> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://alexanders-organization-7.gitbook.io/alex-digital-fabrication-diary/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://alexanders-organization-7.gitbook.io/alex-digital-fabrication-diary/week-3.md).

# Week 3

I came up with two new designs approaches

## Second Design: Hexagon with a connector element

As another alternative, I wanted to test out separate connector elements. For that, I created a hexagon shape with an opening. The opening had a width of 0.2mm. I created another connector element which had a thickness of 0.175mm and a half circle at the tip for easy attaching. <br>

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/cgxlchZv67DT7XsRRId8aSZiw9sSvSYTXRvx-7Yfnsh8EHcpPJ4PnVDbmT1XuPjmBiXaEWrnQYo8KLF-fPSzUuIfZr-XJ5UpLLb-Rn44Uh2XjjkG-ernR_GjvkmFyRzXFFcE2QtbDaUkifFFVzlvpi4h-uOH-Z8OUbIEHFpBO4GgiC1BZ2byKAdgrqZO0w)

{% file src="/files/yJJkkfLSM8sH8XvOvHSh" %}

While printing I realized that I designed the piece too small. It had a dimension of 2 x2 cm. The printer was not able to keep up with such a small scale. The pieces and the connectors were not usable. <br>

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ynv9sYwySr_TqH7NhdUlLv9zxT1trEl8y2TcUWlsXhyWY-I0MdspbxTW0iPBeLkRKWR1jZ6JIe4A5yYIrbutv7nqba7A6KfiI149MyyT-9AS7xPZNyIUluuqOtRjKGbBGr0Y4RcZRJiQpW7C8N6w7Niu5r9mfH-AyI93X5u4IOS-9iMboz2SWaBle4X07w)

<br>

To scale it up I used the scaling function in the Prusa Slicer to scale it by 150%. This scaling also affected my structure's thickness, making the hexagon element too thick to print correctly. During printing, the nozzle moved the pieces around.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/HS2PXHVnJ7RXjt-5hesmTW3uRxq6cq2lcqRlPQtwG4SleVYSIj_EOuDFo9E7qQAjV_oq9uJsrHCH-2SMkTazISnKToTHxAY_7AHZABjwQgDt1DhNs1QqQxCtok2pBrsHn4kkxm6v1Yan3lr4irOH262fIz5bxqJshVSK1OYjA3K8zO9XVtn26mOcFvimuw)

However, the pieces were still usable and had enough thickness and good detail level to put them together.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ANkNTHcZ2gSqU3FGWjsGV7NGOELmiyoEJlV1mdXt8lTI549M-6R9DQ9c9kQWeSNb24x5PT_WPQOwpo8prF6HX4ZVzggT59YtbPfSZeNMD4-YaY2XaqXBjU0yvPuC4DDNe52tjnukixLzCgMUi8SsX7mXv32wN35dk5dTGOEpLx8SBL5vfABx2k8WQz63xg)

Comparison between the two prints:&#x20;

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2VYhvL-zLYTvdd1_YQXhiP-qH_udxd_C-ow7ZAJD_zc1sBnMLd3B4oMYwTHnxNrCb5KGxBOiKtFqyEKo-s3daty-B5Jcg1NJI8FonHrWeJlO56oQwoDXOi1UuBWQrV0GHg5qetUSjYgyxgxQy35pWdbcxXro1D41Q_PyubhxFbTjdHC8wzjs8Ocfs2H6rQ)

<br>

## Third design: Ring chain element

As a different approach, I’ve tried to print a hexagonal structure with rings attached to the sides. These rings are alternated open and closed and they can be attached together. The ring opening was measured with 0.2mm.&#x20;

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Y7OledapPl5aTFcNpl826T7-mZg5rb_oz_QZnvA9sHCm7FydLDznLmcDX0XgnqVBMusCZkbuIx1PWbeMMdKzF8mNf0dsW6JIPI6ooXrHn7k_0zERnLQDnqn29f8Z5Z2aKx7EJHhh1iUXtOGbU0XInPuXU5Vo_49DT-jQHsh7nFZWc8aPXlcaC13eUt1c3Q)

{% file src="/files/wDQ6Ttuqp7KKuiCpQ9kw" %}

Since my last print was a bit too flexible I decided to print this piece with a thickness of 0.7mm. I’ve printed two parts and I was pretty happy with the design.

&#x20;![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QA5fCNYgovr070ylQAeYuApbKx0ZF7KJ737GSFHSxeyB1Mkh57KMl-q9G8IU0YNXLy4Nz3tbjbs9PCABh7Wmt4f3J-azvRiz-WL5t8Rwu8NgxuUtW_zO86-wRVqz4EA0uHgEUV5JPz2ZsunrmIuj7BvGeHJRBicBwmPEwpaYtXvhmSnMVjGxBiGZsg0I0Q)&#x20;

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SZx84rLCpRAmMvf4NdxX1kW3m0-_ZXvpRtxHf1psf0iuhljNmz-bjna6cO7iafRi1lgnfw9K6nUt3bwc5CEbcNWIZDxqr912dqEVkeeejW-wqcz4Nu0ZCg9QBPCo41vRiZMJzd9r6LsJM6MSOO1DpXkFQUG3vomrUgsj4C61Eco_f18lWR9JHUApHY4rmw)

For increased stability at the joints, I tried to move the slit of the rings closer to the body. I printed another two pieces to test the stability.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OiiZXc-ISBAm82hH9157x0QGmwwIf7jR-2jBMZyMU0dRLY9p36_Kb0hkeG38Ir41sqU5VY_0WwiF9Dc-0AzUxYtu_1bAh8HyeYQak_o2goNyWpVyAwk9RATIrirFKiNcL0OLsYWtQCzSM9FWVzT11EONOaCr69rRtp4KV7XV0EEXnb2uhjTVnEVDKJxQUQ)

After testing the pieces, however, I noticed that the original design offered slightly more stability on the joints.&#x20;

For the third iteration of this design, I tried to create an additional loop element to wrap around the closed rings to create a sturdy connection between to ring elements.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PV_IwyfkJIryQpNCnonN0pe3iiB_dg-cTqghhGaB1jl8DrXcbWV6CRUVni36WnbPnszuM-4avhcndpT1imLNt86SjiWmqoD40ka4fXb7XpEUzYU7owcYhSyZjPQxcdt-n7RrrZXWyl43q_ScQ2LL7s-HduyWZ9K9Kvp0074lqEta53FXmpmo5fyzZREISg)

{% file src="/files/0VqZopUngA0NZlhcB0LO" %}

However, due to the current scale of the element the printer was not able to properly print the small loop connector in the appropriate detail.

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PbAiJ5b_wEiH3EPCxgMB-KWluCxKN70-J30PPxcrQR50MQANqVY019Gfjch-Oo-vmFK2GsPoBSRtgAIZFLbErGOTq2qYx5aLzzXqK2WIiBjqcGS43tGgyisPLNXa9RSCzFk1oGQAPD992XezKLl-EGc3mCD7Fu_9_fBq5gMPUKY7n_OIPDT1ZkqSLQeSEg)

For the following print, I scaled up the elements in Tinkercad.

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/im94_C3K8x1vbkmJ4MPUomNR_OC3HnPqtEDCSzcvZv9f7fvWelAJLjuw5z7mbY066INdF4sb2tzbjfycyV08fI2NOW-RwpGoL_Sd-Kn97TUZXpPP0VZm1YIajqBfquICtDB2FywjtDou0buOqNL988mF0Vr6xlks2TODJWHE8zQyhI0gzVhrpjAp_mpMWQ)

These pieces improved the stability of the connection a lot.

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eKePTY-GwrbxJ4Ah-DfNFMvFf78ER5ctfA8P52vQ9mksA4Vh2opvtFGoFhaQl7KjjYYDCLNQCgTsx1n8hdsrtI9k0ICkVzkGIHHArlWLK0hYK7fqGYXfdg5kS5nM7abKlLcZmDUesKhYxymzuFv21JfC4uxFLFmbMIwzhwmK2xZ6gx7CVWrcnFc4QMkU8Q)

<br>