Learning to work with a 3D Printer

[PanzerKraken]

We been dabbling with our printer and having some fun but was wondering if theres any good tutorials and guides out there of how to work with making proper models for 3D printing. Especially how to take a 3D model of something and converting it into something that is printer friendly. For example my GF who has some experience with models has been attempting to extract models from games to use as a base for test prints but during slicing and conversions the models appear to go wonky. Friend who does lot of 3D sculpting is interested in producing pieces for us to print but also wants to know how he should make his files. Wondering if anyone has any good resources of how to do modeling or try to convert stuff to be more printer friendly. General do's and don't for making your own models as well as we are making some basic shapes but want to get more complex and rather not waste tons of hours and plastic on constant trial and error.

 

[8 perf]

What type of files are you getting from your game models? From what I know, most 3d printers need and STL file type to work with properly. The docs for your slicer program should recommend what type of files work best with it. What printer did you get?

 

[Dancin_Fool]

You need to make sure the model is completely sealed with no interpenetrations for it to slice properly.


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[lilykill]

I agree, using software that involves sculpting normally involves using models that are basically surfaces and can easily have errors when converting to stl or obj files for the printer. Software like solidworks, inventor etc, use solid body modeling and very rarely produce errors due due to all surfaces needing to be manifold for the model to be built. If you go to sites like thingiverse and grabcad, they all use solid body modeling, Thingiverse is more for the hobbiest models where grabcad is more professional industrial design modelling.

 

[Gattaca]

I've been using Tinkercad with great success on our Makerbot 2.

 

[PanzerKraken]

What type of files are you getting from your game models? From what I know, most 3d printers need and STL file type to work with properly. The docs for your slicer program should recommend what type of files work best with it. What printer did you get?

Well she can get everything converted to STL, but I think as mentioned below there might be something missing causing the model to not be solid.

Got a XYZ printer which uses it's own software and also takes many formats and converts it to the printer friendly form supposedly.

Friend does lot of zbrush work and usually does really high quality stuff as he wants to work in the gaming industry as modeler for miniatures and such, hes just never worked with a 3D printer and not sure how well or easy he can take what he does and just plug it into the printer. Course we will likely just toss in some test files of his and see how the xyz software slices em I guess.

Myself I'm just learning and starting to play with autodesk 123design

 

[micheal1191]

I've been using Tinkercad with great success on our Makerbot 2.

You can import stls into tinkercad which also reduces triangles and cleans the mesh and then re-export as an stl again

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[ichidave]

hey can anyone help me here i have a 3 d model that when i print it gets printed standing up horizontally can anyone tell me how to make it print where it lays down instead????also there is a 3 d model i need to cut in half to make it easier to print.......only progs i have is netfabb basic and slic3r i know this is not my thread sorry to cut in i am just looking for anyone with a printer that can help me....

 

[lilykill]

hey can anyone help me here i have a 3 d model that when i print it gets printed standing up horizontally can anyone tell me how to make it print where it lays down instead????also there is a 3 d model i need to cut in half to make it easier to print.......only progs i have is netfabb basic and slic3r i know this is not my thread sorry to cut in i am just looking for anyone with a printer that can help me....

With slic3r you should be able to change the print orientation in the rotation/position boxes on the right hand side of the program. As for splitting the model, have you tried using 123CAD?.

 

[ichidave]

no only just got a printer the other day i am still fresh

 

[Aienan]

lchldave,
Which printer did you buy? Did it come setup completely? If not, let me encourage you to spend a few weeks calibrating it. I have a Robo3D R1, while it printed decently out of the box, it prints significantly better now that I have everything set.

Panzer, this should help:
How To Get Started with 3D Modeling for 3D Printing - Tested
Print a 3D: Design tips

 

[micheal1191]

With slic3r you should be able to change the print orientation in the rotation/position boxes on the right hand side of the program. As for splitting the model, have you tried using 123CAD?.

Slic3r only allows rotation around the z axis you need to either model in the orientation you want to print or pull the stl into a different program and orient it

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