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

Using Solidify to make walls


The vase looks good from this angle, but if the view is rotated it becomes apparent that this it is just the shell of a vase. If this were to be printed as it is, nothing might get printed. The shape needs to be solidified into a shape, and fortunately there's a modifier for that. Solidify can be applied to this shell to make a printable object.

Just a quick reminder that constantly saving (Ctrl + A) and incremental saves (F2, +) is always a good idea.

Before using Solidify in the Modifier tab (blue wrench), press the Apply button to finalize the Screw modifier. Then add and adjust the settings of the Solidify modifier as follows:

  1. Press the Add Modifier button.

  2. Select the Solidify modifier in the second column from the pop-up menu:

  3. Change the Thickness field to 2 for a 2 mm wall:

There is something very wrong. The Solidify modifier seems to work properly for the bottom half of the vase, but not for the top. The reason for this is another very important concept in 3D...