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

Modeling the finger


Now that all the measurements have been taken, it is time to go to Blender. Start a new scene; (De)select All (A) objects and Delete (X) them. Then save the scene (Ctrl + S) in a new directory under the Makerbot Blueprints directory called Ch4 SD Card Ring and name the project file as SD Card Ring.

  1. Add (Shift + A) a cylinder. In the side bar to the left, change the options for the cylinder. Change the value of Vertices to 64 so the cylinder is smoother than default. Change the value of Radius to half the diameter of the measured finger. Change the value of Depth to 10:

    Note

    Blender can take simple equations in these boxes, so instead of dividing the diameter in half to get the radius, simply type the diameter followed by /2 and it will divide it by 2 for you. So, in the preceding example, typing 19.3/2 resulted in the value of Radius being shown.

  2. Select the Object tab (orange cube) from the properties on the side bar to the right, rename this cylinder to Finger as this cylinder...