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

Chapter 6. D6 Spinner

Imagine you're playing a board game, but can't find a six sided die. Printing one is no good, since printed dice haven't been proven to be balanced. A dice is not the only way to choose a number from one to six. With 3D printing a custom enclosed spinner can be printed, so you'll never be at a loss for a random number.

The toy robot in the last chapter isn't the only way a 3D printed object can be made to move. In this chapter we'll explore the creation of an object designed to move in the manner of a simple machine, with a simple gear powered by a common spring, as found in a pen or mechanical pencil.

Blender does not, by default, have the tools that allow it to make gears with ease. But one of Blender's strengths is that it is modular, and can easily have its functionality extended. Some of these extensions are included in Blender's installation, and just waiting to be activated. One of them adds gears to the objects that can be created.

This project will start by extracting...