Metal 3D Print: Latticed Ring

When given the opportunity to work with the Concept Laser M2 metal printer my team and I decided to print a latticed ring. 3D printing is being used throughout the jewelry industry, from printing wax casts for jewelry, to printing the actual jewelry itself, as we have done. This project was relevant in the new adapters of additive technology. It also was a great first print on the metal printer, teaching us about proper bridging, wall thicknesses, location on build plate, and orientation of the print.

Designed a size seven ring on OnShape. It was made as an assembly of three parts the top and base rings, which were to remain solid, and the interior band which was to be latticed. The 3D object was loaded into nTopolology where the interior band was latticed. A volume lattice did not work, as the lattice did not rotate with the ring. So a conformal lattice was used instead. This lattice went between the interior surfaces of the outer solid rings.

The ring was printed in the Formlabs SLA printer, to verify the design.

There was a mild defect in the final print. But given the defect also being nearby on the printed dice we concluded the build plate must have had some kind of failure.

Supports were only put along the bottom edge of the ring. Due to the latticed interior thermal supports were not needed anywhere above the bottom of the ring. The only bridging issues came about below the top ring. Especially where the lattice stretched out. These bridges pushed the limitations of the printer and caved in, not providing the best finish.