Guide for idiots

[Martino]

I’ve been reading the various posts about the printers themselves and am fascinated to be honest. However, I’m stumped when it comes to the creation of the pattern. I’m assuming that there are commercially available ‘patterns’ of things to be printed. I also assume (dangerous I know) that there may be a ‘sharing’ community. More to the point, how do you create your own patterns? Can you scan existing items?

Hence my need for an idiots guide!

 

[Rhinochugger]

Mike Duffy has been advocating thingyverse as a depository of ready made patterns for 3D printing and this is obviously one of the sharing sources, Shapeways is another but probably a bit costly.

For your own designs, you need an autocad facility that also slices - and then I'm lost

 

[PhilP]

You can use other people's 'designs' from the likes of Thingiverse. - A website where people share their designs..
You can draw your own items. - You need a 3D CAD'drawing package for this.. There is a learning-curve, and a little talent helps.
You then use a piece of software called a Slicer.. This (as the name implies) creates the information for each 'layer' you are going to print.
You then need the printer. - Either one which uses filament, or a Resin printer, that makes items within a bath of liquid resin.

Shapeways, is another website mainly (but not exclusively) where people can post their designs. - You can 'buy' a printed item.. You select the item, then decide what material you want it printed in. This affects the quality of the printed item.
It used to be that Shapeways had 'better' priunters, than those you may have at home, but this is no longer necessarily the case.
Their service does mean that you can obtain 3D printed items, without having your own printer. BUT what you get will depend on how good the original drawing/file is. What it is printed on (which printer) and what material it is printed in..

PhilP.

 

[mike]

Thingiverse - Digital Designs for Physical Objects

Download files and build them with your 3D printer, laser cutter, or CNC.

www.thingiverse.com

 

[JimmyB]

Thingiverse - Digital Designs for Physical Objects

Download files and build them with your 3D printer, laser cutter, or CNC.

www.thingiverse.com

Wow

 

[mike]

Yes, it dose have that effect.. You download the free files.. Save the 3d image, into a splicing software, free with your printer, on a pc.. It converts it into a file the printer can read.. Save it to a micro USB drive, and plug it into the printer.. Its as complicated as that..
Put it this way.. I managed.. It must be simple.

 

[Martino]

Thank you everyone. very useful.

 

[ge_rik]

If you want to draw your own models and then print them, I'd thoroughly recommend TinkerCAD. I've tried other 3D drawing packages but they are tricky to use. TinkerCAD is dead easy to use and actually quite powerful. Here are just a few of the things I've drawn and then printed.


Rik

 

[ge_rik]

Here's a beginners'guide to drawing, in this case, a window frame with TinkerCAD.

How I drew window frames with TinkerCAD for 3D printing

Narrow gauge large scale model garden railway. Battery powered, radio controlled locomotives, some Bluetooth. Set in Cheshire UK in 1930s

riksrailway.blogspot.com

RIK

 

[ge_rik]

And here's how I drew and printed the luggage van. This post shows the whole process from drawing, through printing to construction. I've then gone on to show how I went on the modify and improve the original drawings which, of course, is the great advantage of being able to make your own drawings.

How I constructed a luggage van by 3D printing

Narrow gauge large scale model garden railway. Battery powered, radio controlled locomotives, some Bluetooth. Set in Cheshire UK in 1930s

riksrailway.blogspot.com

Rik

 

[Martino]

Thank you Rick. I shall study those.

Thanks again.

 

[dunnyrail]

Wow Rik as ever your how to takes a top score, actually better than that. I think that with my current 2d Cad abilities I may even be able to emulate something simple now. All I need to do is find some space for the 3D printer! Oh and decode on a model, not a simple task looking at some of the threads on here oh and get to grips with the Elephant issues!

 

[JimmyB]

Jon, is that the new "elephant in the room"

 

[PhilP]

Allegedly,


If you are using LGB track..................................





















Elephants, are not a problem!

 

[justme igor]

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