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

Extra credit


Is having the numbers in sequence the best idea or should they be scrambled on the wheel? When making dice, the pips are placed in such a way that they balance themselves. Balance isn't a problem with this spinner, but perhaps it would "feel" better, if they were in a more random order. And why do they have to be numbers? Pips or even pictograms could be used instead.

Could the spring be replaced with something that is printed in 3D? Plastic is flexible and printed springs have already been proven effective. Perhaps one of them could be incorporated into this project?

This project could be extended in other ways. A D6 roller is fine, but how would a different number of options work out? The gear is designed to stop the numbers in specific places. Eight numbers and hence eight teeth on the gears would probably work fine, but how could a D20 be implemented?

What about a 2D6, spinning two disks simultaneously and outputting two different numbers. Perhaps the finger switch underneath...