1 Topic by ahtiram2725

  • ahtiram2725
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Topic: new to 3d printing

hi guys,,

I would like to buy a 3d printer one day...before i do what else do i need? do i need to be good at certain software like 3dmax etc? I am a completely newbie but 3d printing interests me alot!

please advice guys where to begin....

2 Reply by SnakeEyes

  • SnakeEyes
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  • Registered: 2013-08-16
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Re: new to 3d printing

I bought the sd 3 about 4 months ago and am just getting it to print tonight,  that how little time I've had to play with it.  I personally have been playing with Solidworks, and I do love it.  Still very much a novice considering how much that program can actually do, but the shear amount of tutorials on Youtube alone will get you to designing pretty fast.  I still have a long way to go but that where I am and im having a lot of fun.

Overkill is underrated!!!

3 Reply by Merko

  • Merko
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Re: new to 3d printing

Download and try sketchup. very easy to play around with, and you can also make some real nice models with it.

4 Reply by wire10ga

  • wire10ga
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Re: new to 3d printing

+1 sketchup

SD2 - Glass Bed, Fans on PCB and Y motor, Custom enclosure
Slicer - Simplify3D

wire10ga's Website

5 Reply by tycoonman1

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  • Registered: 2013-12-21
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Re: new to 3d printing

I was attracted to Autodesk Inventor over comparable programs. I know SketchUp is supposed to be extremely novice-friendly, but I actually found it difficult to do fairly simple things. I ended up giving up. Wasted HDD space. Inventor is very intuitive to me. Being an Autodesk program there's an abundance of support. Heard great things about SolidWorks, too.

I think the best way to start is to have something in mind that you want to model BEFORE you learn the software. Then, jump in. When you need to do something you don't know how to do then look it up. I find the real-world learning (OTJ) to be far more effective for me than trying to essentially study a software before I use it. Boring.

Other than the CAD software you'll need to be able to use slicing software to "slice" your 3D models. I use Repetier Host to operate the printer, and this allows me to generate GCODE from any slicing software I choose.

You'll need filament, probably blue masking tape, a scraper to remove pieces from the build platform, and a shoot load of patience.