Book Image

3D Printing Blueprints

By : Joe Larson
Book Image

3D Printing Blueprints

By: Joe Larson

Overview of this book

A new industrial age is here. Machines designed to build useful and interesting objects have moved from the factory to the home. Whether you have a 3D printer or not, learning how to design your first 3D models is the best way to become part of the 3D printing movement. 3D Printing Blueprints will teach you, step by step, the tools and techniques of using Blender, a free 3D modelling program, to build 3D models for printing with simple and fun hands-on projects.3D Printing Blueprints uses engaging and fun projects that teach Blender modeling for 3D printing through hands-on lessons. First you'll learn basic modeling and make a small simple object. Then each new project brings with it new tools and techniques as well as teaching the rules of 3D printing design. Eventually you'll be building objects designed to repair or replace everyday objects. Finally you'll be able to even tackle other people's models and fix them to be 3D printable. Through the course of doing the blueprints you will custom build one-of-a-kind objects that you can call your own. Starting from a custom vase formed from a picture, lessons will progress to a multi-part modular robot toy. Then simple machines will be designed with custom gears and functions. Eventually you'll learn how to download models from the Internet and make custom objects. Finally you'll be able to build models with near real life specifications and make a print that can be used for small object repair. 3D Printing Blueprints will teach you everything you need to know about building custom 3D models to print successfully on modern home 3D printers.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)
3D Printing Blueprints
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Grid paper method


Fortunately, there is a way that a complex shape can be measured accurately no matter how strange the curves or turns. All that is needed is an object to measure, an ink pad, and some centimeter graph paper.

First thing to do is get an object that needs to be modeled for printing. In this example, a drawer guide that has an arm broken off will be used. If it were fixed, this piece should be identical on both sides. This piece has lots of complex shapes and measuring it completely would be a challenge.

A good candidate for the grid paper method is a piece that has at least one flat side, or that can easily be made to have a flat side. The back of this piece is not flat at all, but the front has only two nubs sticking out that would be easy enough to remove. Just note their location before removing them since they'll need to be modeled back in. Then use a sharp blade and cut them off.

Then to be sure that the surface is perfectly flat, use some fine grit sandpaper on a flat...