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

Creating a vase from the lines


It may not be immediately evident from its name, but the Screw modifier is the tool that will be used to turn this line into a 3-dimensional shape:

  1. Switch to the Modifier tab (the one with the blue wrench) in the right-side bar.

  2. Click on the Add Modifier button.

  3. Click on the Screw modifier in the second column:

  4. Uncheck Smooth Shading.

  5. Change the Render Steps field to 32.

  6. Change the Steps field to 32:

Like many modifiers in Blender, Screw can be used for many more things than making vases, and experimentation outside of this exercise is encouraged.

Why 32 steps? Those who are new to 3D modeling or computer science may wonder why such a seemingly arbitrary number like 32 is used. There are two reasons for choosing 32.

The first reason is because 32 is divisible by 4, so that the vertices line up with the four axes directions nicely. If 30 were used, there would be vertices that lined up nicely with the horizontal axis, but on the vertical axis there would be points straddling...