Printing out robot parts

[Madison]

Originally Posted by rsisk

I watched that video and what I don't understand is how they make the parts like the worm screw. Obviously there are parts of the screw mechanism that cannot be scanned, how does the printer know how to make the "hidden" portions of those parts?

There was a bit of TV magic involved in the process. The worm on the printed wrench is significantly changed from that of the original.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by rsisk

I watched that video and what I don't understand is how they make the parts like the worm screw. Obviously there are parts of the screw mechanism that cannot be scanned, how does the printer know how to make the "hidden" portions of those parts?

TV magic indeed. They scanned the wrench, but then had to actually design the pieces inside. Once designed though printing is trivial (but that wrench took 2 hours to print).

[Lil' Lavery]

"3D Printing" is often a marketing term for many different forms of technology. Find out which specific technology you're sponsor/school/machine shop has available to you and what it's strengths, weaknesses, and associated costs are.

I've used FDM for a school project before. I'd offer tips or tricks, but I don't really have any. We were able to machine the part after printing to make adjustments that our final design called for.