The final thesis addreses the issue of waste of resources due to the use of supports in 3D printing. We explored the concept of upside-down printing as one of the options for printing without support structures. We compared it to normal printing to determine the effect of gravity. Firstly, we examined the funcionality of the printer in different orientations and found that printing was feasible at any angle. Than, using the printer, we produced several test objects that allowed us to compare the results between normal and upside-down printing orientations. We designed objects that required supports for normal printing, and successfully executed upside-down printing without the need for support structures. We demonstrated the possibility of this printing technique, as it enables the production of final prototypes without the need for post-processing. Our findings revealed that quality products with the desired structural and mechanical properties can be achieved through upside-down printing, while also reducing costs.
|