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

Adding a handle


Do an incremental save (Press F2, Numpad +, and then click on Save As Blender File).

Note

Whenever a new object is added, it will appear wherever the 3D cursor is. If the 3D cursor has accidentally moved by a stray, left-click is good to center the view and reset the 3D cursor to the origin by pressing Shift + C before adding a new object.

Carry out the following steps to create a new cube:

  1. Select Add in the Info panel menu or press Shift + A and select Mesh | Cube in the menu.

  2. Click on the Object tab in the right-hand sidebar and rename this Cube to Handle.

The newly created cube is being seen from the front orthographic view so it looks like a box, but it does have depth. Rotate the view to confirm this. The cylinder is also entirely inside the mug body but it is visible because of wireframe mode. Press Z to toggle back to solid view and the cube will be hidden by the body. Remember to undo any view changes by pressing Numpad 1 or choosing View | Front and toggling to Wireframe...