Have you ever needed a part for a project and just can’t find it?
With a 3D printer you can ‘print’ the parts you need. Maybe you need a landing gear for a model airplane. If you can design it, you can print it. 3D printing can be an asset to your hobbies or an intriguing hobby all by itself.
A 3D printer is often used to make practical, day to day items. Some of the many projects people have made include cell phone cases, models, enclosures for electronics projects, tabletop gaming pieces, new parts for broken household items such as food processors, laptop and table stands. To spark your creativity check out what others have made at https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/.
To get started in 3D printing you will need a computer, internet access, and a 3D printer. 3D Printers that are designed for hobbyists often allow the user to design parts in their web browser eliminating the need for expensive CAD software. The Makerbot 3D printer is supported by the Makerbot Print online software suite. Others prefer TinkerCAD which is an online design program aimed at educators and students. Plus TinkerCAD is published by AutoDesk, the makers of the worlds leading 2D and 3D design software. So they know a little bit about the science of design.
If you prefer not to learn 3D design, you can print models designed by others. There is a large community of 3D printing enthusiasts who have released their models to the creative commons or public domain. Creative commons generally means you can print a model for your personal use, but just cannot sell it. Some designers will release their designs with no strings attached though. Read the license details carefully if you intend to print items for sale.
If you want to print some premade 3D models, I’d recommend you first look at what is available and pick out a few projects you like.
Some of the repositories for 3D models are:
- Thingiverse (https://www.thingiverse.com/)
- All3dp (https://all3dp.com/printables/)
- instructables (https://www.instructables.com/workshop/3d-printing/projects/).
After your model is printed, you will need to treat it like a plastic model kit. That means you will have to deburr and lightly sand your parts. Not all 3D printers print in color, so you may want to paint your parts as well depending on it’s purpose.
So in conclusion, 3D Printing can be an enjoyable project. But bear in mind that you may have to learn 3D design in order to take full advantage of the printer. Fortunately, the new tools make 3D design a lot easier. There is an investment in time to learn the process but it is very rewarding to know that you can design and print virtually any object that you can imagine.
If you found this helpful or something is unclear, let me know in the comments.
