Rush of blood or not

[BOB BLACKSHAW 1Participant @bobblackshaw1]

Hello, Ive been offered a Bambu 3D printer at a good price and seeing them work I want one, but is it going to be another bit of kit laying in the cupboard after a few weeks.

What I understand is that files are available for models to print, but I don’t want to print models, I would use it to print stuff that I need.

So really do I need to know CAD or any other technical jargon for this.

Example I collect Pearl Ware Toby jugs , I would like to print on of those.

A beginners question but at a low level.

Thanks Bob

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

You have two options: Either download models or draw them yourself. AI might provide a third option but I don’t follow that.

For option one, start at thingiverse, it has tons of useful stuff. There are many other sites to explore as well.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Option two gives you a lot more versatility. Learning CAD takes a bit of effort, but there is a lot of good, free cad software to choose from. FreeCAD is opensource, Adobe Fusion360 has a free version that is quite capable, and there are several others like OnShape and tinkercad.</p>

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Go for it, I used my sons old printer once and was then hooked but then again I always say you can’t have too many tools! I bought a Bambu P1S and have never regretted it, I personally like the design side of things and use Onshape as my preferred CAD programme, I also have Fusion as a free option.

Finally I only print practical stuff I need but there are others who just print artistic stuff.

Tony

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

To produce your own files to 3D print options include;

• Use 3D CAD to design something then export in a file format the printer can accept.
• Use a 3D scanner (to scan an existing item), and associated processing software to fix any gaps or other issues with the scan.  Print the resulting file.

3D CAD in the broadest sense includes software suited to mechanical items, through to other software aimed at more organic shapes, or even animals/people.

[HowiParticipant @howi]

Learn to use your 3D printer first, there are millions of 3D printer files out there, just make sure you are not re-inventing the wheel.

Learning CAD is is a whole lot of difference.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I’ve drawn quite a lot of items for people who have 3D printers but can’t draw what they want to print so for your described use it would sit on the shelf until you can produce files for it to print.

 

Your mention of Toby Jugs would also need a CAD program with more organic shape capability than the majority of engineering based ones that most on here would tend to use which would really only be suitable for a basic jug shape not the face and other features..

[Author]

Posts