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3 axis printing (kind of)  

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Bart Lee
(@bart-lee)
Active Member
3 axis printing (kind of)

Does anyone have experience with printing an object, for example something taller than it is wide (and therefore weak in the Z axis), and then printing a fixture and pausing the fixture print to insert the original print on its side into the fixture so that layers can be printed on the side/s of the original object?

I had an idea to do this to print writing on the flat sides of objects too. It would be a kind of bodgy 3 axis printing.

If you have done this do you have any tips to make it work well?

This topic was modified 11 months ago by Bart Lee
Posted : 29/05/2023 3:09 pm
RedDawg
(@reddawg)
Reputable Member
RE: 3 axis printing (kind of)

Why can't you start out printing on its side to begin with?

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Posted : 29/05/2023 3:13 pm
Bart Lee
(@bart-lee)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: 3 axis printing (kind of)

To avoid using support material on the inside of the object or to make it stronger in what was originally the Z axis or to print writing or a logo with a different colour.

Posted : 29/05/2023 3:21 pm
RedDawg
(@reddawg)
Reputable Member
RE: 3 axis printing (kind of)

Once you turn it on its side, you are going to have to have the nozzle return to the EXACT Z position that represents the Z height of your part on its side after you resume from pause. I may be wrong, but I don't think there's a way to do that in PrusaSlicer. You MIGHT be able to end the print before you turn it, and load a NEW file for the continuation with a starting Z offset equal to the Z height of the part on its side, but then you'd also have to suppress the initial mesh bed leveling and purge strip routines, not to mention having to "register" the new file in the X and Y directions. I still think you'd be better off building it on its side from the beginning and deal with the supports. (Would tree supports be less troublesome?) Pause with a filament change for your text (assuming it will be in top layer position), or print a seperate text "plate" in (a) different color(s) and glue it on. A picture or sketch of the part would be helpful.

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Posted : 29/05/2023 6:24 pm
Bart Lee
(@bart-lee)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: 3 axis printing (kind of)

My plan is to print a female side release buckle. I have done this before where it prints at a 45 degree angle so that it does not need any support material or bridges. But it is still weaker than printing it lying flat in the xy plane. Then I want to basically print a vase mode silhouette of it lying in the xy, then pause and drop it in and print some layers, flip it over and do the same on the other side, then it will be super strong and eliminate the Z axis weakness from printing it standing up at 45 degrees originally. I could also print a logo in a different colour on one side.

I want to make a harness for my dog and have strong side release buckles. I think I will use CPE to print them.

I will post pictures of my effort when it's done.

I know I could just buy them but I like making things for fun. I'll be hand sewing the harness.

Posted : 30/05/2023 8:26 pm
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