This bachelor’s thesis has given us an opportunity to gain insight into how to create a service from scratch and to develop it into a fully functional service. The 3D printer service starts when a customer uploads a file containing the 3D design that they want to have made via a website. The file is stored and the printing request is placed into a queue. After that the client simply waits until the object is printed, with all of the various steps being handled automatically. The uploaded file containing the 3D design is automatically converted into Gcode by using the software Skeinforge. Gocde is the language that the printer interprets. The printer itself is controlled by the ReplicatorG program. The ReplicatorG program transfers the Gcode commands to the printer to print the desired object. This Gcode includes commands to warm up the automated build platform where the object will be created and to warm up the extruder head – through which plastic will be extruded to create the 3D object. If the customer wants to see the object while it is being printed – we have made this possible via a network attached camera. This camera is placed next to the printer. Once the object has been printed the automated build platform is allowed to cool and a motor driven belt advances to eject the object from the platform. In an ideal system the object would be put directly into a bag or other package – with a pre-printed label, thus it would be ready for shipping to the customer. This portion of the system has not yet been realized and is left as future work. / Detta kandidatexamensarbete har gett oss en möjlighet att få en inblick i hur det är att skapa en tjänst från grund och sedan bygga på den tills en fullt fungerande tjänst var skapad. 3D printertjänsten drar igång då en kund laddar upp den önskade filen via hemsidan, som sedan lagras och läggs i en eventuell kö. Från detta behöver inte kunden eller någon annan göra något mer utan allt sköts automatiskt. En konvertering av kundens STL fil till språket Gcode som skrivaren kan tolka sker med hjälp av programmet Skeinforge. Själva skrivaren styrs av programmet ReplicatorG där allt bestäms och slutligen ger order till skrivaren att börja skriva ut det som önskas. Om kunden vill så finns en möjlighet att med hjälp av en IP kamera även se sina produkter live då de tillverkas. Idén om att obtjekt direkt ska landa i en förpackning som är redo att skickas till kunden lämnas för framtida arbeten.

This thesis in the beginning deals with the history of 3D printing and its development. For better understanding the nature of 3D printing are the significant technologies that includes. Professional part includes work with the printer MakerBot Replicator 2X. Mechanical parts of the device are analyzed together with the operating software MakerBot DesktopThe following chapter is dealing with the limits and restrictions when it is printed on said 3D printer, except that describes important aspects when working on the printer. For the creation of electronic models are suggested appropriate programs for use in elementary school. A significant milestone is forming the problems of 3D printing, which can serve as a guide for the elimination of print quality problems, malfunctioning of 3D printers and others. Interesting models are designed for teaching physics and working activities that the students facilitate understanding of the substance of the response and act as activating element within lesson. It was created a list of important sites where you can find models suitable not only for teaching in elementary schools, but also for other purposes. The last chapter deals with the economic aspect of 3D printing.