I have bought two models from someone that 3D printed them and sent them from over seas. He’s using a $1500 3D printer but I’m seeing ones on Amazon for $200. What is the difference in each printer, is it going to be the size of builds i can do or the time and detail? I’m not sure what to consider at this point.
Different types of print materials and resolutions. I am sure print size also comes into play.
There different types with different requirements. Resin printers are nice but a kinda PIA. Extrusion are probably the easiest but resolution is not as good. My advice is not to shop for a printer until you fully understand the processes and their advantages and limitations. Cost to operate is another factor. Before you delve into printers jump into the software to operate your printer and CAD design work. 3D printers are a can of worms in that there is a lot to learn before you print.
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@TopSmith @Tank_1812 i was entertaining the idea of printing diorama bases and even models that there are no kits of. I have a feeling that if i want to do multiple things it’ll cost more money then i anticipated. Does the software run on any computer or is there certain recommended computers?
Not sure but probably depends on the printer. Maybe @Petition2God has better guidance.
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@Gregory_J_Copplin , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSvjzGnAosI this video would probably explain the differences better than I can in writing.
Personally, I use the Elegoo brand models - Mars 3, Mars 4 Ultra, and Saturn 2 for resin printing and Neptune 3 Pro for FDM printing. They have been very robust and relatively trouble-free.
More than paid for the machines because I have been selling my 3D prints and CADs for the past 2 years. They are like TVs - they just keep getting bigger, cheaper, and sharper resolution as the technology advances. $1500 3D printer sounds like an overkill. My $300 (USD) 3D printer has made some incredible prints. Good luck.
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I have a Mars 3 Pro. It makes great prints for what I am using it for.
James, what cad software are you using? I am currently using TinkerCad. Works, but has its limitations. I wish I could afford AutoCad as that is what I worked on for several years.
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@Petition2God thank you for the link, this will help a lot. I’m just not sure where to start. I’m more afraid of buying one that won’t get the job done or buying one that’s overkill using it twice then never touching it again.
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Hi Cory,
I mainly use MS 3D Builder, which is free from the Microsoft Store if you use PC, and supplement the complex shapes with Fusion 360 (free hobbyist license; and only up to 10 designs can be saved) and ZBrush Lite (also free with limited functions) for digital sculpting. I use Blender sometimes if I have to, which is also free, but very difficult to learn in my opinion. Good luck.
Kind regards,
James
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300 USD Elegoo printer will get the job done in my opinion. In the end, you’ll have to bite the bullet and jump in - a lot to learn and much trial and error. Or just leave it alone and stick to the old school modeling, which is fun, too.
Good luck.
Kind regards,
James
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Thanks James! I also use NanoCAD some (free knockoff of AutoCAD). I have dabbled with Fusion some, I just need to get into it more.
That video cleared up a lot, thank you. I want an FDM to build terrain and vehicles. Now i just need to learn how to draw on CAD to do these. I have someone that 3D prints things from cults3D for me at the moment. My question is how would you even start with making a cad drawing and converting it to 1/35
once drawn you can scale it up or down easily. Just get it drawn. Experience will tell you what will work and what won’t.
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Like Top said, draw 1:1 then you scale to whatever size you need. That said if you have lots, they can get lost scaling down. The opposite can happen too if you draw it smaller and what to scale up, you might need to add detail.
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Terrain would be a bit difficult to CAD without having some digital sculpting skills - for instance, making figures in 1/35 requires such skills. Those are not easy to learn and takes months if not years. Organic, irregular shapes need different skills than the solid surface CADs you do with AutoCAD or Fusion 360.
To make vehicles and their accessories, you need to develop the hard surface CAD skills to make the solid shapes, which you can do with 3D Builder and other more complex CAD programs mentioned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJKXhFSylYE would be a good start.
Also a good principle to remember is 3D CAD is just an extension or extrusion of 2D designs. You get a good 2D sketch for each X, Y, Z axis and combine those images into 3D shape. I’d start with a pencil and some paper, do a rough sketch and map out the basic dimensions then translate them into a 3D model. I hope this helps.
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Thank you all for the advice. I’ve just seen some great files and i know you can’t edit them or so I’ve been told. That’s why i was wondering how hard it would be to make them myself.