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

Exporting for print


All editing of a model done. The mug isn't placed on the platform it's true, it is just kind of floating in space, but it is properly oriented so the 3D printer software will take care of positioning it. All that is left is to export the model in a format that can be sent to the 3D printer.

With the final mug selected (right-click) and when not in Edit Mode (Tab), carry out the following steps:

  1. Click on File on the top menu.

  2. Click on Export on the menu.

  3. In the menu that pops up click on Stl (.stl).

    Note

    Standard Tessellation Language (STL) is a file format that is used to describe the geometry of a shape. It doesn't store much else but the shape which is perfect for 3D printing. Almost every 3D printer can use a STL file.

By default the name of the STL will be the name of the project, which is perfect in this case. Just check to be sure the name is as you like it and click on the Export STL button.

Then open either MakerWare or ReplicatorG, open the STL, and prepare it for printing...