I would recommend finding something simple on Thingiverse.  Try a cookie cutter or something.  They're basic enough to give you a good run and you get something useful out of it.

I wonder is there is a better "first print" ?

Thanks,
Mike

Something small

I am using the standard profiles the SolidDoodle folks provided.

The Prontface one tries to go off the table pretty quickly.

The Repetier one does the first few layers and then seems to freak out on the Y motor.  I will check the tension later tonight.

I wonder is there is a better "first print" ?

Thanks,
Mike

-Mike

I think I'll start a topic on 3d modelling for 3d printing as it seems to be a hot topic.

When you hear about an object being manifold, it means that it is a solid surface with no holes, doubled up lines, internal extra surfaces or intersecting pieces.

Achieving this can be quite difficult on complicated models.

The model was made by my son when he was 12. We had an architect re-enter the drawing (in his cad program) for building the barn for real.

I was hoping we could use my son's old model for printing, figuring that would look cool for his college application (he is a junior now).

Can we turn the discussion and suggest a good beginner's book on modelling for printing?

Sorry for being dense. I am spankin' new to 3d printing. (I do know graphics having worked on ATi's 3d drivers).

-Mike

Deeper inspection of the vertices shows a more complex item.  It's almost all manifold (except for the doorways and that post), but there are a lot of duplicate vertices and faces that shouldn't be there or should be merged.  Sketchup does good work, but you have to plan for "watertight" or else you end up with something that won't slice.

I'll take a better look at the model with sketchup tonight and see what I can see.

You have a series of surfaces that have no thickness. 3D printing requires solid shapes. If you imagine a cube, it has no holes or internal separate faces. Removes one side to make an open box, and the software no longer considers it a solid because all of the faces have no thickness. It can't tell the inside from the out.

If you make this open box in real life, the cardboard would actually have a mm or so thickness, so your model needs the same.

I appreciate all the help. This is a nice community.

-Mike

The skeinforge does the python crash whether or not I run it directly.  It does try for several minutes (spewing all sorts of warnings about holes).

If this is the case, it's normal.  Go to Slicer Settings in the options menu and slice directly from skeinforge.  Then load the gcode from pronterface.

If this is not the case, then there are other issues.

Slic3r's scribbles may not be that unusual.  Post the STL and let's see what it looks like.