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3D PRINTER THREADS, How do I find them? — Parallax Forums

3D PRINTER THREADS, How do I find them?

garyggaryg Posts: 420
edited 2014-01-01 20:34 in General Discussion
Over the past couple of years or so, I've read quite a number of 3D Printer threads.
I'm currently building a fiberglass case for one of my projects.
When ever I do this, I always start thinking about 3D Printing.

I think there is something I don't understand about searching message threads.
I've tryed simple search term 3D Printer, and several others without much success.
Any suggestions as to proper search terms?

I think I saw in some of the past threads on this subject, references to software needed to create
the actual 3d drawing, which is saved as .STL file, then interpreted by another piece of software to
be used on a Makerbot type 3D printer.

I currently use AutoCadLT, which is only 2D.
Before I spend >$1000's of dollars on software from Autodesk, I'm thinking that maybe I could try
someone elses 3D drawing software with the intention of getting a 3D printer (either a Kit or an entire product)

I think my path on this thought adventure would be to 1st purchase CAD software and learn how to create drawings
of what I would like to print.
Then purchase a 3D printer of some type.

Thanks for any suggestions, comments.
Garyg

Comments

  • sdiguanasdiguana Posts: 11
    edited 2014-01-01 16:36
    Most hobbyists use Google Sketchup (free) from what I understand. It also matters what type of modeling you're doing, the engineering (Solidworks, Catia, I think Autodesk Inventor is in this group) vs artistic modeling (maya, 3ds max, etc).

    you may want to look through thingiverse.com to see if what you want has already been modeled by someone else. Shapeways.com is a print on demand service, but a bit pricey if you do a lot of printing.

    Depending what your budget is, you can spend $500 (PLA (polylactic acid) reprap style) to god knows what (EOS DMLS Awesomeness >$1M) on a 3d printer.

    probably the most popular ones are makerbots PLA ($40/lb) printer and Formlabs Form1 Resin($100/L) printer. two different technologies, the Form1 is better resolution, but smaller build volume and higher build cost. costs are from memory and may have changed since.

    hope that helps. :)
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2014-01-01 17:49
  • garyggaryg Posts: 420
    edited 2014-01-01 19:27
    sdiguana - I've been looking over your suggestions.
    I've had bad experiences with free software in the past, but I may try Google Sketchup just to see what it can and cannot do.
    It looks like the Free version does not allow you to save files in the .STL format that Makerbot printers appear to use.
    I'm very much starting to research 3D printing.

    TonyP12 - Your suggestion of a Kindle book was a real eye opener for me.
    I didn't realize that I could read Kindle books on my PC.
    Kindle ap is now installed on my PC and
    the Volume 1 of Al Williams book is downloaded.
    I'll need to read it a few times, thats how my mind works.

    Are you familar with Al Williams?

    and
    As a general note, I still have not been able to successfully search for 3D Printing message threads on
    the Parallax Forum.
    I'll keep trying.

    Thanks
  • sdiguanasdiguana Posts: 11
    edited 2014-01-01 20:31
    Here is an example of a mimicked parallax sumo bot someone built using Sketchup. I assume that if it does not have STL capability itself, there is a 3rd party software that does. NetFabb maybe..?
    http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:29827/#files

    3d printing isnt quite as mysterious or complex as it seems for the uninitiated. the biggest hurdle is really on the design side. I did not often have printing problems from technical issues with my machine, just bad designs.
    For FFF printers (Makerbot type):
    usually unsupported bridging of material is the cause of most grief. keeping designs with 45 degrees (or more vertical) eliminates most of that. Also if it is a loaded part, make sure as best you can that strong loads are not going through the layers (Vertical or Z axis as it is printed); that is the weak direction.

    i'm no help for you on the search function ... i only joined today.
  • RickBRickB Posts: 395
    edited 2014-01-01 20:34
    Dassault Syst
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