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Re: The joys of 3D printing

harvyk030-Jun-21 19:47

harvyk0

30-Jun-21 19:47

I use OpenSCAD, it's a coding like language for creating 3d objects.
As a software developer by day, I find it rather easy, simply because I understand methods, loops, if's and objects.

To give you an idea of the language, something like this:

for(i = [0:9]) {
translate([i * 10,0,0]) cylinder(d = 5, h = 50, $fn=50);
}

would give you 10 identical 5mm wide by 50mm high cylinders, at 10mm distance apart on the x axis.

It can generate stl files for passing to the slicer. I have yet to have a problem with the slicer thinking the internals of any object is empty, and I have no problem in overlapping objects (I commonly place objects 0.1mm inside each other).

I also like that I can split complex parts into their own modules (methods) and then preview the entire printed object inside openscad, then print off each section by itself. I've found I've been able to do joins between components far better and more accurately than by simply slicing a model into two using the slicer.

To make things easier, there is also a community of people who design parts inside OpenSCAD. From simple libraries like a triangles library, to more complex libraries like gears, which can all be downloaded for free as well.

As for what I'm doing with the pieces I print, well I'm building a full sized functioning jumbo jet (boeing 747-400) simulator. I'm printing panels, controls, buttons and switches (the sort that you can't just get at your local electronics stores), and every piece has been designed with OpenSCAD.

Re: The joys of 3D printing

Slacker00730-Jun-21 21:00

Slacker007

30-Jun-21 21:00

harvyk0 wrote:
I'm building a full sized functioning jumbo jet (boeing 747-400) simulator

would love to see pics of the final product, or even an article. Sounds like fun.

Re: The joys of 3D printing

wt2930-Jun-21 21:11

wt29

30-Jun-21 21:11

TinkerCad.

Free, simple. I use Fusion 360 occasionally but TinkerCad gets me 90% of the stuff I need to print.

It will import your STL files. I slice with Cura and rarely have an issue.

Fusion 360 has a free tier but finding on the site seems to be purposefully difficult.

Re: The joys of 3D printing

Alan Faiers30-Jun-21 22:51

Alan Faiers

30-Jun-21 22:51

Using using STL files for anything other than export can cause problems. I use DesignCad Mechanical (free from RS Components) and always save my work in the default format, exporting to STL only before slicing. I've never found a reliable way of importing an STL file and modifying it.

Re: The joys of 3D printing

rcole1171-Jul-21 3:07

rcole117

1-Jul-21 3:07

Do your design in Blender and then load the model into MeshMixer (another free software package from Autodesk). Select to "Convert to Solid". This will re-mesh the object and remove all internal faces. The mesh will be converted to triangles (no other polygons are allowed), but that isn't a problem for most slicers.

Of course, MeshMixer can do much more than that, but it sounds like this is what you need.

Re: The joys of 3D printing

mikebres1-Jul-21 4:37

mikebres

1-Jul-21 4:37

You should check out MOI, Moment of Inspiration. MoI, 3D modeling for designers and artists[^]

It's a NURBS modeler. It will import and export STL.

Re: The joys of 3D printing

scosta_FST1-Jul-21 4:49

scosta_FST

1-Jul-21 4:49

I suggest OnShape, a fantastic completely web based cad.
There is the free version which, as the only limitation, makes all your documents public.
It is really well done, it is parametric and it has a lot of professional features.
It also allows you to import STL files (I've never done that), but I don't think it has any specific cleaning functions.

Re: The joys of 3D printing

davecasdf1-Jul-21 5:20

davecasdf

1-Jul-21 5:20

( My joy of 3D printing was dear windows doing one of it's "you haven't touched the mouse in _hours_ I'll just force a re-boot now" half way thru a print. )

3-D cad, - now, I started as a machinist. We cut stock apart, cut shapes, weld or bolt together. I like Solidworks, it does that well, you may want something that acts more like molding clay.

So, you need to consider the shapes you are making and how you are defining them. For my work, I've been using Alibre. It's not what I'd take for full time, but closer to $1K than $5K.

If you have a _fast_ connection, OnShape can do a good job. If you don't care about assemblies, ( in the above, I could model a bicycle as component parts then assemble it. And turn the crank - probably have that turn the rear wheel, I don't think I could get a derailleur to shift the chain. )

But for just parts, and you _could_ model the bicycle as one part, there are several free programs, ( FreeCAD looks good, but given I can't do assemblies, I've not really worked at it. )
Several of the big cad systems ( Catia and Ansys, I think Autodesk not sure who else ) have free 3d part modelers some may have the more "plastic" approach I expect lots of people to want. Their free offerings are limited, but some only in that they don't handle assemblies, and they are stable. Good code base under them.

If your needs are more than that check our Rhino.

Have fun.

Re: The joys of 3D printing

jmaida1-Jul-21 7:47

jmaida

1-Jul-21 7:47

try rhino3d
good importer and exporter

WSO CCC OTD 2021-06-30

OriginalGriff29-Jun-21 21:46

OriginalGriff

29-Jun-21 21:46

Metal: ductile and conductive but uncommon. Poisonous. (6)

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