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Ongoing2023–PresentFDM · Rapid Prototyping · Material Testing

3D Print Lab

Every fabrication project starts with a prototype. This is a collection of 3D printing work focused on functional engineering parts: structural brackets, tolerance-fit mechanical assemblies, and material selection studies for load-bearing applications.

Key Highlights

  • Custom drone components in PETG for impact resistance
  • Tolerance-fit mechanical joints for robotic assemblies
  • Multi-material prints for functional prototypes
  • Slicer profile optimization for structural layer adhesion

Project Info

Role

Fabricator · Designer

Timeline

2023 — Present

3D PrintingFDMPETGPLARapid PrototypingSlicer Optimization

Philosophy

Most 3D printing guides are written for decorative parts. The focus here is always functional — parts that need to survive vibration, impact, and load. That means getting serious about material selection, slicer settings, orientation, and infill strategy.

Key Learnings

PETG outperforms PLA in nearly every structural application — better impact resistance, higher heat deflection, and less brittleness under cyclic stress. Print orientation matters more than infill percentage for tensile strength. Layer adhesion is the failure mode, not material bulk.

Current Work

Developing wrist module prototypes for the BCC robotic arm — iterating on joint geometry, wall thickness, and press-fit tolerances. Each print cycle produces dimensional data that feeds back into the Onshape model.