HELP! Prosthesis Print
Hi,
Intro: I am a certified hand therapist. I have recently started 3d printing in my free time. There is a patient who has lost digits 2-5 (index, middle, ring, and small fingers). He basically has his palm and his thumb. Insurance would not cover a prosthetic so I'm wondering if I could possibly make a prosthetic using my MINI+
Note: I am newer to 3D printing and have learned extremely basic tinkerCAD but currently I rely on available STL files to print/slice.
Here is the partial hand prosthesis I was thinking of...
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2565845
I put it in the slicer, scaled it down, added supports enforcers. I also flipped it, thinking usually when most of the surface area is touching the bed, the print is successful.
So, I hit print and ran off to work and well... I wish I had the octoprint/spaghetti detective. A majorly failed print. Any suggestions on settings/designs to try to print this?
First layer
Just to confirm, can you post a first layer test first? I want to confirm that is dialed in.
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
I agree with @cwbullet, this is going to be an extremely testing print so your first layer will need to be spot-on. Please show us your first layer 'Z' calibration print.
You are right about orientation but I can find no position that both promotes strength and helps those print in place joints print free. Probably the best would be palm down with supports on the print bed only. Expect the first print to exhibit issues requiring at least a second print with carefully placed modifiers.
This prothsesis has not been designed with easy 3D printing in mind...
But it's a four year old design; I would try to contact the designer to see if there are more recent versions that take account of the medium.
Unless this is scaled for a child you will not be able to fit it on a mini print-bed. A version that can be assembled from parts would give you more flexibility.
Cheerio,
first layer calibration
Upon more research, I believe the original thingiverse object is for an SLS printer and I am not sure if this can work on an FDM printer.