Quote:
Originally Posted by Rausch
Now I'm curious.
What printer media can you use to actually make these objects usable? I mean, what would I have to buy to actually print a plumbing part or cog for my coffee maker? See what I'm getting at?
I'd think getting the 3D model would be the pain. The cameras or scanner to get the model rendered is the hurdle, right?
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Even a cheap printer can make high quality stuff. It's just dependent on the size of the base plate and what type of filament you use.
There is a wide range of different filament types. The cheap stuff is quite hard, but fairly brittle. There's slightly more expensive filaments like PETG, which are very hard and very durable. That's what you'd use for a part that would get actual use. I just recently picked up 1KG of PETG+ for $25. That will last a long time. There's also filament like TPU, which is really soft and spongy meant to be super flexible.
Getting the 3D models is generally the easiest part. There are multiple websites available with hundreds of thousands of models available for download. Most likely, someone has already rendered it and it's ready to be downloaded and sent directly to your printer. You can also use slicer software to easily edit the model, like a Photoshop file. You can resize it, etc. If you really want to get creative, you can download a copy of Autodesk Fusion 360(free Autocad for personal use) and design your own models from scratch.
I think the toughest part of getting into it is really getting your printer calibrated correctly. That can be a struggle for beginners. I highly recommend searching out a detailed guide for calibrating your model printer when you start. There are benchmark print models called Benchies, that are meant to be printed specifically to test your printer calibration.
But once calibrated, it's as simple as searching for the model you want, and sending it to your printer. My Prusa model has a feature where I can click a model on the website, and it will load directly to my slicer software.
Model downloads:
https://www.printables.com/
https://www.thingiverse.com/
https://cults3d.com/en
https://thangs.com/