Vandal Forge Printer Software

The goal of this project is to improve the software used for 3D Metal Printing by updating the graphical user interface (GUI), changing the software to produce custom print commands required by the metal printer, and creating documentation for future teams.

=Problem Definition=

Background
Current printing software is not customized for a 3D metal printer. Print instructions created by default slicer software contains extra unused commands and does not provide custom commands needed to run a 3D Metal printer. Last year's team had to manually modify the output of Plastic Printing software, which was a slow and laborious process. OctoPrint, the interface between the print instructions and the printer, was originally designed for plastic printers and does not have the necessary features for metal printing. The Mark I and Mark II 3D Metal Printers require a custom print instructions file.

Printing Process


=Deliverables=

Objectives
To improve the quality of the VandalForge Software while extending usability to allow further customization for future project endeavors.


 * Slic3r produces custom GCode commands
 * Octoprint accepts custom commands
 * GUI's utilize custom commands
 * ForgeWare Integration
 * Easy to use
 * Create excellent documentation for future teams

Requirements

 * Use Open Source software
 * Modifications must work for both versions of the printer
 * Modified software should be user friendly
 * Carefully document process so future teams can easily add improvements

Alternatives
=Results=

Schedule
Fall 2017
 * Gather Specifications and Research Software
 * Research OctoPrint Host Software
 * Customize GCode File output via Slic3r Software
 * Design Review

Spring 2018
 * Make Modifications to OctoPrint Software
 * Custom GCode commands
 * Add Mark II commands to OctoPrint UI
 * Integrate with the Mark I Metal Printer
 * Add Features specific for the Mark II Metal Printer
 * Documentation

See Schedule Gantt Chart in Documents Archive section

Future Plans
Slic3r
 * New Print-Path Algorithm
 * Automatically change print parameters based on current print progress

OctoPrint
 * GCodeViewer 2D output of print
 * Web Camera to watch prints
 * Create 3D wire-frame model of print with temperature/heat map from infrared camera

=Team Information=

=Document Archive= Schedule
 * [[File:Vulcan 2018 Team Schedule.pdf]]

Presentations
 * Design Review: [[File:Vulcan 2018 DesignReview.pdf]]
 * VandalForge Project Status Report (Design Review 2): [[File:Vulcan Design Review 2.pdf]]
 * Expo Technical Presentation: [[File:Vulcan 2018 Technical Presentation.pdf]]

Expo Poster
 * [[File:DesignExpo2018PosterTeamVulcan.pdf]]