
    14. Test the Software Controls
  10. 9. Chauncey: The Wrylon Robotical Flower Care Robot
    1. Files, Parts, and Tools
    2. Fabrication Phases
    3. Print and Assemble the Legs and Feet
    4. Print the Body
    5. Assemble the Body
      1. Glue and Friction-Weld the Body
      2. Assemble the Leg Sockets
      3. Add the Eye
      4. Complete the Deck Rim, Railing, Deck, and Stovepipe
      5. Test-Fit the Legs
    6. Create the Watering Contraption
      1. Mount the Watering Can
    7. Electro-Mechanical Prep
    8. Painting
    9. Electro-Mechanical and Software Overview
      1. Install the Arduino IDE
      2. Install the Motor Shield Library
      3. Chauncey’s Code
    10. Hardware Assembly
      1. Power LED
      2. Alert LED
      3. Moisture Sensor Probes
      4. Heat and Bend the Tubing
      5. Solder the Probe Wires
      6. Moisture Sensor Circuit
      7. The Motor
    11. Programming the Arduino
      1. Upload the Code
      2. Place the Electronics
    12. Brain Implant and Assembly
    13. Testing/Deployment
    14. Upgrades
  11. A. Installing Arduino Libraries
    1. Step 1: Access the Library Manager
    2. Step 2: Search
    3. Step 3: Install and Restart
  12. Index

Product information

  • Title: 3D Printing Projects
  • Author(s): Brook Drumm, James Floyd Kelly, Rick Winscot, John Edgar Park, John Baichtal, Brian Roe, Nick Ernst, Steven Bolin, Caleb Cotter
  • Release date: October 2015
  • Publisher(s): Make: Community
  • ISBN: 9781457187209