Day 1 in Johnson Controls's innovation lab

Learned the complete basics of how a 3d printer works. The printer can only compute z-code. The computer only accepts the STL format. You just need to CAD something on the computer and then send it over to the 3d printer. In the process of sending, the the computer converts the CAD to a STL format and then sends it over to the printer as a z-code. The printer then starts printing the design layer by layer. The printing happens by feeding the printer filament which is then melted into those layers. The filament is a long strand of ABS plastic which is also used to make legos. Basically, the printer processes the design and then melts down the plastic to form the design (kind of like hot glue from a hot glue gun).

Today, we had to change the dimensions of the funnel where the pellets are fed into. The already printed out funnel was to small for the shipping tube because the shipping tube turned out to be larger than intended. So, we learned how to use Creo and modeled it to the exact dimensions of the shipping tube. First we had to use a caliber to measure the dimensions of the shipping tube so the new model could fit in.

We also went over the rough sketch of how the machine should work.