Wolfpack Workshop

Stair-stepping on shallow surfaces has always been a limitation of FDM… until now! 💪

Anti-aliasing is a new FDM 3D printing technique I recently learned about. When applied, it almost eliminates the stair-stepping texture you see on all shallow top surfaces!

Let me tell you how it works.

All standard slicers typically print each layer at a fixed height before moving up to another fixed height to print the next layer. Anti-aliasing is different.

Anywhere where there are shallow top surfaces, the printer is programmed to print at a ramp angle matching the slope of the part. The extrusion height is also modulated along the ramp to ensure accurate geometry.

Although visually, it does not change the appearance of the part too much, the difference can be instantly noticed when comparing the surface finish (or “smoothness”) of those top surfaces.

How can this be applied?

- Shallow upper surfaces that need to mate with another part will have better fits.
- Parts that require gap-filling, priming, and painting need less work to achieve desired finishes.
- Parts can be printed faster with larger nozzles and taller layers, without the cost of a rough upper sloped feature.

I learned about this from CNC Kitchen’s latest video release. According to Stefan, there is already a version of Bambu Studio you can install with this feature baked in!

How would you use anti-aliasing in your workflow?

P.S.– Be sure to check out Stefan's CNC Kitchen video for examples of this concept in action!

3 Reasons why you should ALWAYS print support structures with a different material:

1. Less Waste: If you print with a dual nozzle setup, purge material is virtually ZERO. This really adds up with high volume production.

2. Better Quality Prints: Support materials will detatch easier, leaving a much cleaner surface finish. Forget all those pesky little chunks that just don't want to let go.

3. Faster!: Fewer purges means faster material changes, and less overall print time. Not to mention post-processing time 😅

With my new Bambu Labs H2D, I've been saving time & money for both myself and my customers. Have a detailed part that needs a clean, professional look?

Join the Pack & shoot me a message:
https://wolfpackws.com/contact/

Well, if you saw my Linkedin post about the “mystery part” that I printed for a client, here’s the answer…

This is a flexible, 100% infilled TPU comb wedge bumper for a world famous Battle Bot - Emulsifier. Emulsifier is a 2-time World Champion in the NHRL (National Havoc Robot League) 30lb division. Matt Bores, owner of this awesome bot, shared the renderings of his creation featuring the comb wedge we printed here at the Workshop.

Matt says, in regards to the design of the wedges, "Their purpose is to act as a defensive ground-scraping fork that keeps opponents forks from getting under my robot, since winning the ground game in often critical to winning exchanges."

If you want to check out this bad boy in action, take a look at the video link below. (This fight was before the comb wedge was designed so it isn't visible in the video.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7PHfywGwNM

BattleBots

We just "wrapped" up a fun project– a custom candy bowl in the company colors of world-renowned Columbus energy startup Power to Hydrogen (P2H2).

Custom solutions come in all shapes, sizes, & colors! 😊

Did you know you can 3D print metal? 😎

Sharing the follow-up to my first post highlighting some common methods of 3D printing with plastics. Drum roll...

Part 2: Printing with Metal

Check it out on LinkedIn! 🐺

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidhelmers_3dprinting-additivemanufacturing-slsprinting-activity-7392946544280436736-Qx1X?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAC57FAsBmMntoWhivMkkMsn0lsFqFFtxTVI

Sometimes the best way to learn is by getting thrown right into it. You don’t feel confident and you don’t feel ready, but you’ll come out having learned so much!

I remember my first few months at Cedarville University. A long-standing tradition of the Engineering program is that on Homecoming weekend, roughly a month-and-a-half after after the start of school, first-year students must design and construct a cardboard canoe that makes it across Cedar Lake in one piece. A large portion of the entire year’s grade hinges on your success.

So here’s my team’s canoe… which made it about 90% across the lake before my teammate punched a hole in the bottom of the boat with his foot. We managed to stay (mostly) afloat and dragged that soaked canoe across the finish line. Whew! 😅 That’s me on the left holding up the boat.

I learned that it’s not always a bad thing to be thrown into something headfirst. I always come out with a lot of laughs, stories, and lessons learned.

Are you in the thick of any “thrown right into it” challenges?

If 3D printing is something that interests you - check out my LinkedIn post breaking down some common methods and their pros & cons.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidhelmers_in-the-context-of-3d-printing-something-activity-7390433455987404801-Pz1J?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAC57FAsBmMntoWhivMkkMsn0lsFqFFtxTVI

It was great to work with Ben Camphorst and his Battle Bot MadStone. We supplied custom 3D printed Battle Bot parts, printed from flexible TPU to withstand impact in the arena!

Ben commented, "In the last fight, the bumper saved a direct hit to my battery, which would have been a guaranteed battery fire."

Check out MadStone’s 3D Printed TPU wheels and bumper, sourced right here at Wolfpack Workshop!

MadStone destroys the competition:
https://lnkd.in/esW6A5wq

Here's to 3D Printed Solutions.
Have a custom part design or idea? We got you covered. 😊 👍

Request a Quote - Wolfpack Workshop
https://lnkd.in/eMSTDbwn

We've been busy manufacturing sturdy, quality parts for your industrial needs. Check out these factory-use spool winders we've been printing this week.

Have a need? We can reverse engineer, custom design, or print anything!

WolfpackWS.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfpack-workshop/
🥳