This day was dedicated to getting the printer production-ready, with the target of producing a high-quality 3D Benchy test model. The start wasn’t ideal: extrusion problems caused by filament jams slowed things down and turned the morning into a troubleshooting session.
Surface Modeling Research
While the printer was running test prints, I used the downtime to dig deeper into surface modeling techniques. Autodesk Inventor has surface tools, but they’re nowhere near as advanced as platforms like Alias or Rhinoceros. Instead of hitting a wall, I began looking up tutorials for those programs, hoping to adapt their workflow ideas into Inventor. Even if not all techniques carry over, the design logic behind them is valuable.
Benchy After Benchy
The morning was filled with trial and error. Several Benchy prints failed to stick properly to the build plate, turning into a repeating cycle of restarts and small tweaks. Eventually, I solved the adhesion problem the old-fashioned way: a simple gluestick. Not high-tech, but effective — and finally, a Benchy printed the way it should.
Integrating Reference Models
In between printer experiments, I browsed for design references and came across a racing bicycle model on GrabCAD. I pulled a few of its components into my main assembly as placeholders. They’re not final parts, but they help me visualize scale, geometry, and how the frame interacts with components like the fork and wheels. It’s a practical shortcut to see the bigger picture.
Temperature Tower Testing
To close the day, I ran a temperature tower test with PA12CF. Finding the sweet spot for extrusion temperature is critical — it directly affects layer bonding, print strength, and surface quality. This data will be essential when moving on to real lug prototypes.
Reflection
It was a day of small wins, frustrating detours, and necessary groundwork. By the end, the printer was closer to production-ready, and the digital side of the project had gained more structure. With that, it felt like the right moment to wrap up the week and head into the weekend.
“Adhesion solved with a gluestick, racing bike parts integrated, and temperature tower printed — printer finally nearing production readiness.”