3d-printing-bukobot-faq [Bukobot 3D Printer Instructions & Docs]

====== 3D Printing & Bukobot Frequently Asked Questions ======

===== 3D Objects =====

==== Where can I find and download 3D objects to print? ====
There are many sites to get 3D objects from, here is a list of a few popular ones:
  * [[http://Thingiverse.com|Thingiverse]] - An extremely popular site for downloading free 3D objects made by the 3D printing community.
  * [[http://www.instructables.com|Instructables]] - A very big site of project for 3D printing and many other medias.
  * [[http://www.shapeways.com/3d_parts_database|Shapeways 3D Objects]] - Objects from Shapeways
  * [[http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/|Trimble 3D Warehouse]] - Formally Google 3D Warehouse, the site had mostly architectural designs and interior design elements.

==== Which 3D design or CAD programs are compatible with 3D printers? ====
In general, any program that outputs to a "STL" or "OBJ" file format may be used for 3D printing on a Bukobot.
Here's a list of some popular software which can export to a compatible program:
^App^Platform^Description^Links^License^
|[[http://www.openscad.org/|OpenSCAD]]\\ {{:bukobot-openscad.png?100|http://www.openscad.org/}}|Mac\\ Win\\ Linux|OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects. The Bukobot was mostly designed using OpenSCAD. It does not focus on the artistic aspects of 3D modelling but instead on the CAD aspects and provides two main modeling techniques: Constructive Solid Geometry (aka CSG) and extrusion of 2D outlines. It's also a very good CAD program to make designs parameteric and easy to modify by other users.|[[http://www.openscad.org/]]\\ Manual:[[http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenSCAD_User_Manual]]|Free/Open Source (GNU GPL v2)|
|[[https://tinkercad.com/|TinkerCAD]]\\ {{:tinkercad-example.png?100|https://tinkercad.com}}|Online (Firefox / Chrome Browser)|Tinkercad supports all 3D printers on the market that accept the industry standard STL file format.|[[https://tinkercad.com/]]|Free & Subscription Pricing|
|[[http://www.blender.org/|Blender]]{{:blender_icon.png?100|http://blender.org}}|Mac\\ Win\\ Linux|Lots of documentation and videos online. Specific support for 3d printing: remove duplicate vertices, select non-manifold.|[[http://www.blender.org/]]\\ [[blender-notes|Setting up Blender to use with Bukobot]]|Free/ Open Source|
|[[http://www.sketchup.com/|Trimble Sketchup (formally Google Sketchup]]{{:sketchup-icon.png?100|http://www.sketchup.com}}|Mac\\ Win|Dozens of video tutorials, an extensive Help Center and a worldwide user community mean that anyone who wants to make 3D models with SketchUp, can.|[[http://www.sketchup.com/]]|Free & Pro Pricing|
|[[http://www.123dapp.com/design/|Autodesk 123D Design]]\\ {{:icon_Design_90x90.png?100|http://www.123dapp.com/design/}}|Win\\ Mac\\ iPad\\ Browser|In addition to 123D Design, Autodesk also have 123D Catch (for building 3D models from photos) and 123D Sculpt (for building 3D models like modelling clay). |123D Design: [[http://www.123dapp.com/design]] (Win,Mac,iPad,browser)\\ 123D Catch: [[http://www.123dapp.com/catch]] (Win, iOS and browser)\\ 123D Sculpt: [[http://www.123dapp.com/sculpt]] (iPad only)|Proprietary (but Free)|
===== Printing Materials =====
==== What printing materials can a Bukobot use? ====
Currently, the Bukobots can extrude [[http://www.reprap.org/wiki/PLA|PLA]], [[http://www.reprap.org/wiki/ABS|ABS]] and [[http://www.reprap.org/wiki/PVA|PVA]] thermoplastics. With ABS, a heated platform is required to produce the best quality prints.
We are also developing a new nozzle design to extrude polycarbonate and nylon in the near future.

===== Bukobot Printer Software =====
==== What software do I need to run a Bukobot? ====
Since the Bukobot is a Reprap style 3D printer, you can use almost any Reprap compatible software to run the printer.
For controlling the printer, we recommend using [[https://github.com/repetier/Repetier-Host|Repetier Host (Mac, Win, Linux)]] but another alternative is [[https://github.com/kliment/Printrun|Pronterface (Mac, Win, Linux)]].
**Repetier Host** has [[http://slic3r.org|Slic3r]] included to create the tool path for 3D objects but [[http://fabmetheus.crsndoo.com|Skeinforge]] can be used as an alternative. See also [[software-to-install]]
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