getting-started-with-3d-printing
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getting-started-with-3d-printing [2013/08/01 14:05] deezmaker created |
getting-started-with-3d-printing [2013/08/01 20:45] (current) deezmaker |
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| ====== Getting Started with 3D Printing ====== | ====== Getting Started with 3D Printing ====== | ||
| - | Once you have built the printer and gone through the “First Print” steps linked below for your printer, you will need to learn a few types of software to operate it. Using a 3-D printer consists of two fundamental steps. First, one has to create a 3-D computer aided design (CAD) model in a particular format called .stl. Then, that model has to be translated into printer commands. There are open-source options in all cases (and in some cases, commercial software of varying expense). Mac, Windows and Linux machines are all options. | + | Once you have built the printer and gone through the “First Print” steps with your Bukobot printer, you will need to learn a few types of software to operate it. |
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| + | **Using a 3-D printer consists of two fundamental steps.** | ||
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| + | First, one has to create or download a 3-D computer aided design (CAD) model in a particular format called .stl. Then, that model has to be translated into printer commands. | ||
| **Checking out CAD software** | **Checking out CAD software** | ||
| - | For the first step, there are many options. A good way to start if you have never used any CAD program before is to use a simple web-based CAD tool called Tinkercad. There is nothing to download; just bring up the website. Note for Mac users: Safari does not work, but Firefox does. You do need to register to do more than take a tour. Alternatively if programming is more your thing than drag and drop, you may prefer OpenSCAD. Details on these and other programs can be found by clicking on the button “Recommended 3D Apps and Object Download Sites." | + | For the first step, There are open-source options (and some commercial software of varying costs) that can run on Mac, Windows and Linux machines are all options. A good way to start if you have never used any CAD program before is to use a simple web-based CAD tool called [[http://tinkercad.com|Tinkercad]]. There is nothing to download; just bring up the website. Note for Mac users: Safari does not work, but Firefox does. You do need to register to do more than take a tour. Alternatively if programming is more your thing than drag and drop, you may prefer OpenSCAD. Details on these and other programs can be found by clicking on the button “Recommended 3D Apps and Object Download Sites." |
| If you are already an expert CAD user, you can use your program of choice as long as it puts out a file in the .stl format. In many programs this will involve “exporting to” .stl from the native file format the program likes. If “save as” .stl is not an option, see if there is an “export” option. | If you are already an expert CAD user, you can use your program of choice as long as it puts out a file in the .stl format. In many programs this will involve “exporting to” .stl from the native file format the program likes. If “save as” .stl is not an option, see if there is an “export” option. | ||
getting-started-with-3d-printing.1375383910.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/08/01 14:05 by deezmaker
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