Solved Smallest realistic text from 0.2mm resolution

Just working on a project so that I can print some realistic-looking/feeling metallic coins from the Robo C2.

* Hoping that it will really look and feel like metal
* Hoping that the coin will have enough weight to it so that you can't immediately tell it's plastic
* Hoping that the size of each coin roughly matches what we're used to seeing in real life

Just designied the face of a Harry Potter—inspired Knut coin, the lowest denomination in wizarding currency. My approach would be to go hollow-center and place a standard penny inside for weight. The outer diameter I chose matches a quarter.

First print looks good from a material standpoint and after removing the supports, the penny fits perfectly and is flush to the z-top. Unfortunately, the raised lettering and such are major fail. I'm really trying to push the envelope with respect to resolution and the 0.2mm isn't cutting it. Or maybe it's Autodesk Fusion 360 + Cura, I dunno. I am using the Robo C2 profile and the custom Shaxon Copper-Infused 1.75 material file. It's possible that this is a temperature thing but probably not. Apologies that I don't have photos at the moment, had to dash off to work this morning. (I ran two printouts to confirm the same results.)

I guess I'll scale things out to 2x all-around and see if I can see better results in the pulled lettering. What's sad is that Autodesk failed over and over again to pull the lettering with a radius that wasn't zero.

Once I've got the surface features happily printing and both halves of the coin, I intend to then assemble some (glue gun with the possibility of using the same PLA in it), light sanding around the circumference, inside the magnetic tumbler we discussed earlier with the copper media (glued magnet/penny sandwiches plus copper-clad screws), an optional art copper brush-on and finally, a cathode-penny electrolysis bath.

I wonder what's the smallest raised lettering you can do with this printer. Any examples?

 

On the topic of nozzles, is there somewhat of a standard for those? What would we be looking for for our R2s/C2s?

 

:facepalm: Of course that's it. Each coin prints in a hurry now; I won't care if it takes four times the duration to print one using a smaller opening.

So, we're talking MK8 (Hexagon) 1.75--compatible and looking for 0.25mm nozzle... or smaller, sleuthing this a bit...

Kamo is out of their 0.2mm
OctagonStar 0.2mm
Wisamic variety pack 0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5
...or the Jerrill.com 0.1mm but I'm not sure if the C2 can slow down the extrusion rate with its gearset to match that



On a sidenote, I've just discovered Autodesk 123D Catch for a better attempt at the wizard's face... but they've discontinued it as of January.

 

Saw that (eventually). Yep, yep...

So I'll print some lousy 0.4mm versions for now while awaiting a new nozzle and play around with post-processing techniques.

 

Thanks, now got hardened 0.4 and 0.25 nozzles ordered along with some filled filaments to play with.

 

The copper and brass both look beautiful from a material standpoint, albeit with a dull matte appearance so far. Haven't tested this yet, but the electroplating will need a nice conductive surface to begin so I'll need to test what I have now with the multimeter and check the resistance. Typically, you flash a layer or two of something easy and then go for the final finish. Fortunately, I have a handful of trashy silver Olympic commemorative coins (~$14) I can use and a bagful of train-squashed pennies (not that it matters much).

 

So what do we use now, Autodesk Remake? (multiple photos -> generated mesh)

 

I bought some copper, wood, carbon and magnetic steel. Will be interesting.

 

Both Fab Lab and the San Diego public library have those 3D scanners. So you're saying that they produce something that's not worth the effort?

 

Oh man, I'd love to get my hands on that magnetic steel version. The things I could do with that. ha

 

I'm basically trying to get a facial profile that's suitable for these coins, similar to some of this approach. Autodesk dropped 123D Catch so I'm looking for options here. My attempts so far at converting a flat image into raised mesh isn't working out.