KAUST Beacon

I created this for my personal project in the MYP, which involves making a machine to recycle plastic bottles and turn them into filament, which will then be used to print the KAUST Beacon. 

When printing with smaller dimensions, the print's structural integrity tends to decrease, and the difficulty of printing increases due to smaller details and potential issues like warping or clogging. For 3D printing:

Nozzle Size:

• For prints above 60% of the original size, I use a 0.4mm nozzle, which provides a good balance between speed and detail.
• For prints below 60% of the original size, I use a smaller 0.2mm nozzle to maintain detail and precision in the finer features of the print.

Infill:

• I use a minimum of 30% infill to ensure a strong and durable print. Lower infill percentages can lead to weaker structures, particularly in smaller prints where support and strength are critical.
• I sometimes increase infill to 50-100% for extra strength, although it increases printing time and material consumption.

Material Considerations:

• I tried PETG and PLA for my project, both of which work well with a 0.4mm nozzle and 30% infill. Other materials should also perform well with similar settings, depending on their specific properties. PETG, in particular, offers durability and flexibility, while PLA is easier to print.

Files:

• For my project, I used two files: "Beacon with Base" and "Beacon with No Base." These two options allow flexibility depending on whether I want the beacon to have a base or not.