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

Resizing the test ring


Now we are back to Blender to make a new test ring. This time, instead of starting from scratch, reload the project and resize the existing ring. Care has to be taken when resizing the ring to insure that it doesn't extend below the XY plane.

  1. Unhide the Finger cylinder by clicking on the eye icon in the Outliner on the line for the Finger object.

  2. Select All (A) objects.

  3. Begin the Scale (S) operation.

  4. Press Shift + Z to lock the scale operation to all but the z axis.

  5. Type 1.03 to scale the selected object just slightly larger.

  6. Press Enter to end the scale operation.

    Tip

    Pressing Shift and X, Y, or Z key when in an operation such as scale or grab, locks the operation to everything but the selected axis, regardless of view. With rotation, however, the effects are less predictable.

    Note

    The logic behind using 1.03 as a scaling factor is that past experimentation has proven this to be the right amount to overcome ABS shrinkage. It also coincidently brings the new ring very close...