Currently I do not have access to the print room at university to be able to test how the blocks prints on a proofing press. So to make good use of the time I am endeavouring to continue to learn the relevant software as well as become confident in both the design of the body of the blocks and the way in which they will be printed.
Once I had progressed with learning the Tinkercad program I was able to produce a selection of test blocks suitable for letterpress printing. These were a square, triangle and M which I printed at an angle of 45degrees as based on both my primary and secondary research this was the optimum angle to minimise the stepped layering effecting the print. These were solid blocks with no infill.
I also printed these flat on the bed so that I could compare the different blocks and how they print once I have access to a proofing press. As with the tokens I printed flat, these were difficult to remove from the print bed though with them being larger I was able to leaver them off in a more controlled manner.
Circles
Though the test blocks I have printed so far appear to be visually accurate to the digital design, I need some way of testing how consistent their shape is from one block to the next as this will define how well they register with one anther if I am trying to create printed with multiple layers. To test this I have created 3 circles on 3 separate blocks. The circles are designed in a way so that they could be printed in the same place one at a time to create 3 impressions all on top of each other. If there is any variation in the placement of the resulting print that means that the blocks are not all completely inline with each other.
Hollowing out design
As I have mentioned previously, it is quite common for a 3d printed design to be hollow in some way to save on print time and materials. However this is more often the case for decorative elements that don’t need to be load bearing in some way. Some very large lead type is partially hollow at the base of the body to same on materials so there is a precedent for doing this historically. However lead is harder that the resin I am using, so the amount that I can hollow the body out will need testing.
I have produced 3 different blocks of type height cubes. One completely hollow, one solid and one with a pyramid shaped void at the base. It is my thinking that the pyramid base should still provide enough support when put under pressure, but also slightly reduce the amount of resin used. The other blocks will act as controls. When printing a hollowed out design there needs to be drainage holes added to the design. I have added these to the base of the designs as a long cylinder, with the orientation of these being towards the bottom of the block they will also allow me to know which way is up on blocks where the design of the block may be too abstract.