Final Project - Eroding General 3D Parts

3D printing as a manufacturing system o ers new possibilities for designers. A key feature of it is the ability to print fully assembled mechanisms, while maintaining functionality. Due to the process of 3D printing, in order to create a mechanism some tolerance must be left between the parts, in order for them not to stick together. This tolerance changes from printer to printer. As such, a solution for eroding (insetting) general 3D parts is needed, to prepare these mechanisms to be 3D printed, instead of manufactured in old methods. In this project, I've implemented a general 3D part inserter. I've implemented it via two approaches, Nef polyhedra and Gaussian Maps, which will be discussed and compared. Also, validation of the desired o set, in order to prevent mistakes and enable automation will be discussed and implemented. Finally, a proof of concept for using this solution to print a 3D puzzle, The Gordian Knot, will be presented.