These slides accompanied a presentation before a GrabCAD user group meet-up in September of 2016. The presentation covered the topic of using digital fabrication tools to improve the process of iterative concept development.

1. GRABCAD MEETUP 09.21.2016
DIGITAL FABRICATION AND THE QUEST FOR MAKER MASTERY
Leveraging digital tools to improve the process of iterative concept development
Tasker Smith
Technical Instructor
Pappalardo Undergraduate Laboratory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2. CLASSES
2.670 Mechanical Engineering
2.007 Intro to Design and Manufacturing
2.009 Product Engineering Process
WTP Women in Technology
Discover Mechanical Engineering
1% 2% 3%
5%
5%
6%
32%
17%
1%
2%
3%
23%
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
(Slice of undergraduate population) Nuclear Science (Course 22)
Civil (Course 1)
Material Science (Course 3)
Aero / Astro (Course 16)
Biological (Course 20)
Chemical (Course 10)
EE + Computer (Course 6)
Mech E (Course 2)
550 Students
17% of total undergraduate population
School of Engineering
School of Architecture
School of Management
School of Humani es
School of Science
MIT

3. CLASS 3 MACHINE TOOLS
CLASS 4 MACHINE TOOLS
CLASS 5
CLASS 5
0 1 2 3 4 5 STORAGE
MEETING ROOMSDEVICE CLASSES
+
ACTIVE SHOP SPACE 6800 sq ft
MEETING SPACE 2200 sq ft
STORAGE SPACE 500 sq ft
PAPPALARDO LAB

4. 3DP
Laser
WaterjetCNC
3D Scanner
CNC Wire Bender
Vinyl Cutter
CNC Embroidery
TOOL PROFICIENCIES
Mockup Proficiency
Sheet Metal Fabrication
Proficiency
Hand Fabrication
Proficiency
Machine Tool
Proficiency
Power Tool
Proficiency
Digital Fabrication
Proficiency

5. PRACTICE: CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Embodiment
Refinements
Models
Sketches
Ideas

6. 11 2 3
PROLIFIC ITERATION

7. TEACHING AIDS
3DP FUNDAMENTALS
How our 3D Printer works
Ÿ Precision
Ÿ Feature Thickness
Ÿ Material Properties
Ÿ Core Densitiy
3DP BEST PRACTICES
Applied use of 3D Printed parts
Ÿ Screw bosses
Ÿ Snap fits
Ÿ Living hinges
Ÿ Post processing

8. 3DP: SOURCING CAD DATA
SOURCING CAD DATA
3D Repositories: user populated
Ÿ GrabCAD !!
Ÿ Thingiverse (Makerbot)
Ÿ Youmagine (Ultimaker)
Ÿ 3D Content Central (SolidWorks)
3D Repositories: vendor populated
Ÿ McMaster Carr
Ÿ Carr Lane
CAD Software Libraries
Ÿ SolidWorks Design Library
Ÿ Autodesk Fusion 360 Design Library
25 TOOTH SPUR GEAR
Sourced, 3D Printed, installed and tested in under 1 hour

9. 3DP: MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE
NAINA MEHTA (MIT ‘15)
Demonstrating her prototype of a rope climbing robot.
Complexity of fabricated gear / nut assembly is
resolved through multiple iterations on a
Stratasys uPrint.

10. TIPS & TRICKS: ONLINE TOOLS
WWW.MAKERCASE.COM
LASER SPECIFICATIONS
Plywood kerf = .003”
Acrylic kerf = .004”

11. TIPS & TRICKS: FLEXURES
LASER CUT FLEXURE 3D PRINTED FLEXURE