Does anyone have a 3d printer?

[salazarcosplay]

Does anyone have a 3d printer? Anyone 3d print as a hobby or business?

[Margot Robbed Me]

why do you ask

[salazarcosplay]

On 2/21/2024 at 2:51 PM, Margot Robbed Me said:

why do you ask

I have 3d printers myself, I just wanted ot see if anyone from the formum had anything comments they wanted to share. 

[Margot Robbed Me]

Mmmyeah. It's like 2D printing, with an extra D

[ṼirulenⱦEqừinox]

On 2/21/2024 at 3:27 PM, salazarcosplay said:

Does anyone have a 3d printer? Anyone 3d print as a hobby or business?

I've been looking into buying a 3D printer myself a small home one as a hobby but I've been putting it off because I'm afraid of how hard it'll be to use and stuff like that.

 

Are they simple, or easy to use? For first time buyer, user what's your advice? What would you suggest, recommend 

[Margot Robbed Me]

If you're relatively comfortable around computers/technology (as in, you know that ads which say HOT SINGLES IN YOUR AREA is BS), most 3D printers are simple to use.

 

3D models can be downloaded online or made on your own. Files like .STL, .OBJ, .3mf are usually what the saved models formats are. Then you simply load that model into a slicing software (such as Cura, PrusaSlicer, etc), and it will take that solid 3D model, and slice it into layers (like a cake) that your 3D printer can understand. Once it's sliced, you save that file as a .gcode file, and transfer that file to your 3D printer. Whether that be via a USB stick, SD card, or a networked connection. Hit Print, and off it goes.

 

Popular (and free) slicing software like Cura has most of the popular 3D printer profiles available. You just set it to the printer you have, and it will input all of the settings for you. Some adjustments may be needed after some initial test prints, but those can be easily Googled for how and what to change.

 

There are primarily two types of 3D printers for hobbyists. FDM/FFF printers, and SLA/Resin printers.

 

1. FDM printers are what people typically think of when they think of 3D printers. A nozzle laying down a layer of plastic, then moving up, and laying another layer on top of that, until it's all done.

 

 

2. SLA/Resin printing uses a liquid material which sits in a clear vat. And a platform dips into that vat, while a screen below the vat flashes on and off to cure a layer, then the platform moves up, and it repeats. This process can result in incredibly detailed and smooth prints, and is used a lot in miniature figures.

 

(This image is a timelapse, resin doesn't print anywhere near this fast)

 

 

Resin printing is messy and requires a lot of safety precautions and cleanup when using so I don't recommend resin printers for beginners, and the parts tend to be weaker when using the common resins available. For high strength, functional prints, I tend to use my FDM printers.

 

For a starter FDM printer, I still recommend a Creality Ender 3 style printer. This style been around for a long time, is cheap, are easy to troubleshoot, and it's so common that replacement parts, upgrades, and modifications can be found everywhere.

 

A list of cheap FDM printers to start out on, off the top of my head, that go for around $200-250.

 

- Elegoo Neptune 3 and Neptune 4 family (Neptune 3, Neptune 4, Neptune 4 Pro, etc)

- Creality Ender 3 family (Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro, Ender 3 V2, Ender V3 SE, etc)

- Anycubic Kobra family (Kobra 2, Kobra 2 Neo, Kobra 2 Pro, etc)

- Sovol SV06 / SV06 Plus

- Voxelab Aquila family

- Bambu A1 Mini

 

There are plenty more options out there. Too many to mention. The hardest part is probably assembling the printer, but that's no harder than assembling Ikea furniture.

[ṼirulenⱦEqừinox]

On 5/29/2024 at 3:54 AM, Margot Robbed Me said:

If you're relatively comfortable around computers/technology (as in, you know that ads which say HOT SINGLES IN YOUR AREA is BS), most 3D printers are simple to use.

 

3D models can be downloaded online or made on your own. Files like .STL, .OBJ, .3mf are usually what the saved models formats are. Then you simply load that model into a slicing software (such as Cura, PrusaSlicer, etc), and it will take that solid 3D model, and slice it into layers (like a cake) that your 3D printer can understand. Once it's sliced, you save that file as a .gcode file, and transfer that file to your 3D printer. Whether that be via a USB stick, SD card, or a networked connection. Hit Print, and off it goes.

 

Popular (and free) slicing software like Cura has most of the popular 3D printer profiles available. You just set it to the printer you have, and it will input all of the settings for you. Some adjustments may be needed after some initial test prints, but those can be easily Googled for how and what to change.

 

There are primarily two types of 3D printers for hobbyists. FDM/FFF printers, and SLA/Resin printers.

 

1. FDM printers are what people typically think of when they think of 3D printers. A nozzle laying down a layer of plastic, then moving up, and laying another layer on top of that, until it's all done.

 

 

2. SLA/Resin printing uses a liquid material which sits in a clear vat. And a platform dips into that vat, while a screen below the vat flashes on and off to cure a layer, then the platform moves up, and it repeats. This process can result in incredibly detailed and smooth prints, and is used a lot in miniature figures.

 

(This image is a timelapse, resin doesn't print anywhere near this fast)

 

 

Resin printing is messy and requires a lot of safety precautions and cleanup when using so I don't recommend resin printers for beginners, and the parts tend to be weaker when using the common resins available. For high strength, functional prints, I tend to use my FDM printers.

 

For a starter FDM printer, I still recommend a Creality Ender 3 style printer. This style been around for a long time, is cheap, are easy to troubleshoot, and it's so common that replacement parts, upgrades, and modifications can be found everywhere.

 

A list of cheap FDM printers to start out on, off the top of my head, that go for around $200-250.

 

- Elegoo Neptune 3 and Neptune 4 family (Neptune 3, Neptune 4, Neptune 4 Pro, etc)

- Creality Ender 3 family (Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro, Ender 3 V2, Ender V3 SE, etc)

- Anycubic Kobra family (Kobra 2, Kobra 2 Neo, Kobra 2 Pro, etc)

- Sovol SV06 / SV06 Plus

- Voxelab Aquila family

- Bambu A1 Mini

 

There are plenty more options out there. Too many to mention. The hardest part is probably assembling the printer, but that's no harder than assembling Ikea furniture.

I'm not so worried about the technology part such as setting it up and using it, it's the physical stuff like whether is it hard to put the filament in and other things like that, I got hurt a while back so my hands don't work as good as they should.

Edited June 1, 2024 by ṼirulenⱦEqừinox

[Margot Robbed Me]

 

Most printers nowadays have a lever you depress so that you can insert filament easily. 

[salazarcosplay]

On 5/28/2024 at 9:58 AM, ṼirulenⱦEqừinox said:

I've been looking into buying a 3D printer myself a small home one as a hobby but I've been putting it off because I'm afraid of how hard it'll be to use and stuff like that.

 

Are they simple, or easy to use? For first time buyer, user what's your advice? What would you suggest, recommend 

Do not buy creality. You will spend more time repairing and doing adjustments. 
 

I personally have had good success with Elegoo series 3. I hear Prusa and Bambu are good too.

[handy_fox]

On 5/29/2024 at 2:54 AM, Margot Robbed Me said:

If you're relatively comfortable around computers/technology (as in, you know that ads which say HOT SINGLES IN YOUR AREA is BS), most 3D printers are simple to use.

 

3D models can be downloaded online or made on your own. Files like .STL, .OBJ, .3mf are usually what the saved models formats are. Then you simply load that model into a slicing software (such as Cura, PrusaSlicer, etc), and it will take that solid 3D model, and slice it into layers (like a cake) that your 3D printer can understand. Once it's sliced, you save that file as a .gcode file, and transfer that file to your 3D printer. Whether that be via a USB stick, SD card, or a networked connection. Hit Print, and off it goes.

 

Popular (and free) slicing software like Cura has most of the popular 3D printer profiles available. You just set it to the printer you have, and it will input all of the settings for you. Some adjustments may be needed after some initial test prints, but those can be easily Googled for how and what to change.

 

There are primarily two types of 3D printers for hobbyists. FDM/FFF printers, and SLA/Resin printers.

 

1. FDM printers are what people typically think of when they think of 3D printers. A nozzle laying down a layer of plastic, then moving up, and laying another layer on top of that, until it's all done.

 

 

2. SLA/Resin printing uses a liquid material which sits in a clear vat. And a platform dips into that vat, while a screen below the vat flashes on and off to cure a layer, then the platform moves up, and it repeats. This process can result in incredibly detailed and smooth prints, and is used a lot in miniature figures.

 

(This image is a timelapse, resin doesn't print anywhere near this fast)

 

 

Resin printing is messy and requires a lot of safety precautions and cleanup when using so I don't recommend resin printers for beginners, and the parts tend to be weaker when using the common resins available. For high strength, functional prints, I tend to use my FDM printers.

 

For a starter FDM printer, I still recommend a Creality Ender 3 style printer. This style been around for a long time, is cheap, are easy to troubleshoot, and it's so common that replacement parts, upgrades, and modifications can be found everywhere.

 

A list of cheap FDM printers to start out on, off the top of my head, that go for around $200-250.

 

- Elegoo Neptune 3 and Neptune 4 family (Neptune 3, Neptune 4, Neptune 4 Pro, etc)

- Creality Ender 3 family (Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro, Ender 3 V2, Ender V3 SE, etc)

- Anycubic Kobra family (Kobra 2, Kobra 2 Neo, Kobra 2 Pro, etc)

- Sovol SV06 / SV06 Plus

- Voxelab Aquila family

- Bambu A1 Mini

 

There are plenty more options out there. Too many to mention. The hardest part is probably assembling the printer, but that's no harder than assembling Ikea furniture.

 

I think you just got me into 3d printing.