Bell Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer

1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4302-6808-6
Verlag: APRESS
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 509 Seiten, eBook

Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer by Charles Bell is your guide to keeping your 3D printer running through preventive maintenance, repair, and diagnosing and solving problems in 3D printing. If you’ve bought or built a 3D printer such as a MakerBot only to be confounded by jagged edges, corner lift, top layers that aren’t solid, or any of a myriad of other problems that plague 3D printer enthusiasts, then here is the book to help you get past all that and recapture the joy of creative fabrication. The book also includes valuable tips for builders and those who want to modify their printers to get the most out of their investment.Good fabrication begins with calibration. Aligning the print bed to support deposition of medium in three dimensions is critical. Even off-the-shelf machines that are pre-built must be aligned and periodically realigned throughout their life cycle. Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer helps you achieve and hold proper alignment. Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer also helps with software and hardware troubleshooting. You’ll learn to diagnose and solve firmware calibration problems, filament and feed problems, chassis issues, and more. Finally there are regular maintenance and enhancements. You’ve invested significantly in your 3D printer. Protect that investment using the guidance in this book. Learn to clean and lubricate your printer, to maintain the chassis, and know when realignment of the print bed is needed. Learn ways to master your craft and improve the quality of your prints through such things as post-print finishing and filament management. Don’t let the challenges of 3D printing stand in the way of creativity. Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer by Charles Bell helps you conquer the challenges and get the most benefit from your expensive investmentin personal fabrication.

Zielgruppe

Popular/general

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bell, Charles

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Contents at a Glance;3
2;Contents;498
3;About the Author;507
4;About the Technical Reviewer;508
5;Acknowledgments;509
6;Introduction;5
7;Part 1: Getting Started with 3D Printing;9
7.1;Chapter 1: Introduction to 3D Printing;10
7.1.1;Getting Started;10
7.1.1.1;What Is 3D Printing?;11
7.1.1.2;How Does FFF Work ?;12
7.1.2;3D Printing Software;14
7.1.2.1;Computer-Aided Design;15
7.1.2.2;CAD Software Choices;16
7.1.2.3;Blender;17
7.1.2.4;OpenSCAD;19
7.1.3;Thingiverse: An Object Repository;20
7.1.3.1;Computer-Aided Manufacturing;22
7.1.3.1.1;What is G-code ?;22
7.1.3.2;CAM Software Choices;24
7.1.3.3;MakerWare;25
7.1.3.4;Slic3r;29
7.1.4;Filament Properties;30
7.1.4.1;Firmware;32
7.1.4.2;Firmware Choices;33
7.1.4.3;Printer Control;37
7.1.4.4;Pronterface;38
7.1.4.5;Repetier-Host;39
7.1.4.6;3D Printer Hardware;43
7.1.4.7;Axis Movement;44
7.1.5;Minimum and Maximum Endstops and Crashes;45
7.1.5.1;Stepper Motors;47
7.1.5.2;Extrusion Mechanism (Extruder);48
7.1.5.3;Build Platform;50
7.1.5.4;Electronics;51
7.1.5.5;Frame;52
7.1.5.6;Filament Types;54
7.1.5.7;ABS vs. PLA: Which Is Best?;56
7.1.5.8;Switching Filament;56
7.1.6;What You Can Expect from a 3D Printer;57
7.1.6.1;Ease of Use;57
7.1.6.2;Print Quality;58
7.1.6.3;Reliability;58
7.1.6.4;Maintainability;59
7.1.7;Summary;59
7.2;Chapter 2: Getting a 3D Printer;60
7.2.1;Classes of 3D Printers;60
7.2.1.1;Professional Grade;61
7.2.1.1.1;Vendors;62
7.2.1.1.2;Vendor Spotlight;63
7.2.1.2;Consumer Grade;64
7.2.1.2.1;Vendors;66
7.2.1.2.2;Vendor Spotlight;66
7.2.1.3;Hobbyist Grade (RepRap);69
7.2.1.3.1;Why RepRap?;70
7.2.1.3.2;Prusa Mendel i2;71
7.2.1.3.3;Prusa i3;73
7.2.1.3.4;Vendors;75
7.2.1.3.5;Vendor Spotlight;75
7.2.2;Sourcing Your Own Printer Kit;77
7.2.2.1;Make a Plan;77
7.2.2.2;Rules of Acquisition 13;79
7.2.2.3;Danger Ahead;80
7.2.3;3D Printer Features;81
7.2.3.1;Build Volume;81
7.2.3.2;Filament;82
7.2.3.3;Hot End Types;82
7.2.3.3.1;All-Metal;82
7.2.3.3.2;PEEK Body with PTFE Liner;84
7.2.3.3.3;Mounting Orientation;84
7.2.3.3.4;Choosing a Hot End;85
7.2.3.4;LCD Panel;85
7.2.3.5;SD Card Reader;85
7.2.3.6;Filament Cartridge System;86
7.2.3.7;Network Connection;86
7.2.3.8;Wireless Support;86
7.2.3.9;Adjustable Print Bed;86
7.2.3.10;Filament Cleaner;86
7.2.3.11;Filament Spool Holder;86
7.2.3.12;Heated Print Bed;86
7.2.3.13;Cooling Fans for the Print Bed;86
7.2.3.14;Electronics Cooling Fan;87
7.2.3.15;Auto Bed Leveling;87
7.2.4;Build or Buy?;88
7.2.4.1;Reasons for Building Your Own 3D Printer;88
7.2.4.2;Reasons for Buying a Ready-to-Print 3D Printer;88
7.2.4.3;How Do I Decide?;89
7.2.4.4;Buying a Used 3D Printer;89
7.2.5;Summary;91
7.3;Chapter 3: 3D Printer Building: Tips for a Successful Build;92
7.3.1;Tools and Skills Required;92
7.3.1.1;Tool Quality: Does it Matter?;93
7.3.1.2;Tools;94
7.3.1.2.1;Required Tools: General;94
7.3.1.2.2;Required Tools: Building a 3D Printer;96
7.3.1.2.3;Recommended Tools;101
7.3.1.2.4;Optional Tools;105
7.3.1.2.5;Recommended Supplies;108
7.3.1.3;Skills;109
7.3.1.3.1;Mechanical;109
7.3.1.3.2;Electrical;110
7.3.2;3D Printer Kits Revisited;110
7.3.2.1;Complete;111
7.3.2.2;Parts Only;112
7.3.2.3;Component;113
7.3.3;3D Printer Build Tips;114
7.3.3.1;General Notes;115
7.3.3.1.1;Organize Your Small Parts;115
7.3.3.1.2;Read the Instructions;117
7.3.3.1.3;Use a Clean, Clear Workspace;117
7.3.3.1.4;Check the Bill of Materials;118
7.3.3.1.5;Lay Out Your Tools;118
7.3.3.1.6;Don’t Mix SAE and Metric;118
7.3.3.1.7;Keep Your Hands Clean;118
7.3.3.1.8;No Duct Tape Allowed;118
7.3.3.1.9;Give Me a Break!;119
7.3.3.1.10;Don’t Force Components Together;119
7.3.3.1.11;Don’t Vary From the Plan;119
7.3.3.1.12;Keep an Engineering Logbook;119
7.3.3.1.13;It’s Not a Toy!;120
7.3.3.2;Frame Components;120
7.3.3.2.1;Cleaning Bolt and Rod Holes;120
7.3.3.2.2;Test-Fit Parts Before Assembly;121
7.3.3.2.3;Measure Twice;121
7.3.3.2.4;Clean Threaded Rods;121
7.3.3.2.5;Nut Traps;121
7.3.3.2.6;How Tight?;122
7.3.3.2.7;Fixing Stripped Bolts;122
7.3.3.2.8;Locate Lost Nuts and Other Small Bits;123
7.3.3.2.9;Paint or Stain with Caution;123
7.3.3.3;The Moving Parts;123
7.3.3.3.1;Working with Oiled Parts;123
7.3.3.3.2;Keep Smooth and Threaded Rods Clean;123
7.3.3.3.3;Use of Belt Tensioners;124
7.3.3.3.4;Align Pulleys with the Belt;124
7.3.3.3.5;Don’t Stress the Plastic;124
7.3.3.3.6;What Is Backward ?;124
7.3.3.3.7;Don’t Mix Part Repositories;124
7.3.3.4;Electronics;125
7.3.3.4.1;ESD Is the Enemy;125
7.3.3.4.2;Test Your Components Separately;125
7.3.3.4.3;Don’t Rush Assembly;125
7.3.3.4.4;You Cannot Use Too Many Zip Ties;126
7.3.3.4.5;Cutting Wires to Length;126
7.3.3.4.6;Cut Zip Ties Close to the Nub;126
7.3.3.4.7;Use High-Temp Wire for Heaters;126
7.3.3.4.8;Use ESD Shielding for LCD Cables;126
7.3.3.4.9;Insulate Mains;128
7.3.3.4.10;Use Stress Relief;129
7.3.3.4.11;Spread the Load;130
7.3.3.5;Preflight Checks;130
7.3.3.5.1;Smoke Test;130
7.3.3.5.2;Set Endstops Conservatively;130
7.3.3.5.3;Connect Your Controller Software;130
7.3.3.5.4;Check the Endstop Status;131
7.3.3.5.5;Check Axis Movement;132
7.3.3.5.6;Check Heaters;133
7.3.3.5.7;Test Extrusion;134
7.3.4;Summary;134
7.4;Chapter 4: Configuring the Software;135
7.4.1;Setting up and Configuring the Firmware on Your Printer;135
7.4.1.1;Choosing Your Firmware;135
7.4.1.2;Getting Started with Marlin;136
7.4.1.3;Arduino Tutorial;137
7.4.1.4;Downloading Marlin;139
7.4.1.5;Prerequisite: Do the Math;140
7.4.1.5.1;Method 1: Manual Calculations;141
7.4.1.5.2;Method 2: Using the RepRap Calculator;143
7.4.1.6;Configuring Marlin;148
7.4.1.6.1;Author and Version;149
7.4.1.6.2;Baud Rate;149
7.4.1.6.3;Electronics Board;149
7.4.1.6.4;Temperature;150
7.4.1.6.5;Endstops;152
7.4.1.6.6;Axes Movement;153
7.4.1.6.7;EEPROM;155
7.4.1.6.8;LCD Panel;156
7.4.1.7;Compiling and Uploading;157
7.4.2;Project: Customizing Marlin;158
7.4.2.1;Adding Custom Menu Items;159
7.4.2.2;Displaying a Welcome Message;160
7.4.3;Installing Software on Your Computer;162
7.4.3.1;Choosing Your Printer Controller;162
7.4.3.2;Installing Repetier-Host;164
7.4.3.3;Connecting Your Printer;164
7.4.3.4;Running the Preflight Tests;169
7.4.4;Project: Building a 3D Printer Print Server;170
7.4.4.1;Raspberry Pi Tutorial;171
7.4.4.1.1;Getting Started;171
7.4.4.1.2;Installing a Boot Image;171
7.4.4.1.2.1;Windows;171
7.4.4.1.2.2;Mac OS X;171
7.4.4.1.2.3;Linux;172
7.4.4.2;Setting up the Raspberry Pi Hardware;172
7.4.4.3;Setting up the Raspberry Pi Software;174
7.4.4.4;Connecting and Using OctoPi;174
7.4.5;Summary;180
7.5;Chapter 5: Calibrating the Printer;181
7.5.1;Setting the Endstops;181
7.5.1.1;X-Axis Endstop;182
7.5.1.2;Y-Axis Endstop;184
7.5.1.3;Z-Axis Endstop;187
7.5.1.3.1;Z-Height Adjusters;187
7.5.1.3.2;Proper Z-Height;188
7.5.1.3.3;Z-Axis Endstop Location;189
7.5.2;Calibrating the Stepper Drivers;190
7.5.3;Calibrating the Axes;191
7.5.3.1;Tools Required;192
7.5.3.2;X Axis;192
7.5.3.3;Y Axis;196
7.5.3.4;Z Axis;197
7.5.4;Calibrating the Extruder;199
7.5.5;Leveling the Heated Print Bed;205
7.5.6;Frame and Chassis;209
7.5.7;Summary;210
8;Part 2: Troubleshooting;211
8.1;Chapter 6: Printing for the First Time;212
8.1.1;Preparing the Printer for Printing;212
8.1.1.1;Preparing Your Print Surface;212
8.1.1.1.1;Prerequisites;213
8.1.1.1.2;Blue Painter’s Tape;213
8.1.1.1.3;Kapton Tape;218
8.1.1.1.4;ABS Juice;224
8.1.1.1.5;Other Treatments;228
8.1.1.2;Setting the Z-Height;228
8.1.1.3;Slicer Calibration;229
8.1.2;Printing Your First Object;238
8.1.2.1;Printing Process;238
8.1.2.2;Calibration Prints;240
8.1.3;Finding Things to Print;244
8.1.3.1;Getting Started;244
8.1.3.2;Searching;245
8.1.3.3;Downloading;246
8.1.4;Summary;248
8.2;Chapter 7: Solving Hardware Issues;249
8.2.1;Troubleshooting Techniques;250
8.2.1.1;Create a Baseline;251
8.2.1.2;Observe and Record;252
8.2.1.3;Consider the Possible Causes;253
8.2.1.4;Choose a Cause and Implement a Strategy to Correct;254
8.2.2;Hardware Problems;255
8.2.2.1;Filament;255
8.2.2.1.1;Quality;256
8.2.2.1.2;Filament Spool Tension;256
8.2.2.1.3;Contaminants;257
8.2.2.1.4;Environmental Factors;258
8.2.2.2;Extruder and Hot End;258
8.2.2.2.1;Extruder Mechanism;259
8.2.2.2.2;Nozzle Obstructions;260
8.2.2.2.3;Fixing Filament Feed Failures;260
8.2.2.3;Adhesion;261
8.2.2.3.1;Print Bed Adjustments;262
8.2.2.3.2;Print Surface;262
8.2.2.3.3;Environmental Factors;263
8.2.2.4;Axes and Chassis;267
8.2.2.4.1;Obstructions;267
8.2.2.4.2;Adjustments;267
8.2.2.4.3;Part Failure;268
8.2.2.4.4;Lack of Maintenance;269
8.2.2.5;Electrical;269
8.2.2.5.1;Stepper Motors;270
8.2.2.5.2;Wiring;271
8.2.2.5.3;Electronics Board;272
8.2.2.5.4;Other Components;272
8.2.3;Summary;273
8.3;Chapter 8: Solving Software Issues;274
8.3.1;Slicer;274
8.3.1.1;First-Layer Adhesion;275
8.3.1.2;Print Quality;279
8.3.1.2.1;Warping;280
8.3.1.2.2;Splitting;281
8.3.1.2.3;Sagging;282
8.3.1.3;Scaling;284
8.3.1.4;Orientation;285
8.3.1.5;Filament and Extrusion;290
8.3.1.5.1;Poor Extrusion;290
8.3.1.5.2;Oozing;292
8.3.1.5.3;Layer Inconsistencies;293
8.3.2;Printer Controller;294
8.3.2.1;Communication Failures;295
8.3.2.2;Axis Crashes;295
8.3.3;Firmware;296
8.3.4;Summary;296
9;Part 3: Maintenance and Enhancements;297
9.1;Chapter 9: 3D Printer Maintenance: Inspection and Adjustment Tasks;298
9.1.1;Getting Started with Maintenance;299
9.1.1.1;Keep Your Area Clean and Free of Clutter;299
9.1.1.2;Organize Your Tools for Quick Access;300
9.1.1.3;Unplug Your Printer;300
9.1.1.4;Take Your Time;300
9.1.1.5;Record Your Observations;301
9.1.2;Basic Maintenance Tasks;302
9.1.2.1;Inspection Tasks;302
9.1.2.1.1;Frame;304
9.1.2.1.1.1;Tighten Bolts;304
9.1.2.1.1.2;Check Alignment;305
9.1.2.1.1.3;Check for Broken Parts;306
9.1.2.1.2;Axes;306
9.1.2.1.3;Filament;307
9.1.2.1.4;Extruder;307
9.1.2.1.5;Belts;310
9.1.2.1.6;Wiring;311
9.1.2.1.7;Print Surface;312
9.1.2.2;Adjustment Tasks;313
9.1.2.2.1;Level the Print Bed;314
9.1.2.2.2;Set the Z-Height;318
9.1.2.2.3;Clean the Filament Drive Pulley;319
9.1.2.2.4;Clean the Nozzle;323
9.1.3;Summary;327
9.2;Chapter 10: 3D Printer Maintenance: Preventive and Corrective Tasks;328
9.2.1;Preventive Tasks;328
9.2.1.1;Cleaning the Printer;329
9.2.1.1.1;Frame;330
9.2.1.1.2;Electronics;330
9.2.1.1.3;Build Area;332
9.2.1.1.4;Threaded and Smooth Rods;332
9.2.1.2;Lubricating Moving Parts;337
9.2.1.3;Replacing Worn Parts;341
9.2.2;Got Spares?;341
9.2.2.1;Printing Spares;342
9.2.2.2;Recommended List of Spares;343
9.2.2.2.1;Printed Parts;343
9.2.2.2.2;Replacement Parts;344
9.2.3;Corrective Tasks;345
9.2.3.1;Clearing a Clogged Nozzle;347
9.2.3.2;Replacing Broken or Worn Plastic Parts;352
9.2.3.3;Repairing Broken ABS Parts;354
9.2.3.4;Replacing Extruder Gears;356
9.2.3.5;Replacing Belts;358
9.2.3.5.1;Replacing Open Belts;358
9.2.3.5.2;Replacing Closed Belts;358
9.2.3.5.2.1;X-Axis Belt;359
9.2.3.5.2.2;Y-Axis Belt;360
9.2.3.5.3;Belt Tensioners;364
9.2.3.6;Bearings, Bushings, and Rods;365
9.2.3.6.1;Replacing Bearings and Bushings;366
9.2.3.6.2;Replacing Smooth Rods;366
9.2.3.7;Replacing Filters;367
9.2.4;Summary;368
9.3;Chapter 11: 3D Printer Enhancements;369
9.3.1;Types of Enhancements;369
9.3.1.1;Farkles;370
9.3.1.1.1;Beautification;370
9.3.1.1.2;LED Lighting;371
9.3.1.2;Quality Enhancements;372
9.3.1.2.1;Filament Management System;372
9.3.1.2.2;Insulated Heated Print Bed;374
9.3.1.3;Feature Upgrades;376
9.3.1.3.1;LCD Panels;376
9.3.1.3.2;Z-Height Adjuster;378
9.3.2;Upgrading Your Printer: Getting Started;380
9.3.2.1;Do Your Research: Finding Upgrades;380
9.3.2.2;Set Your Goals and Expectations;381
9.3.2.3;Check Your Calibration;381
9.3.2.4;One Upgrade at a Time;382
9.3.2.5;Generic Upgrades: Your First Upgrade;382
9.3.2.5.1;Lighting;382
9.3.2.5.2;Adjustable Feet;383
9.3.2.5.3;Fans;383
9.3.2.5.4;Which One Should I Choose?;384
9.3.3;Printer-Specific Upgrades;385
9.3.3.1;Printrbot Simple;385
9.3.3.1.1;Belt Drive Upgrades;386
9.3.3.1.1.1;Older Simple Printers;386
9.3.3.1.1.2;Newer Simple Printers;387
9.3.3.1.2;LCD Panel and Onboard Mount;388
9.3.3.1.3;Z-Probe and Mount ( Auto Bed Leveling);388
9.3.3.1.4;Power Supply;390
9.3.3.1.5;Other Considerations;391
9.3.3.2;Prusa Mendel i2;391
9.3.3.2.1;LCD Panel;393
9.3.3.2.1.1;Borosilicate Glass Print Surface;394
9.3.3.2.2;Spool Holder and Filament Guide;394
9.3.3.2.3;Print Cooling Fan;395
9.3.3.2.4;Z-height Adjuster;395
9.3.3.2.5;Y-Axis Belt Tensioner;395
9.3.3.2.6;Print Bed Adjusters;396
9.3.3.2.7;Z-Axis Fix;397
9.3.3.3;Prusa i3;400
9.3.3.3.1;Y-Axis Cable Strain Relief;403
9.3.3.3.2;Flex Coupler;404
9.3.3.3.3;USB Cable Relocate;405
9.3.3.3.4;Spool Holder and Filament Guide;406
9.3.3.3.5;Z-Probe for Auto Bed Leveling;407
9.3.3.3.5.1;Modifying Your Own Copy;411
9.3.3.3.5.2;Using the Modified Marlin Firmware;411
9.3.3.3.5.3;Installing and Wiring the Sled;411
9.3.3.4;MakerBot Replicator 1 Dual;411
9.3.3.4.1;MakerBot Replicator Extruder Upgrade / Filament Drive;413
9.3.3.4.2;Upgraded Heated Print Bed;415
9.3.3.4.3;AluCarriage Dual;415
9.3.3.4.4;Aluminum Arm Upgrade: Replicator 1;417
9.3.3.4.5;Enclosure;418
9.3.3.5;MakerBot Replicator 2 (and 2X);419
9.3.3.5.1;Upgraded Print Bed;421
9.3.3.5.2;Enclosure;423
9.3.3.5.3;AluCarriage Single;425
9.3.3.5.4;Extruder Upgrade;425
9.3.3.5.5;Aluminum Arm Upgrade: Replicator 2/ 2X;425
9.3.4;Summary;426
10;Part 4: Mastering Your Craft;427
10.1;Chapter 12: Working with Objects;428
10.1.1;Creating Objects;428
10.1.1.1;OpenSCAD Tutorial;429
10.1.1.1.1;Coordinates;429
10.1.1.2;Example: Creating a Thread Spool;435
10.1.1.2.1;Make It Parametric: Enable Adaptation;436
10.1.1.2.2;Document Your Work;437
10.1.2;Modifying Objects;438
10.1.2.1;Modifying OpenSCAD Files;439
10.1.2.2;Object Mashup;439
10.1.3;Post-Print Finishing;442
10.1.3.1;Preparation Is Key;442
10.1.3.1.1;Cleanup;442
10.1.3.1.2;Sanding;444
10.1.3.1.3;Surface Treatments;445
10.1.3.2;Painting;445
10.1.3.3;ABS Acetone Vapor Bath;447
10.1.3.3.1;What Does It Do?;448
10.1.3.3.2;Preparation;449
10.1.3.3.3;Vapor Bath Process;450
10.1.3.3.4;Cleanup;451
10.1.3.4;Assembling Multipart Things;451
10.1.4;Summary;452
10.2;Chapter 13: Taking It to the Next Level;453
10.2.1;Contributing 3D Models;453
10.2.1.1;How We Share;454
10.2.1.1.1;Selling Your Things;454
10.2.1.1.2;Giving to Others;455
10.2.1.2;Sharing Etiquette;455
10.2.1.2.1;Keep Your Designs Original;455
10.2.1.2.2;Check the License;456
10.2.1.2.3;Keep It Appropriate;457
10.2.1.2.4;Annotate Your Work;457
10.2.1.2.5;Be a Good Citizen;458
10.2.1.3;Example: Uploading a Thing to Thingiverse;458
10.2.1.3.1;Prepare the Design;459
10.2.1.3.2;Choose a License;461
10.2.1.3.3;Create the Site;462
10.2.1.3.4;Monitor Feedback;464
10.2.2;Ideas for Using Your 3D Printer;465
10.2.2.1;Spawning a New Printer;465
10.2.2.1.1;What Is a Smartrap?;466
10.2.2.1.2;Printing the Plastic Parts;466
10.2.2.1.3;Acquiring the Hardware and Electronics;467
10.2.2.1.4;Building;467
10.2.2.2;Practical Household Solutions;467
10.2.2.2.1;Prototyping Tips;468
10.2.2.2.2;Closet Accessories;470
10.2.2.2.3;Mechanical Hardware;471
10.2.2.2.4;Furniture;473
10.2.3;Summary;477
10.3;Appendix: Common Problems and Solutions;478
10.3.1;Adhesion Problems;479
10.3.2;Extrusion Problems;480
10.3.3;Print Quality Problems;482
10.3.4;Mechanical or Electrical Problems;483
11;Index;485

Über Autor(innen)

Charles Bell conducts research in emerging technologies. He is a member of the Oracle MySQL Development team and is the team lead for the MySQL Utilities team. He lives in a small town in rural Virginia with his loving wife. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005. Dr. Bell is an expert in the database field and has extensive knowledge and experience in software development and systems engineering. His research interests include 3D printers, microcontrollers, three-dimensional printing, database systems, software engineering, and sensor networks. He spends his limited free time as a practicing Maker focusing on microcontroller projects and refinement of three-dimensional printers. Dr. Bell maintains a blog on his research projects and many other interests. You can find his blog at http://drcharlesbell.blogspot.com/.