3D Printing – Great Resources To Get Started
There has been a lot of news about 3D Printers in the media
recently. The thing about 3D Printers is
they have been around for quite some time now.
But these past couple of years there has been a lot of movement in the development and access to them. Additional resources are created daily to allow working with them a bit easier. The printers themselves are getting cheaper, and now
with Open Source Software and Freeware, designing has been less of a hurdle. In fact, you can now design an
object from a Smartphone or Tablet. This
blog entry will show you some of my favourite websites, software to check out
and see if 3D Printing is your thing.
What are 3D Printers?
It really is what the title speaks of. 3D
Printing is a process of making a three-dimensional solid object of
virtually any shape from a digital model. 3D printing is achieved using an additive
process, where successive layers of material are laid down in different
shapes. The first ever 3D Printer was
created in 1984 and the use of the device over the last 29 years has ranged
from prototyping, architecture, industrial
design, automotive, aerospace, military, engineering, civil engineering, dental
and medical industries, biotech (human tissue replacement), fashion, footwear,
jewelry, eyewear, education, geographic information systems, food, and many
other fields.
Here is a great video from MakerGeeks with a time lapse of a 3D
printer in action.
Where can
I find a 3D Printer?
A lot of computer spaces, Hacklabs, Maker Spaces and other types of clubs have
a 3D printer accessible to their members for use. Even in certain parts of the world, schools
and libraries are starting to get into the 3D Printer game. Buying one can range in price and
features. One of the more popular suppliers
of 3D printers is MakerBot, where their models range in price from $2,200 – $2,900. Other popular places to buy from are Thingomatic,
Cupcake, Afinia, FlashForge and locally 3D Printers Canada. A great spreadsheet comparing the different
makes and models and the range of prices, features and more is available here
courtesy of 3Ders.org.
Another pretty cool printer is the Prinrbot Simple. This little guy only costs $300. Advertised as tiny, but powerful tool to get started in 3D printing.
3D Design Software
This is one resource
that has really grown in recent years.
Once there were only a handful of software applications to let beginners
the option to start creating. Now the
range to choose from is wide. With all
the options to choose from, selecting the right software for you will be important. If you’re new to 3D modeling, then you want
to find one that has a great deal of resources, guides and instructional tools
such as videos to help you get started.
Try and choose one that is easy and fun at the same time. This will help you explore and understand
what it takes to make effective designs and models.
Some of the more popular
software that is free to use is Google SketchUp, Blender, FreeCAD, OpenSCAD and
Tinkercad. All offer new and improved
tools to help shape and customize any design and are very comparable to the
popular and expensive Autocad. After you’ve
designed your masterpiece, download ReplicatorG, an open source software that
serves as a driver to your 3D printer and gets the model printed out
successfully.
Some Great Online Resources for 3D Printers
There are some great
YouTube channels, videos, books and websites that serve as tutorials and an
introduction to 3D Printing. My
favourite by far is MakerBot Thingiverse.
This website is a 3D printer community which allows its members to
download and make available their designs for free. Download already constructed files from other
members to print, customize a preexisting design and add your creation to the
library. Images that are available range, but you can print
an iPhone case, jewelry and my favourite chess pieces with a bit of a
twist.
Another website
similar to Thingiverse is GrabCAD. A
community that has over 245,000 CAD files to download from.
Have fun exploring 3D printing!!
Greg
One thought on “3D Printing – Great Resources To Get Started”
This is Amazing- 3D printing, the future is here and now,Exciting times .. design it and have it built before your very eyes. Maybe we are watching the birth of the 3D printers as next popular device like the now home computer is in every home. Only main problem is access to a 3D printer. They are surely a Cool device.