Progress

• Shared our ideas with Dr Ho for the first time
• Project idea: 3D Printing chocolate?

• Introduction to 3D Printing
• Autodesk Fusion 360
• Disney research: How to 3D print soft toys
• Project idea: Reprogramming a 3D printer to perform embroidery (Thanks Hanyang!)

• Hardware, software, firmware, electronic parts
• Arduino & LCD screens
• Modifying G-Codes

• Project Idea: Reprogramming a 3D printer to perform 2D embroidery
• Finalise timeline, project direction

• Ender 3D Printer (Thanks Tony!)

• Discussed available online software for embroidery
• Problem: Punch needle needs to rotate in accordance with direction of punching
• ‘Printing’ a hexagon to understand 3D printer movement
• Figuring out how we need the printer to move to accomplish our goal
• Shopping trip to Spotlight @ Westgate

• Problem: Considerations when using punch needle
• Problem: Picking out a suitable base cloth type to use
• Prepared for Update Progress Meeting 1
• Planning for what parts we need to 3D Print

• Generally positive response to our presentation 🙂
• Discussions with Tony and Hanyang
• Learning/Experimenting with G-Code
• Tried out felting; more suitable and feasible to use
• Problem: How to create felting motion
• Problem: How to feed thread to the needle
• 3D Printed our inner embroidery hoop base cylinder (Thanks Qi Jie!)

• Problem: Hoop Mk I doesn’t fit
• Troubleshooting & Calibration
• Modelled & printed Hoop Mk II
• Modelled & printed Coupler Mk I

• Hoop Mk II works perfectly
• Learning how to control the motor (with Coupler Mk I attached)
• Modelling Coupler Mk II
• Modelled & printed needle/thread feeder

• Tried out 2 ways of transferring movement of linear actuator to needle
• Problem: DC motor of linear actuator must be replaced with stepper motor
• Problem: Tubes used are too short
• Problem: Redesigning 3D printed needle/thread feeder

• 3D designed & printed 3 prototypes for the needle-tubing connector
• Designed the Main Body
• Designed the Needle & Thread Feeder Mk II

• Positive response to our presentation 🙂 “Good progress” ~
• Plans on how to secure the LA to an external structure
• 3D printed Needle-Tubing Connector Mk IV (Final)
• 3D printed Main Body (in progress)
• 3D printed Needle & Yarn Feeder Mk II

[#14] Prototype Stereotype

• Testing Main Body Mk I, countersinks, and Needle & Yarn Feeder Mk II
• Modeling Main Body Mk II
• Modeled & 3D-printing Needle & Yarn Feeder Mk III (in progress)

[#15] A Stitch in Time Saves Nine

• Testing Main Body Mk II
• 3D designed & printed Connectors Mk V & VI (streamlined designs)
• 3D designed & printed Feeder Mk IV, and sawed off the top backing
• Full assembly & test run of Mobile Stabbing Needle Piece (Success!)
• Figuring out arduino code for LA
• Planning for the LA mount

[#16] Linear Progression

• 3D designed & printed LA Mount Mk I
• Figured out a (makeshift) way to fit motor shaft into hole of linear actuator
• 3D designed & printed Connector Piece for aluminium profile
• Sawed aluminium profile to the correct length
• Planning for assembly of aluminium frame

• Tested LA Mount Mk II (Failed print)
• Printed & tested Major Bracket Mk II

• Printed, tested, & mounted LA Mount Mk III, Major Brackets Mk III
• Printed & tested Minor Brackets Mk I, Profile-Tubing Connector Mk I
• Designed & printed Minor Brackets Mk II, LA-Tubing Connector Mk I
• Redesigned Main Body Mk III

• Tested LA-Tubing Connector Mk I (Reprinting needed)
• Mounted Main Body Mk III, Minor Brackets Mk II
• MVP Test Run #1
• Designed & printed LA-Tubing Connector Mk II, Mk III
• Reprinted Major Bracket Mk IV

• Realised the friction between different parts caused LA to jam, added grease
• Designed & printed Major Brackets Mk V
• Software — Faster needle jabbing motion

• MVP Test Run #2
• Purchased new stepper motor

• Tinkering with Cura custom start G-code
• Assembling & testing Yarn Feeder Mk V
• Designing & printing Main Body Mk III (back)
• Designing & printing Yarn Feeder Mk VI

• Testing Main Body Mk III (back)
• Designing & printing Main Body Mk IV
• MVP Test Run #3

• Getting a more even styrofoam base
• Designing & printing Yarn Feeder Mk VII, Mk VIII and Mk IX
• Designing & printing Main Body Mk V and Mk VI
• MVP Test Run #4

• Mounting Main Body Mk VI & Yarn Feeder Mk IX
• Designing & printing LA-Tubing Connector Stabiliser Mk II
• Designing & printing Yarn Feeder Mk X
• Designing & printing Needle-Tubing Connector Mk V
• Trial & error with coding to eliminate jerking

• Troubleshooting on Cura
• Creating a new printer profile on Simplify3D
• Test printing using Simplify3D

• Replacing bent needle & needle holder
• Test printing using Simplify3D
• Testing our new stepper motor and stepper driver
• Designing & printing Coupler Mk I
• Designing & printing Main Body Back Piece Mk VII

• Troubleshooting using Marlin and stepper driver
• Designing & printing Stepper Motor House Mk I
• Altering G-code to prevent needle movement before start
• Designing & printing Yarn Feeder Mk XII
• Troubleshooting issue of yarn bunching up and being cut to bits
• First full successful print! 🎉

• Testing with larger prints
• Programming stepper motor for automated yarn spool using Arduino
• Designing & printing Yarn Feeder Mk XIII

• Designing & printing Feeding Spool
• Reprinting Yarn Feeder Mk XIII
• Troubleshooting speed of new Arduino code
• Connecting feeding spool to Ramps 1.4 & connecting jabbing stepper motor to its own Arduino controller

• Positive response to our presentation – “Very good!”
• Test Runs #1 – #6: Successfully printed a Mickey Mouse!
• First fully automated print! (Test Run #4)
• Testing a 2-layer print

• Modifying settings to create a 1-layer print
• Replacing cracked bracket, bent inner tubing, stabiliser tube and broken needle
• Modifying Simplify3D settings for ideal yarn feeding
• Recalibrating base plate

• Testing recalibrated base & actual tubing length
• Designing & printing Base Plate to contain styrofoam block
• Printing other designs, including Mickey Mouse & an octopus (Ozone clone)!

• Lab closed for cleaning
• Designing & test printing other designs: a Mickey Mouse ring & a 3D heart
• Solving overheating of yarn feeding stepper motor
• Creating technical contributions document

• Attaching our 3D printed Embroidery Base
• Changing from external power source to 3D printer’s internal power source
• Test printing a multicoloured print!
• Working on presentation

• Rewiring our machine to use 3D printer’s existing internal power supply
• Changing from external power source to 3D printer’s internal power source
• Organising wires to minimise clutter
• Working on presentation and script

• Recalibration of printing bed
• Tracked RPM of needle jabbing
• Uploading STL files
• Worked on slides

• Final Presentation: Over!
• Genki Sushi celebratory dinner :>