Fall Validation Experiments

Fall Validation Experiment

Objectives

1. Demonstrate the ability of a slicer program to allow selection of insertion layers and for the 4DOF printer to ‘pause’ at the selected layers.
2. To evaluate the ability of the printer to correctly execute 4DOF G-code commands.

 

Location

NSH B506 – Team F Test Bench

Equipment

1. Laptop computer with following software:
   1. Slic3r
   2. MATLAB scripts for insertion layer selection
   3. Pronterface
   4. .stl or .gcode files for patterns to be printed
2. ADD_IN printer configured with following:
   1. PLA filament roll
   2. Unmodified nozzle
3. Modified printer nozzle
4. Lab bench tools plus any additional tools needed to change nozzle

 

Test Procedure

                Part 1: Software Verification

1. Using the appropriate MATLAB scripts:
   1. Load the .stl file
   2. Select an insertion layer approximately halfway up the part
   3. Generate the .gcode file
2. Power on, configure, and home printer as necessary
3. Load .gcode file in pronterface and print
4. When the printer pauses and enters the insertion configuration wait for five minutes, and then press the resume button.

Part 2: Hardware Verification

1. Configure the printer with the modified nozzle
2. Instruct the printer to print the test pattern

 

Success Criteria

                Part 1: Software Verification

1. The MATLAB script should not produce any errors
2. The part should be printed at a quality consistent with previous prints without using custom software
3. At the correct Z height, the printer should pause, enter the insertion configuration, and resume printing after the user presses the resume button.

Part 2: Hardware Verification

1. The printer should accurately reproduce the test pattern
2. The extruded filament should be free of gaps or globules