3. 3D printing#

Let the adventure continue and turn my creations into real objects with the help of a Prusa 3D printer at the FabLab! The mission? To explore the power and limits of 3D printing.

Installing PrusaSlicer#

PrusaSlicer

PrusaSlicer is a slicing software that turns 3D models into instructions for your 3D printer. Think of it as a translator.

Preparing for printing#

I followed this tutorial to prepare the gcode, using a slicing software. Here it is step-by-step :

  1. import a STL file into PrusaSlicer opening the file
  2. make modifications (2) and add a brim (1) if needed changes and brim
  3. Click on slicing slicing
  4. make sure you export as “.gcode” export under gcode

tips : put it in expert mode so you have all the functionalities

expert mode

At the ULB FabLab :

  • make sure the filament is “generic PLA“
  • make sure the printer is “Original Prusa i3 MK3S & MK3S+ 0.6 nozzle“

Printing#

It’s finally time to bring the design to life, here is how I did :

  1. Place the printing plate on
  2. Clean the plate with the product provided (because greasy fingers can mess up the print)
  3. Put your “.gcode” file on the SD card (important : the printer doesn’t have any memory, so no SD card = no printing!)
  4. start printing by selecting the file with the round button on the right of the 3D printer
  5. once the printing is done, detach your masterpiece from the plate

My 3D printing#

Here is the piece I designed in the module 2 :
my flexlink

And check out the flexlinks printed by my classmates (Lucia & Matilde) and myself :

Flexlinks

But let’s not forget the real goal of all this, does my flexlink fit on a LEGO piece? And I’m happy to say that it does!
→Mission accomplished!

flexlink on lego

Time for the next challenge!