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How To Make a 3D Printed Tactile Map

Kevin Cleppe of CSUSB

kevin.cleppe@csusb.edu

Twitter: @cleppster

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Presentation Overview

Who am I? What started this?
Overview of 3D printing process (with demos*!)
Q&A
Examples up front

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Youtube Link For Full Length Tutorial

The link for the tutorial can be found here

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Who am I? What started this?

Kevin Cleppe
IT Consultant / Assistive Technologist
Fascinated by 3D printing and accessibility
Got my first printer last year!
Will be showing my workflow for maps

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With this workflow:

My Campus!

Durable
Portable
Scalable
Easy to update
Customizable!

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Who is this presentation for? / What to expect

Everyone!
Assumes no experience with 3D printing
Generic workflow for creating custom tactile maps
Create dialogue on topic

How would you do things differently?
What other programs could be used?

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Overall 3D Printing Process (4ish steps)

Get the data
Edit the data

Take raw data, cut it down, add your own information

Slice the data

Tells your printer HOW to print your model
Create “blueprint” for your digital file

Print the data

Preparing printer
Troubleshooting issues

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First things first

Get your user’s needs first!
Talk to your user

Know braille?
Whole campus?
Just one area?
What Points of Interest?
QR code familiarity?

This will save you time!

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Getting the initial data

Touch-mapper.org

Pulls data from OpenStreetMap.org
Open source platform for creating context for maps
Can be used to get the base map

Type in location into stress address
Click advanced options
Adjust map scale /longitude /latitude
Download the STL file

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Getting the initial data tip!

Double check the data that is pulled!

Up to date?
Includes all the spots?
Any missing important features?
Accurate?

Can be easy to correct mistakes
Need to catch them first though

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Editing the data

Blender / Tinkercad.com

Free!
LOTS of tutorials on how to use it

Where most of your work will happen
Remove unnecessary sections
Add in needed information
Group objects
Export as STL / OBJ

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Editing the data tips!

Removing unnecessary areas

“Lasso” tool in blender
Select wanted areas
Ctrl + I to invert, delete selected

Add braille / other markings

2x2 mm for half spheres = consistent line ups
Can then scale up / down as needed
Once done, group together
Most printers are decent at bridging

Braille does not need to be 100% on buildings

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Editing the data tips!

Orientation!

Cardinal directions
How will user know how to hold it?

Duplicate as needed!

Once you are done with a certain phase, duplicate and continue work
Will give you save points to refer to and work from

Remove unnecessary parts
Putting down braille
Scaling braille up / down

Make a bit thick (for durability)

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Slice the data

Need to slice the file, I use Cura (free!)
Slicing tells your printer how to print

The “Blueprint” for your file
Actual layout of print, layer by layer

Can leave most settings at default
Filament? (usually PLA)
Nozzle diameter? (Usually 0.4mm)

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Slice the data, my usual settings

0.4mm nozzle
.2 mm layer height
.3 mm initial layer height
20% infill
PLA
200 Nozzle / 50 Bed
Max out print plate
Skirt bed adhesion

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Printing the data

You’re almost there!
The coolest / most important step!
The one step I can’t really demonstrate though....
First layer is critical!

Skirt setting helps with checking Z Gap

Put printer on sturdy surface
Watch the print!

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Printing the data tips

Benchy test

3D printing calibration test
Stringing?
Bridging?
Layer adhesion?
Z gap?

Cute!
Quick to print / troubleshoot
Free benches up front!

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