Optically Clear FDM Printing
Name
pettit-lumikp-sb-meche-2022-thesis.pdf
Description
Thesis PDF
Size
1.89 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
9a7a5b3a9f797db27ef2360b2d704837
Author(s)
Pettit, Leah
Advisor(s)
Fang, Nicholas Xuanlai
Date Issued
May 2022
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
3D printers are becoming increasingly common in homes and libraries across the country. With it comes a desire to make something, but little direction about what to make. A large percentage of the US population wears glasses, so a project which allows people to 3D print their own glasses would be both meaningful and practical if it can be done using easy-to-learn skills. While there is a single documented example of producing a 3D printed lens with some post-processing, that used SLA printer, which is currently less common, especially amongst individuals. I set out to determine whether this process could be amended for FDM 3D printing or if there is another way to make optically clear lenses with an FDM printer. I discovered that the other traditional smoothing techniques were not sufficient to create a clear surface, but resin coating could result in a fully transparent object. However, further research is needed to determine whether a specific focus can be repeatably created using this method, and it would still require a substantial time investment on the part of the potential user. This makes it a poor early-learning project, but leaves open the potential value to more advanced makers.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Terms of Use
CC0 - Public Domain
Copyright Public Domain
Persistent DSpace Link
