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

Summary


This final blueprint explored techniques for modeling 3D objects to fit when 3D printed. Measuring tools such as calipers are valuable aids to any 3D modeler, and using a scanner and ink pad is a clever technique to capture complex objects' shape, provided they have a flat side that can be used like a stamp. The grid paper method is a useful method that works in a surprising number of cases.

Perhaps, one day 3D scanners will be as ubiquitous as their 2D counterparts, but until that day finding ways to transfer real space into the digital space is a problem that will challenge 3D designers. Being creative about making accurate measurement will continue to be a rewarding challenge.

With this last technique, there should be nothing we need for designing objects for 3D printing. Congratulate yourself, you are now a 3D designer. Now the challenges are yours. Find objects that you want to make and model them, if you haven't already started. Find a need and fill it with a plastic object....