Sphere: 20 disks

thingiverse

Students approximate a sphere by stacking 20 very thin solid cylinders on top of each other, effectively demonstrating the disk method for finding the volume of a sphere. This technique is widely used in Calculus II classes as a standard approach to problem-solving. The model itself was meticulously designed and printed by WLU summer research student Emily Jaekle ('16), showcasing her skills in 3D modeling. A detailed account of the printing process can be found at mathvis.academic.wlu.edu/2015/06/22/volumes-by-slicing-disk-method/. Instructions for recreating this model on a MakerBot2X follow: Print settings: - Print two shells - Set the layer height to 0.20mm - Utilize an infill pattern of hexagons with 10% density - Choose color-matched supports - Turn raft off Students should note that some users experienced difficulties when printing this model for the first time, specifically with the bottom disk detaching from the build bed. However, these issues can be avoided by simply waiting longer before removing the object from the print surface during subsequent prints.