Exactly last Wednesday, June 30, 2021, Eric San Focalie, a final year student at iSTTS discussed DIY custom fashion bracelets with 3D printing at the KSP Special Holiday Program 2021 Episode 4 at 10.00 – 12.00 WIB which took place on Zoom. When you hear the word printing, what comes to mind is a paper printer or screen printing tool. For example, a printer that is usually at home to print assignments, print shirts and helmets. But the 3D printing that will be discussed this time is different from the printers that we usually encounter. What exactly is 3D printing? 3D printing is an innovation in the world of technology which can produce a real work that can be useful in society. What is the result of 3D printing like? The results of 3D printing can be anything, such as key chains, bracelets, car spare parts, bicycle spare parts, and more.

Knowing this, it is known that 3D printing is very useful in people's lives. Although it looks like it can produce anything you want, it turns out that 3D printing has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of 3D printing, namely:

Faster process
Very detailed prints
Can be used for duplicating company or business products

However, this tool still causes some disadvantages, such as:

Manufacturing jobs die

Why is that? By using 3D Printing, a company will not produce manufactured goods in a production for reasons of savings.

Not accepted in society

If 3D printing has begun to be widely used, many jobs will be lost/dead such as manufacturing jobs and other service workers that can be supported by the printing machine.

Less practical

3D printing cannot print two objects/items at once but must be one at a time or in stages. Therefore, if you want to mass produce goods, you need more than one 3D printing.

Copyright will die

With 3D printing, you can duplicate the desired item, such as Razer Headphones.

In the process of implementing 3D printing, 2 tools are needed, namely a computer or laptop and a 3D printer. There are 3 processes in doing 3D printing, namely making 3D object designs on a computer or laptop, printing on a 3D printer, and finishing processes by tidying up certain parts of an object. Although in general there are only 3 processes when doing 3D printing, it turns out that the process of making DIY bracelets using 3D printing takes place in 7 stages. These stages are as follows:

1. Designing 3D objects on a computer/laptop

Create 3D object designs using applications such as solidwork, 3ds max, blender, and others.

2. Perform the process of slicing 3D files

Slicing, the process of converting a 3D design file into a file that is ready to be printed by a 3D printer.

3. Calibrate the 3D printing machine

In calibration, it is necessary to adjust the size with the 3D printer engine and check the temperature on the 3D printer whether it is hot or not.

4. Printing process

The 3D printer prints on the desired object. The larger the size and size of the printed object, the longer the waiting time for the object to be made of glass.

5.Assembly process

perform the assembly or assembly process on objects that have been printed. For example, the installation of the airpod cover on the airpod body.

6.Process completed

Trimming the excess parts printed by a 3D printer.

7. Product is ready to use.

From the results of the 3D printing above, it aroused the interest of KSP participants. And raises a new question, how to learn 3D printing and how long does it take? According to Eric, the length of time it takes to master 3D printing is different for each individual. This depends on the desire and determination to learn from each individual. Some only need 2 months, some 4 months. Eric himself needed a 6-month process to understand how to use and work stages of 3D printing. For beginners, it will be easier to learn by using a 3D printer. Because for him, the knowledge gained when watching Youtube is still lacking and very different when using the machine directly. The study place suggested by Eric is in the iSTTS Product Design department. At iSTTS, a 3D printer has been provided so that students do not need to pay extra. Even you are interested in learning this machine, but do not have the drawing skills or product design knowledge at all that will be led to understand from basic to higher level.

Through the material that has been presented, it can be concluded that 3D printing is very useful and can be used as a source of income during this pandemic. If you want to ask questions about this material, you can directly contact KSP iSTTS at email ksp@istts.ac.id.