A new 3D printing technique allows printing of fabric far larger than the 3D printer.
Reddit contributor Down2TheShed posted a fascinating account of a new process used with FFF 3D printers. The goal was to 3D print a fabric of a size wider than the 3D printer.
The fabric in question was the well-known NASA fabric design, which many have printed — even me. This “fabric” is actually a number of interlocking cells. The cells are linked by loops, which are arranged in a way to be loose when removed from the print bed.
Down2TheShed very slightly modified the design to enable interlinked printing. How does this work?
The print proceeds in the normal manner, but one edge of the print has open cell loops. The print is then relocated on the print bed, and the second patch of fabric is printed. It’s precisely positioned so that the second job closes the loops on the first print, joining two fabric sections together.
This is the first time I’ve heard of this technique using FFF 3D printers. Down2TheShed has published the design to MakerWorld for anyone to try. It’s recommended that this be attempted on the Bambu Lab A1 mini, which has the benefit of being open on two sides, rather than just one. That allows larger fabrics to be produced.
The technique is quite intriguing, but it certainly requires quite a bit of precision work to re-position prints. If they are not in the right spot, then the fabric will not join correctly.
I’m wondering if it might be possible to automate some of this work. Imagine a slicing software feature to generate not only the required part jobs, but also some jigs that could be used to align the parts on the print plate. That could make the whole process far simpler to execute.
“Endless” fabric could obviously be printed on belt 3D printers, which have an infinite axis. However, belt printers never really caught on, leaving regular 3D printer operators with no easy ways of exceeding their build volume.
Until they try this technique.
Via Reddit, MakerWorld and YouTube (Shorts)
