3D printing is a creative and versatile way to turn your ideas into physical objects. But how do you keep track of your 3D printing projects and share your results with others? In this article, we will show you some tips and tools to document and report the progress and results of your 3D printing projects.
Before you start your 3D printing project, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you will measure your success. You should also define the scope of your project, such as the materials, budget, time, and quality requirements. Having a well-defined goal and scope will help you plan and execute your project more effectively and avoid unnecessary changes or delays.
Defining the project steps based on the customer's final product goal is essential. Keeping in mind the limitation of the material and highly considering the printing process time. In addition, having a good understanding of 3D model software will add much flexibility for any future correction.
A project management tool can be invaluable in organizing and monitoring your 3D printing project, as well as communicating and collaborating with other stakeholders. You can use a simple spreadsheet, dedicated software, or a cloud-based platform to manage your project. When looking for a project management tool, consider features such as task management, file management, progress tracking, and reporting. Task management allows you to create, assign, and track the tasks involved in your 3D printing project. File management lets you store, access, and share 3D models, slicer settings, and print files with your team or clients. Progress tracking helps you monitor the status and performance of your 3D printing project. Lastly, reporting enables you to generate and export reports that summarize and visualize the progress and results of your 3D printing project.
Also, when running a print farm, a makerspace or business with a large volume of 3D print jobs, or multiple farms/makerspaces/businesses, documentation and communication becomes paramount. A documentation system can help operators catch manufacturing issues during the 3D printing process. Wastage of material and time can be alleviated the sooner a failed print is detected, and some issues can be solved without having to reprint. Systems with live status updates or feeds are invaluable in 3D printing for this reason. In places with various people working on projects, having a system that provides project status on demand ensures good customer service, as in my experience, clients rarely remember which person was working on their project.
Documentation is an integral part of any 3D printing project, as it allows you to record and review your process and results, as well as share your knowledge and experience with others. You should document your 3D printing project from start to finish, covering the design process, slicing parameters, printing outcomes, post-processing results, and testing results. For example, when documenting your design process, you should include the inspiration, sketches, tools, iterations, and final 3D model. When documenting your slicing parameters, you should include the layer height, infill, speed, and temperature. When documenting your printing outcomes, you should include the print time, material usage, quality, and defects. When documenting your post-processing results, you should include the appearance, strength, and functionality. Finally when documenting your testing results you should include the performance, durability and feedback.
Sharing your documentation is also critical to monitoring the status of large batches of jobs. For instance, during the COVID pandemic, my lab was tasked with designing and producing hundreds of single test-tube holders for nasal samples that could be easily used one-handed, as soon as humanly possible. Variations iterations of the design were experimented with in the field before the final version was ready. Had the final version not been clearly designated, documented, and communicated, production would have by necessity continued - only to produce the wrong version.
Multimedia formats can be an invaluable asset to your 3D printing project documentation and reporting, as they can provide a more comprehensive view and understanding than text alone. Images can illustrate your 3D models, slicer settings, print files, results, post-processing steps, and testing scenarios. Videos can demonstrate the design, slicing, printing, post-processing and testing processes. Audio is a great way to explain the goal, scope, challenges and solutions of your project. Interactive formats can engage your audience by allowing them to view, rotate, zoom or modify your 3D models online. You can also use it to collect data or feedback from your audience about the project.
Sharing your documentation and report of your 3D printing project can help you demonstrate your work, receive recognition, gain feedback, and motivate others. You can publish and distribute your project through online platforms like blogs, websites, social media, forums, or repositories. This will also enable you to interact with other 3D printing enthusiasts and experts. Additionally, you can use offline platforms such as presentations, posters, brochures, or portfolios to present and display your project. This will also enable you to network with other 3D printing professionals, organizations, or customers.