Howdy people,
It was suggested that someone start a 3D printing thread designed to disseminate knowledge and help within the subject of 3D printing so here we go.
Some basics answered:
Can one print weapons and other smaller props?
Yes! This is probably one of the most useful things about printing currently.
Can one print full armour sets?
Probably, though it's not yet been done in any significant fashion.
How much does a printer cost?
Anywhere between $300 up to $6000. Most people opt for printers ranging from $700 to $2000.
Is printing easier than other techniques?
That's debatable.
Depends on which style of work one prefers, though many of the skills needed for Pepakura can be directly transferred to printing(such as finishing and bondo'ing).
What's the best printer?
Depends on what one wishes to accomplish and how much effort one is willing to put into learning how to build and/or repair.
Generally speaking the easiest system to use is probably the Makerbot Replicator 2, but many people prefer to use open-source technologies available through the RepRap community.
Reprap styled printers range in quality with the best debatably being those that use "Makerslide" extrusion for incredibly sturdy construction.
How accurate is printing? What kind of detail can be expected?
This entirely depends on both the stability of ones printer and the calibration and quality of the various components.
100 micron is the best quality most home based printers offer however one needs to put a fair amount of effort into calibration to achieve the best outcome.
How strong is the plastic?
PLA is strong but can be brittle in it's raw printed form. ABS on the other hand is quite strong and somewhat shock resistant.
Both mainstream types of 'filament' have their own advantages and drawbacks however and as such one needs to consider which they prefer to work with.
Where can 3D models be found for printing?
Thingiverse is probably the best place to find easily available models though it is worth checking around the various threads here and other forums.
What skills does one need to create ones own models?
3D modelling skills are very much necessary though one needs to be able to compensate for the physical restrictions of printing technology like thin walls, support structure, maximum print size and laws of physics in general.
Can Pepakura models be used?
Yes, though as a general rule it's best to get in contact with the models creator to seek permission first before exporting to .OBJ format.
After that it'll probably be necessary to manually check the model and create thickness in the parts, this is especially relevant for helmets.
This is where Netfabbs cloud and basic software services come in handy.
How does one split up a large model into parts that fit on the build surface?
There are several options here, one being the full version of Netfabb(though it is quite expensive), another being Blender's "Boolean" function.
In Blender all one need do is create a plane surface and then use that plane to 'cut' through the various parts using the Boolean and copy and paste systems.
Take into account the size of your build area and the plastics ability to warp and one should be set to go.
Youtube is a handy resource for this as there are several tutorials already up with this subject in mind.
Help! My printers buggered!
Have you tried turning it off and then on again?
I think most of the printing crowd here are happy to offer advice on fixing broken and malfunctioning printers.
There are also several other forums specifically dedicated to troubleshooting.
The Solidoodle 'Soliforum' is one that I've personally found extremely useful.
Google groups #Reprap forum is another helpful resource and of course if one has a printer with a warranty the best option is to go straight back to the manufacturer though one should be aware that many startup printer companies have issues when dealing with unhappy customers as the technology used is still quite new.
That's about all I can think of at this moment in time so if there's anyone out there with more to add or further questions please do.
It was suggested that someone start a 3D printing thread designed to disseminate knowledge and help within the subject of 3D printing so here we go.
Some basics answered:
Can one print weapons and other smaller props?
Yes! This is probably one of the most useful things about printing currently.
Can one print full armour sets?
Probably, though it's not yet been done in any significant fashion.
How much does a printer cost?
Anywhere between $300 up to $6000. Most people opt for printers ranging from $700 to $2000.
Is printing easier than other techniques?
That's debatable.
Depends on which style of work one prefers, though many of the skills needed for Pepakura can be directly transferred to printing(such as finishing and bondo'ing).
What's the best printer?
Depends on what one wishes to accomplish and how much effort one is willing to put into learning how to build and/or repair.
Generally speaking the easiest system to use is probably the Makerbot Replicator 2, but many people prefer to use open-source technologies available through the RepRap community.
Reprap styled printers range in quality with the best debatably being those that use "Makerslide" extrusion for incredibly sturdy construction.
How accurate is printing? What kind of detail can be expected?
This entirely depends on both the stability of ones printer and the calibration and quality of the various components.
100 micron is the best quality most home based printers offer however one needs to put a fair amount of effort into calibration to achieve the best outcome.
How strong is the plastic?
PLA is strong but can be brittle in it's raw printed form. ABS on the other hand is quite strong and somewhat shock resistant.
Both mainstream types of 'filament' have their own advantages and drawbacks however and as such one needs to consider which they prefer to work with.
Where can 3D models be found for printing?
Thingiverse is probably the best place to find easily available models though it is worth checking around the various threads here and other forums.
What skills does one need to create ones own models?
3D modelling skills are very much necessary though one needs to be able to compensate for the physical restrictions of printing technology like thin walls, support structure, maximum print size and laws of physics in general.
Can Pepakura models be used?
Yes, though as a general rule it's best to get in contact with the models creator to seek permission first before exporting to .OBJ format.
After that it'll probably be necessary to manually check the model and create thickness in the parts, this is especially relevant for helmets.
This is where Netfabbs cloud and basic software services come in handy.
How does one split up a large model into parts that fit on the build surface?
There are several options here, one being the full version of Netfabb(though it is quite expensive), another being Blender's "Boolean" function.
In Blender all one need do is create a plane surface and then use that plane to 'cut' through the various parts using the Boolean and copy and paste systems.
Take into account the size of your build area and the plastics ability to warp and one should be set to go.
Youtube is a handy resource for this as there are several tutorials already up with this subject in mind.
Help! My printers buggered!
Have you tried turning it off and then on again?
I think most of the printing crowd here are happy to offer advice on fixing broken and malfunctioning printers.
There are also several other forums specifically dedicated to troubleshooting.
The Solidoodle 'Soliforum' is one that I've personally found extremely useful.
Google groups #Reprap forum is another helpful resource and of course if one has a printer with a warranty the best option is to go straight back to the manufacturer though one should be aware that many startup printer companies have issues when dealing with unhappy customers as the technology used is still quite new.
That's about all I can think of at this moment in time so if there's anyone out there with more to add or further questions please do.
