Week 4: 3D Printing

Background: Magic Angle Spinning

Magic angle spinning (MAS) is a technique used in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to improve the resolution of NMR spectra. In MAS, the sample is spun rapidly at an angle of 54.74 degrees (the magic angle) relative to the static magnetic field. This spinning averages out the anisotropic interactions that cause line broadening in solid-state NMR spectra, resulting in narrower and more well-defined peaks.

MAS has become a symbol of Solid-State NMR spectroscopy. So I'm planning to 3D print a in-one magic angle spinner model.

Bearing Design

Inorder to smoothly spin the magic angle spinner, I need to design a bearing that can support the weight and allow for smooth rotation. Two designs of the bearing were made, one is a ball bearing inside, while the other one is vase-shaped rotor inside. Support was added for the ball bearing design.

Fusion Analysis of Bearing Design with Ball

Fusion Analysis of Bearing Design with Vase-shaped Rotor

After several test of the offsets, both of the two designs work pretty well.

Video of spinning bearing

3D Printed Magic Angle Spinner

The vase-shapd rotor design was used at first. Bambu X1e printer in PSFC was used with PLA filament. The initial print failed due to support issues, the print speed was too fast.

Failed Print

After changing the support speed to 60 mm/s and 30 mm/s, the print was successful. But the vase-shaped rotor kept wandering around making the spinning not smooth.

MAS First Version

The ball bearing structure were then tested, due to the difficulty in removing the supports, the ball structure was not ideal giving toping ball bearings dropped.

MAS Second Version

Under TA's guidance, orientation of the design was adjusted, the spinner will be the one perpendicular to the printing platform instead of the axes pointer. Net supports were added to the upper part of the ball bearing structure. The print was successful and the spinning was smooth.

MAS Third Version

video of Spinning MAS

Here is the fusion design of the final product:

Fusion Design of the Final MAS

3D Scanning

With Ivan's assistance, his face was scanned using Creality 3D Scanner provided in the CBA lab.

3D Scanned Ivan