Hi y’all,
I have some projects (scale modeling) that could sure use parts from Shapeways or someone like that. Any dopers doing any regular 3D printing either with your own equipment or through Shapeways or Etsy? Do tell! I have some experience in CAD but it was 2D AutoCad and though it sure looks like SolidWorks might be the lingua Franca of 3D design I’d be leaning toward something shareware or free, basically. I thanks all in advance and look forward to hearing from the masses…
I do a lot of 3D design, and get things printed both through Shapeways and through the local public library. The library is much cheaper, but Shapeways is higher quality (especially for parts with overhangs, since their method doesn’t use a build plate). Shapeways also lets you set up a storefront to sell your designs to others. Many schools (elementary through college) also have printers available for a low price. If you don’t have any nearby in libraries or schools, and you’re going to be printing a lot, it might be worth it to just buy one yourself: They can be had for a few hundred dollars.
I don’t think you can do 3D printing “through Etsy”. Anyone selling 3D-printed things on Etsy is doing it on their own printers.
I do all of my designing in TinkerCad, which is free and very easy to learn. I probably ought to move on to something more advanced, but I’ve figured out tricks for doing pretty much everything I want to do in TinkerCad. Google Sketch-up is also a popular free choice.
Your local public library has a 3D printer? I didn’t know that libraries were doing that, it’s pretty cool.
Thanks Chronos, I knew how Etsy worked, I was just lumping them in with the general question of who might be doing 3D design and printing. I’m curious what sort of things you’re getting printed? I’m used to making patterns for molds with the tools in a machine shop, but it sure might be handy to have a nearly ready part straight from the printer. The tough trade-off is that the work saved is spent in creating the 3D file. Thanks for the info re TinkerCad. It looks like the popular choices are Blender, TinkerCad, Sketchup, and maybe Openscad. I suppose the tradeoff between the different apps is going to remain: More features = More difficult to master. Thanks for your time.
My public library has a 3D printer.
StG
That’s cool, I wasn’t aware that libraries had that. Thanks!
I use Fusion 360 for 3d design. It’s from Autodesk and is a truly pro package, but they don’t charge you for it unless you’re making considerable money. It’s free to students and hobbyists, and to any company making less than $100k annually.
It’s complicated, but not too hard to pick up the basics.
I do own a 3d printer, but I don’t do projects for money. The obligations connected with getting paid stresses me out, and I don’t want my hobbies to be stressful.
Through Shapeways, mostly dice. Check the link in my signature.
From the library, assorted odds and ends, the largest of which is the hall pass I use when I’m teaching.
I’m curious as to what sort of things you might be printing? What kind of printer do you have and what kind of cost was borne in buying it?
I’ve had it for a year now, and my desk at work is now absolutely covered in meaningless toys. I’ve made a number of fidget spinners. I’ve designed some things myself, but most I downloaded. I have a few things I’m working on but haven’t been able to get right, but most things come out as expected.
It’s a Monoprice Maker Select v2.1, which is a rebranding of the Wanhao Duplicator. Cost me $317.00, and I’ve spent a good couple hundred on plastic, tools, and maintenance. Some of the parts are expected to need replacement fairly often (nozzles and PTFE tubing, mostly), so I haven’t actually had anything fail on it that wasn’t supposed to. I signed up for a subscription box that sends 3d printing-related things and two spools of filament every month, so I now have more plastic than I can probably expect to ever use.