25/03/09 class

• Last class we went upstairs to the rapid prototyping lab where Raul show us how to use the Z-corp printer.
• It is a machine that works with to principal elements, glue and dust; and it is connected to a computer from which it receives information to be printed.
• We have a 3d model that is cut in many layers horizontally in the computer and then the printer works layer by layer, dust-glue-dust-glue... until the object is done.
• Once the printer has finished we have to wait 30 min and then take the object with a special tool and put it into a chamber where a vacuum cleaner is going to absorve all the extra dust.
• Then, as it is a fragil piece, we have to be careful, but in order to make it hard we have to add a mixture of resine and hardenner with a brush and let it dry, then the object is ready.