Join us at Heatsync on Saturday from noon to 5pm to design and print something you make! See the 3D printing process from a virtual design to a physical product (as long as you wait a bit for the print to finish!).

On this hands on day we will have several laptops and 3D printers standing by waiting for your ideas. Our suggested project is to make a simple name plate or maybe something spooky (and flat!) for Halloween but feel free to be as creative as you like!

This is a beginner friendly activity but it's very much self paced. Here is what to expect:

• Open up TinkerCAD! Spend some time with the tutorial if you need it. Otherwise get to designing!
• Once you are happy with the design call over a proctor to check it out. They might have suggestions about what won't print well and how to improve the design so that it will print without issues.
• From TinkerCAD, you can export the objects you want to print as an .STL file.
• Slice the STL file using PrusaSlicer! If you do the name plate the defaults are fine (PLA and .2mm layer heights) and all you might need to do is make sure the right printer is selected (we have a few options but they are pre configured). Add a filament change once the text is about to print!
• Once again, you might want to check with a proctor to make sure you are good! Then export the newly created GCODE file to a thumb drive (or SD card) and take it to the printer.
• Once at the printer you will be walked through the process of actually printing with a proctor or with a fellow attendee that just saw the process for themselves.
• Watch your print! The first layer is critical and you might need to stop it if there is a failure.
• Help others!

Some constraints:

• TinkerCAD is one of the easiest CAD systems around and generally people figure out how to make a name plate in about 20 minutes or so but it can take longer depending on experience.
• TinkerCAD is a web app! Feel free to bring your own laptop. This is the step that takes the longest and you won't want to wait in line and be pressured to hurry up.
• We are targeting prints that take from 10-20 minutes. When you slice the file you can see the estimated print time. Make it smaller to lower the print time! Shorter prints are faster too.
• This isn't a class though we might do some instruction from time to time for groups that have the same sets of questions or are stuck on the same step.