Category Archives: Math Exhibition using Low-cost 3D Printers

Low-cost 3D printing of mathematical objects from IMAGINARY.ORG

The ICTP SciFabLab has hosted recently a project related to the challenge of making low-cost replicas of some mathematical surfaces that are part of the educational effort of IMAGINARY.ORG. Now the results are presented at a conference in Cape Town (South Africa), here you can find the presentations:

“Low-cost 3D Printing: Maths you can touch”

(duration: 60 min, 68 slides)

IMAGINARY_1 (PDF, 26 MB)

IMAGINARY_1 (PPTX, 345 MBWARNING: big file size!)

“Replicating the IMAGINARY collection of math objects using low-cost 3D printers”

(duration: 15 min, 18 slides)

IMAGINARY_2 (PDF, 5 MB)

IMAGINARY_2 (PPTX, 20 MB)

“Software tools and web resources to generate math objects for 3D-printing”

(duration: 30 min, 19 slides)

IMAGINARY_3 (PDF, 10 MB)

IMAGINARY_3 (PPTX, 25 MB)

Three related articles

extracted from the free open book on “Low-cost 3D Printing for Science, Education and Sustainable Development”, about OpenSCAD and K3DSurf (software tools to generate printable math objects)

  • 3D Modeling with OpenSCAD – Part 1
    by Sebastian Büttrich
  • 3D Modeling with OpenSCAD – Part 2
    by Marius Kintel
  • From Math to Jewel: an Example
    by Gaya Fior

excerpt_3DPrinting_Book (PDF, 11 MB)

Mostra Matematica IMAGINARY utilizzando stampanti 3D a basso costo

imaginary

Abbiamo fatto un tentativo di riprodurre degli oggetti della mostra “IMAGINARY Open Mathematics Exhibition” (www.imaginary.org), utilizzando delle stampanti 3D desktop a basso costo. Il progetto internazionale “IMAGINARY Open Mathematics Exhibition” dell”Istituto tedesco “Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach” comprende gallerie di oggetti tridimensionali che sono unici, attraenti esteticamente ed hanno un significato matematico. Qui si illustra la realizzazione di vari oggetti didattici, utilizzando la nuova tecnologia di stampa 3D a basso costo, basata sulla tecnica di produzione additiva di tipo “Fused Deposition Modeling” (FDM) e l”uso di plastica biodegradabile online casino PLA. L”obiettivo finale e” quello di supportare i musei, le scuole e gli istituti di istruzione superiore nei paesi meno attrezzati di infrastrutture scientifiche.

IMAGINARY Math Exhibition using Low-cost 3D Printers

We have made an attempt to reproduce few objects of the IMAGINARY Open Mathematics Exhibition (www.imaginary.org) using low-cost, desktop 3D printers. The IMAGINARY open math is an international project by the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach in Germany and includes galleries of volumetric objects that are unique, have aesthetic appeal and mathematical meaning. We illustrate here the printing of these diverse learning materials using new 3D affordable printing technologies based on Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and the use of biodegradable plastic PLA. The final goal is to support museums, schools and higher education institutions in countries with limited scientific infrastructure.

See full article at:  http://fr.arxiv.org/abs/1409.5595

Math Exhibition using Low-cost 3D Printers: 3D model conversion tools

To print the mathematical shapes of the project “Math Exhibition”, I’ve selected the Ultimaker printers that are available, amongst others, in the SciFabLab.

There are two of the “original” model, one with a dual extruder.

After months of use, my overall assessment is positive: they are good machines, fast and accurate, despite some minor defect.

For these printers I’ve used the Cura program to “compile” the 3D model and transform it into a set of G-code instructions to send to the printer.

Actually, the Cura command “Load Model File” enables the loading of 3D models in these formats: STL, or OBJ, DAE, AMF, etc.

The first problem that has occurred in Project “Math Exhibition” was the fact that some of the 3D models were provided in X3D format, that “Cura” is not currently able to import.

Before performing other steps, it was necessary to convert the X3D files in STL format.
For this operation I have tested the use of two tools:

  1. Meshlab (open-source, developed by the ISTICNR research center, http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/)

  2. Netfabb (http://www.netfabb.com/)

Format conversion with Meshlab

Select: File – Import mesh

Select the x3d file. (for example: distel_200mm_full.x3d).

note_file_x3d_html_4262a6ca

note_file_x3d_html_6b5ce92c

To export in new file format: File – Esport as:

note_file_x3d_html_454f063f

Format conversion with Netfabb

Select: Project – New Project

Project – Add part

Select the x3d file. (for example: distel_200mm_full.x3d).

note_file_x3d_html_4262a6ca

note_file_x3d_html_240fb09e

To export in new file format: Part – Esport part – as STL (Ascii)

note_file_x3d_html_2b039bbe

Marco Rainone

Math Exhibition using Low-cost 3D Printers: introduction

forma_math_1_1024_768

The inspiration for this project was born when a colleague of Enrique Canessa has referred to this site:
http://imaginary.org/hands-on/four-math-sculptures
where are displayed beautiful representations of curves or surfaces described by mathematical formulas, reproduced with kind of professional 3D printers.


Naturally, professional printers have accuracy and print quality that absolutely can’t be compared with low cost 3D printers.
We asked whether, applying various techniques and precautions, objects of a certain complexity that are normally made with professional printers, could be reproduced also with low-cost models and which was the quality that could be reached in prints.