3D Printing of Open Source Hardware for Science/OpenSCAD Crystal Structure Project

This is a project that supports the course 3D Printing of Open Source Hardware for Science

Crystal structure models are used by material science professors to help explain how structure influences properties of various materials. Some models come in expensive self assembly kits. Ideally, anyone interested in material science could print these structures in any size or format for a few pennies.

Your project: develop an OpenSCAD script to make a 3-D printable model of the crystal structure most relevant to your research

Steps

Choose structure useful for you, check on past attempts http://www.yeggi.com/
Look it up- lay out geometry
Make parametric SCAD model with OpenSCAD
Differentiate atoms in some way (e.g. color)
Select part and wire model (e.g. straws, stir sticks, filament, etc.) or print solid with fasteners (e.g. snap fit)
Ensure reasonably flat base
Realistic sizing- e.g. use scaling – make sure atoms are appropriately scaled to one another
At least 1 unit cell
Register with a free account at NIH 3D Print Exchange https://3dprint.nih.gov/
Post SCAD and STL at NIH 3D Print Exchange https://3dprint.nih.gov/
Print Full Color Model at FabLab on FFF 3-D printers and bring to class (Tape your name-write your name on it)

For some past examples of student work see this
For another approach for modelling molecules for 3D printing you can use these tools

Educational level: this is a tertiary (university) resource.

Subject classification: this is an engineering resource.