Introduction: 3D Printing Direct From Gcode Created in Python/Grasshopper

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Created some gcode in python and grasshopper to make a few simple 3D prints

Supplies

Rhino, Grasshopper, Ender 3

Step 1: Fail

I initially wanted to experiment with extruder movement variation. This didn't work out great, but it meant that I implemented the extrusion inside the python script, getting the segment length by comparing the current point with the previous.

Step 2: Try Something Else

I changed focus to creating spines of more dense material connected with bridging, sticking to a cylindrical shape.

Not super exciting, but I was impressed with how flexible they turned out

Step 3:

This is the python code to create this shape. The others were variations on this with taper and more or less rotations.

Step 4: Printer Settings

I found that 205 seemed to work better so I changed the header to heat to that amount. I also changed the preheat temp to be the same as the machine's current PLA setting since it was turning down to 175 when the print started.