CAM Task B

Generating a G-Code for the 3D

Printed Part
Contributed by:
Srijan Bharati, Govind N Sahu, Pulkit Jain
MadLab, IITK
Objective
Generate a G-code to manufacture a gear using the 3D printing
machine. CAD model for the part will be provided to you.
About the Printer
• We will use the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) method of rapid
prototyping, i.e. 3D printing. There are other methods too. Those will
be discussed in class.
• The printer is a cartesian Printer (x-y-z)
About the printer

Cartesian Printer
1. X Direction
2. Y Direction
3. Z Direction
4. Filament
5. Extrusion Nozzle
6. Heated Platform
7. Printed Part
Printing Procedure

CAD file Slicing to Gcode 3D Printing Product

 At first, you must export the CAD model in a neutral format
• Go to file Export  CAD Format and select file type as STL files (*.stl)
Exporting the CAD model
• After selecting file type click on options to save the file with high
resolution.
• Select resolution as high and save the file
• A high resolution file makes for a better
printed product
Open the Craftware software and click on ‘Options’ to set the
printer properties in the software.
The procedure to slice to generate a G-code involves many
steps. Start with:
• Go to the Printer in the popup
window and put the following
properties of printer we will be
using – the same one you
assembled.
• Width (X) = 220 mm;
• Depth (Y) = 220 mm;
• Height (Z) = 250 mm;
• Offset (X) = 5mm;
• Offset (Y) = 5mm;
• Click on store to save
• Click Ok.
Next, click on Add to import the saved .stl file.
Next, Click on ‘Drop’ and select the base surface.
We would like that we build from the base up.
Next, Click on the ‘move’ button to move the part in the middle
(approximately). You can select any axis and move the part in that
particular direction.
Next, Click on the ‘Slice’ button and select ‘Switch to expert
mode’ if prompted and go to ‘Basic’. There are five steps (1-5)
to be followed now, detailed in the next slides

4.
1.

2.

3.

5.
1. Section: Resolution under the ‘Basic’ tab
• Set the ‘Extrusion width’ to 0.4 mm. This is determined by the nozzle diameter on the
machine you will use, which has a 0.4 mm opening.
• Layer Height is the Z axis resolution and defines thickness of each layer. Set this value
to be 0.2 mm. The finer this layer thickness, the better the printed product, but more
the time it will take.
• Draw speed controls the speed at which the filament is drawn from the spool. This
also governs the printing speed and quality. Set this value to be 60 mm/s.
2. Section: ‘Extruder’ under the ‘Basic’ tab
• Filament diameter helps software to calculate material flow. We will be using a
filament of diameter 1.75 mm. Set this value.
• Keep the ‘flow adjust’ at 100 %. If underflow or over flow occurs, flow adjust is used
to correct it
3. Section: Vertical Shell under the ‘Basic’ tab:
This section determines the properties of the vertical layer at the boundary of the part.
• Set the ‘Loop count = 6 loops’
• ‘Unlock’ the H and V Shell Thickness to manually set the top and vertical layer properties
• Set the ‘Vertical Shell Offset = 0 mm’; the ‘Perimeter Width = 100%’, and the ‘Perimeter Speed =
60%’

4. Section: Top/Bottom Shell under the ‘Basic’ tab:

This section determines the Properties of the Top and Bottom layer at the boundary of the part.
• Set the ‘Type = Parallel Lines’, and se the ‘Top and Bottom Layers = 6 (both)’
• Leave all the other parameters unchanged, i.e., keep them the same as in the screenshot shown
in the slide before last.

5. Section: Infill under the ‘Basic’ tab:

This section determines the properties for printing inside of the object.
• Set the ‘Type = Triangle Grid’; ‘Density/Width = 80% and 120 %’ and ‘Speed = 150%’
Next, Go to Foundation and select Brim and don’t change the
default values
Types
• Brim – Creates few loops at a
distance from the main object and
is useful to determine levelling
problems.
• Skirt – Creates an extra layer
connected around the perimeter of
the main object which helps better
sticking and prevents warping
when print cools down.
• Raft – Creates a support platform
on which the main object is
printed. Raft is used to prevent
warping, levelling problems and
unsticking of the print but
consumes more material.
 Next, go to the ‘Temperature’ tab, and

Set the following:

• Bed Temperature = 600 𝐶
• Head Temperature =
2150 𝐶

On completion of the above

steps:
• Click on slice button
If you’ve done everything correctly, you may now:
• In the bottom, move the Layer slider to view the printing simulation
• Click on Save button to save the G-code.
• Open the saved G-code in the note pad

• Done, this is the exercise!

• Congratulations!
• You will need to do something similar
when you actually make a G code to print
a part that goes into your project.