4 ms·

Ask HN: How to Start with 3D Printing?

5 points by pythops 5y ago

Turing_Machine 5y ago
The Creality Ender 3 series is cheap, well-built, and super-well supported. The entire design is also open source. There are all kinds of third-party mods for it (one of the really neat things about the hobby is printing parts to make the machine itself better). I recommend avoiding proprietary designs.
- pythops 5y ago
  Looks solid indeed. What about the software to create the models ? Anything open source you can recommend ?
  - smmx 5y ago
    Blender is quite cool but a bit harder to learn. https://youtu.be/mlnA73vgoUk https://youtu.be/mlnA73vgoUk This is also great to know :)
  - Turing_Machine 5y ago
    I use FreeCAD, which is FOSS and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You'll also need "slicer" software, which takes the 3D model and slices it into layers and generates the actual tool control program (this is in a language called "G-code", which is more or less standardized across CNC tools). For that I use Ultimaker Cura, also FOSS and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. A typical workflow is this: 1) Design part in FreeCAD. Save as a FreeCAD model (so you can edit it later) and also export it as an STL file (a standard 3D model format) 2) Load STL into Cura. Here you can control things like layer height, how much of the interior of the model is hollow (for most models you don't want to waste filament by printing it solid, though you can do that if you choose), what kind of infill pattern is used, etc. The defaults work well most of the time. Though Ultimaker makes their own printers, Cura also has printer profiles for many other common devices, including Ender. Cura generates the G-code file that controls the physical printer. 3) Put the G-code file on the printer (on a micro SD card, in my case) and print. Many people like a package called Octoprint, which works with a Raspberry Pi to give you remote printer control and monitoring capabilities. I haven't made that step yet, but plan to do that soon. https://www.freecadweb.org/ https://www.freecadweb.org/ https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura https://octoprint.org/ https://octoprint.org/
    - pythops 5y ago
      Thank you very much, that's exactly the answer I was waiting for. You really made my so thanks again
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
pythops 5y ago
Would be nice to have your recommendation about the software tools and the hardware :)
leros 5y ago
If you're willing to pay for it, buy a Prusa MK3. It's one of the more solid printers. For the most part, it just works. Start printing existing models off Thingiverse and other model sites. You'll eventually run into some technical challenges and learn about various materials. Eventually you'll probably want to learn 3D modeling to create custom parts.

5 points by pythops 5y ago

The Creality Ender 3 series is cheap, well-built, and super-well supported. The entire design is also open source. There are all kinds of third-party mods for it (one of the really neat things about the hobby is printing parts to make the machine itself better). I recommend avoiding proprietary designs.

pythops 5y ago
Looks solid indeed. What about the software to create the models ? Anything open source you can recommend ?
- smmx 5y ago
  Blender is quite cool but a bit harder to learn. https://youtu.be/mlnA73vgoUk https://youtu.be/mlnA73vgoUk This is also great to know :)
- Turing_Machine 5y ago
  I use FreeCAD, which is FOSS and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You'll also need "slicer" software, which takes the 3D model and slices it into layers and generates the actual tool control program (this is in a language called "G-code", which is more or less standardized across CNC tools). For that I use Ultimaker Cura, also FOSS and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. A typical workflow is this: 1) Design part in FreeCAD. Save as a FreeCAD model (so you can edit it later) and also export it as an STL file (a standard 3D model format) 2) Load STL into Cura. Here you can control things like layer height, how much of the interior of the model is hollow (for most models you don't want to waste filament by printing it solid, though you can do that if you choose), what kind of infill pattern is used, etc. The defaults work well most of the time. Though Ultimaker makes their own printers, Cura also has printer profiles for many other common devices, including Ender. Cura generates the G-code file that controls the physical printer. 3) Put the G-code file on the printer (on a micro SD card, in my case) and print. Many people like a package called Octoprint, which works with a Raspberry Pi to give you remote printer control and monitoring capabilities. I haven't made that step yet, but plan to do that soon. https://www.freecadweb.org/ https://www.freecadweb.org/ https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura https://octoprint.org/ https://octoprint.org/
  - pythops 5y ago
    Thank you very much, that's exactly the answer I was waiting for. You really made my so thanks again

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

pythops 5y ago

Would be nice to have your recommendation about the software tools and the hardware :)

leros 5y ago

If you're willing to pay for it, buy a Prusa MK3. It's one of the more solid printers. For the most part, it just works. Start printing existing models off Thingiverse and other model sites. You'll eventually run into some technical challenges and learn about various materials. Eventually you'll probably want to learn 3D modeling to create custom parts.