Buying a 3D printer

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GAP
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:48 am

I did look at the 3D printing section but found that I may be out of my league with what is in there till I get familiar with Tinkercad and a real live 3D printer.

I have a Linux based computer in my shed so "Tinkercad" will not run on it the alternative evidently is "Blender" has any one used it?

I do have a windows laptop that I can use if it does not work out.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by Trevor Thompson » Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:59 am

You will find Blender very difficult to use. Well I did. Look at my thread on making individual resin printed people, to get an idea of how complicated it is. So that isn't where I would start your particular journey!

Tinkercad isn't one I have used but there are quite a few modellers on this forum using it successfully to create impressive models.

Since you have started to learn to use it stick with it - it will take you where you want to go as far as I can see.

Which printer - choose whatever you fancy - particularly bearing in mind local availability, and the ability to buy spare parts. It is like everything else - you start with something that is low cost in case it doesn't develop the way you think it will. Later you might want something more expensive!

You will only get so far until you can actually print things out.

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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by philipy » Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:12 am

GAP wrote: Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:48 am the alternative evidently is "Blender" has any one used it?

I do have a windows laptop that I can use if it does not work out.
Don't even think about using Blender, certainly not at this stage. The only person I know who has any sort of real working knowledge of it is "Metalmuncher" but I don't think even he uses it for the basic drawing of a discrete object, it is more for manipulating things produced in other software. It is professionally used to produce sophisticated CGI animations, which gives some idea of it's sophisication and complexity and lack of intuitive functions.
However I should say that Trevor and I have used it succesfully to pose 3d printable figures created in 'Makehuman', following a tutorial video from Metalmuncher.

Like Trevor, I use Sketchup, I tried Tinkercad and didn't get on with it.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:00 pm

Advice noted "Blender" now out of consideration.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by Trevor Thompson » Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:02 pm

If you were to go for sketch up you need to find a copy of the 2016 version. That is the last one which was a stand alone app which was located on your computer. After that it became internet based, and lost functionality. That online version seems to have been abandoned.

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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Sun Sep 05, 2021 12:49 am

Trevor Thompson wrote: Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:02 pm If you were to go for sketch up you need to find a copy of the 2016 version. That is the last one which was a stand alone app which was located on your computer. After that it became internet based, and lost functionality. That online version seems to have been abandoned.
I am 'tinkering' with Tinkercad (used by Rik) and have found out that it is web based and this morning I successfully logged in to it on my linux computer.
Evidently as it is web based and I am using Firefox it works.
Digging deeper the information I was working off was out dated like a lot of the reviews for printers I found.

So for the moment I will keep using Tinkercad and take small steps towards more functional CAD programs.

Thanks to you all for the help and advice I am sure there will other requests for help in the future.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by -steves- » Sun Sep 05, 2021 5:58 pm

GAP wrote: Sun Sep 05, 2021 12:49 am
Trevor Thompson wrote: Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:02 pm If you were to go for sketch up you need to find a copy of the 2016 version. That is the last one which was a stand alone app which was located on your computer. After that it became internet based, and lost functionality. That online version seems to have been abandoned.
I am 'tinkering' with Tinkercad (used by Rik) and have found out that it is web based and this morning I successfully logged in to it on my linux computer.
Evidently as it is web based and I am using Firefox it works.
Digging deeper the information I was working off was out dated like a lot of the reviews for printers I found.

So for the moment I will keep using Tinkercad and take small steps towards more functional CAD programs.

Thanks to you all for the help and advice I am sure there will other requests for help in the future.
I am not sure you will need anything more functionable than Tinkercad. The things I have done with it never cease to amaze me. From a 16mm scale working loco and tender, including wheels, sand pots, linkages, body, chassis etc etc, to a piece that I reproduced for my wife's wheelchair as part of the swing out for the leg wore away and this was a great replacement for it.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Mon Sep 06, 2021 10:36 pm

My transition to the dark side is now complete, I just bought a Creality Ender3 V2 3D printer.

I have started "tinkering" with Tinkercad and successfully imported an STL file from Thingaverse and following a tutorial have the start of a brick wall.

So the world of 3D printing is now mine to control :twisted: :twisted: :roll:
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by philipy » Tue Sep 07, 2021 6:16 am

GAP wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 10:36 pm
So the world of 3D printing is now mine to control :twisted: :twisted: :roll:
Nope... The world of 3D printing is now in control of you! :lol: :lol: - It IS addictive.

Well done though. :D
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:56 am

philipy wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 6:16 am
GAP wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 10:36 pm
So the world of 3D printing is now mine to control :twisted: :twisted: :roll:
Nope... The world of 3D printing is now in control of you! :lol: :lol: - It IS addictive.

Well done though. :D
Took me long enough to paraphrase SWMBO
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by ge_rik » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:17 am

Welcome to the Dark Side .......
vader.gif
vader.gif (2.41 MiB) Viewed 4321 times

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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:39 am

I am not completely over on the dark side,I have yet to master Tinkercad, but I did manage to download some stl files for bogies and couplers into it from Thingaverse.
Once I master that, the universe (forget the galaxy) is mine.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by -steves- » Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:16 am

You're going to love it. :thumbup:

Tinkercad is very simple is that most things are made up from a circle, a circle hole, a rectangle or a rectangle hole or a combination there of, there isn't much left after that. :thumbleft:
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Mon Sep 13, 2021 9:37 pm

The Ender is nigh!!!
My printer has been dispatched and is in transit hopefully it will be before the weekend.
Then the question will fly thick and fast.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by ge_rik » Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:23 am

GAP wrote: Mon Sep 13, 2021 9:37 pm The Ender is nigh!!!
My printer has been dispatched and is in transit hopefully it will be before the weekend.
Then the question will fly thick and fast.
Only one (question)? ........
You'll be lucky. :? ;) :lol:

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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by ge_rik » Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:28 am

-steves- wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:16 am You're going to love it. :thumbup:

Tinkercad is very simple is that most things are made up from a circle, a circle hole, a rectangle or a rectangle hole or a combination there of, there isn't much left after that. :thumbleft:
The only shapes I've struggled to perfect are the fillets between boiler fittings (eg dome, chimney, safety valve) and boiler. I think they are easier in Fusion 360 ( but I've not yet got the hang of that)

Rik
PS - I'm going to remember this little trick when I next draw coach or loco roofs -
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Tue Sep 14, 2021 9:46 pm

ge_rik wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:23 am
GAP wrote: Mon Sep 13, 2021 9:37 pm The Ender is nigh!!!
My printer has been dispatched and is in transit hopefully it will be before the weekend.
Then the question will fly thick and fast.
Only one (question)? ........
You'll be lucky. :? ;) :lol:

Rik
Umm I think I was supposed to type questions there.
I have enough to fill a small note book already.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Tue Sep 14, 2021 9:55 pm

ge_rik wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:28 am
-steves- wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:16 am You're going to love it. :thumbup:

Tinkercad is very simple is that most things are made up from a circle, a circle hole, a rectangle or a rectangle hole or a combination there of, there isn't much left after that. :thumbleft:
The only shapes I've struggled to perfect are the fillets between boiler fittings (eg dome, chimney, safety valve) and boiler. I think they are easier in Fusion 360 ( but I've not yet got the hang of that)

Rik
PS - I'm going to remember this little trick when I next draw coach or loco roofs -
That is great, must have a go when the printer arrives.
So many things to play with and call it a learning curve.
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by GAP » Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:48 am

The Ender has come!!!

I have finally taken delivery of an Ender 3 V2, I had to wait till stocks arrived to fill my pre order.

I am slowly assembling it and should be up and running next week, if life would just stop getting in the road.

My first prints will probably some LGB type bogies, I found some stl files on Thingaverse, to replace the home made ones I have on 6 wagons at present.

I am thinking of using ABS filament.

Does anybody know what type of filament comes in the box with the printer?
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Re: Buying a 3D printer

Post by -steves- » Mon Sep 20, 2021 1:12 pm

GAP wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:48 am The Ender has come!!!

I have finally taken delivery of an Ender 3 V2, I had to wait till stocks arrived to fill my pre order.

I am slowly assembling it and should be up and running next week, if life would just stop getting in the road.

My first prints will probably some LGB type bogies, I found some stl files on Thingaverse, to replace the home made ones I have on 6 wagons at present.

I am thinking of using ABS filament.

Does anybody know what type of filament comes in the box with the printer?
It is standard PLA in the box. As you have an Ender 3, it is not enclosed and you may have issues printing with ABS. Trevor on here loves the stuff but that isn't the case for most of us, it is a bit of a black art to print with ABS, especially for first prints. I would go with the PLA to start and see how you get on and then decide. Just my point of view :thumbup:
The buck stops here .......

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