This week our team presented our 2 proof of concept builds alongside the results of our printing experimentation during PID! Prior to this event, the team has been busy in the lab printing with the LuckyBot printer module to understand both the affects of material properties and printer settings on the quality of the print. Check out some of our results in experimenting with different food materials, temperature, & printer parameters.
In addition to the experimentation with different food types, our team has been focusing on developing 2 proof of concept builds. The first design, created by Caylynne & Brittney, is the Linear Extrusion Module. This is a common extrusion method for syringe based printing and would serve as a direct replacement for the LuckyBot.
The stepper motor drives motion through the gears and facilitates the rotation of the leadscrew which serves as a plunger to expel the food out of the syringe. There is a plate on both sides of the gear assembly to ensure that the gears are constrained and only able to rotate. The tool plate on the chamber backside allows for the entire assembly to be able to roll on the X-axis gantry.
The second design, created by Ian and Andrew, is the Tubing Delivery System. This design currently utilizes a linear actuator to press the syringe and dispel the food material. This food is then delivered via tubing, to the printhead. This design reduces the weight actually on the printhead, and allows for food storage off of the printer gantry.
Throughout PID our team received great feedback for the experimentation the team accomplished as well as the viability of the Tubing Delivery System prototype. We also received suggestions to further explore the temperature control systems for each prototype, disposable syringes (biodegradable) to reducing cleaning/set up, and to further understand the material properties through characteristics like shear thinning, viscosity, density etc.
This Friday, Ian, Caylynne & Brittney worked in the lab to additionally test the Tubing Delivery System with frosting & connect the Linear Extrusion motor to the Ender motherboard. Here are some of the results from the Tubing Delivery System!