1 Topic by Twinmum

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Topic: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

Hi guys. Let me introduce myself. I'm Norma (aka Twinmum) I make dollhouse miniatures and recently, I've been become interested in 3D printing. My entry to this exciting world was to design some shoe soles and heels that I could then use as a base for leather uppers. I started by having my first projects printed up through Shapeways, but then discovered my local library has a 3D printer which turned out to be a lot more conveinient then having things sent from the Netherlands (I'm in Australia). Since those early projects, I have had many ideas for things that I could print up and feel that I could probably do with a printer of my own.
I've looked around and am pretty sure that I will get an XYZ AiO, mainly due to the scanning feature. I have seen people say that the scanning quality is not very good, but I don't need something that is highly precise. I want to be able to scan fullsized items (or smaller items that I have modeled) and then modify and scale that created file to a size that works for me.
What I don't like about the XYZ printers is the cartridge restriction for the fillament. I have thought of using XYZeroCart and others have recomended using Repetier instead, but this is where I feel so overwhelmed. I have read so many things, but can't seem to find an easy (good for complete noobs) guide to starting along that particular 3D printing road.

2 Reply by carl_m1968 (edited by carl_m1968 2015-05-09 15:35:03)

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

The scanner has some deal breaking limitations. It can not scan accurately meaning usable an object less than 2 inches in all directions. Likewise it has the same limitations for parts of an object that are under two inches.

The other issue is that objects cannot be clear, glossy, reflective, or have patches with such properties.

Just information you may want to consider in your purchase.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

3 Reply by kev0175

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

Twinmum wrote:

Hi guys. Let me introduce myself. I'm Norma (aka Twinmum) I make dollhouse miniatures and recently, I've been become interested in 3D printing. My entry to this exciting world was to design some shoe soles and heels that I could then use as a base for leather uppers. I started by having my first projects printed up through Shapeways, but then discovered my local library has a 3D printer which turned out to be a lot more conveinient then having things sent from the Netherlands (I'm in Australia). Since those early projects, I have had many ideas for things that I could print up and feel that I could probably do with a printer of my own.
I've looked around and am pretty sure that I will get an XYZ AiO, mainly due to the scanning feature. I have seen people say that the scanning quality is not very good, but I don't need something that is highly precise. I want to be able to scan fullsized items (or smaller items that I have modeled) and then modify and scale that created file to a size that works for me.
What I don't like about the XYZ printers is the cartridge restriction for the fillament. I have thought of using XYZeroCart and others have recomended using Repetier instead, but this is where I feel so overwhelmed. I have read so many things, but can't seem to find an easy (good for complete noobs) guide to starting along that particular 3D printing road.


Also wanted to let you know you cannot flash Repetier to the AiO. Scanner will not work

Da Vinci  AiO with firmware 1.1.1 using xyzscan 1.1.18
E3Dv6 hotend with custom carriage with Borosilicate glass bed
123D Design and Simplify3D, Replaced PS with a Solidgear Flex320
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4 Reply by scobo

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

My advice would be to go for one of the cheaper Da Vincis without the scanner.
Instead of a scanner, you might want to try 123D Catch which is free and does a very good job of converting photos to 3D models which can be printed.
It's available for Windows or as an app for IOS or Android. The app version is very easy to use, just take several photos of the object from various angles and the app does the rest.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

5 Reply by Twinmum (edited by Twinmum 2015-05-10 08:31:43)

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

Thanks for the input guys. I am beginning to think that I will lean away from the AiO. Just means I have to learn a bit more modelling lol. I have tried 123D Catch and also have an xBox Kinect but have had very poor results with both, although that could well be user error.

6 Reply by scobo

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

I tried using a Kinect too and wasn't impressed with the results either.
But I've had really good results using a Samsung Galaxy S4 phone with the 123D Catch app.
It does take a bit of trial and error to get the lighting right though and using a tripod helps.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

7 Reply by Dominick (edited by Dominick 2015-05-10 23:35:52)

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

If you really want to dive deep and model from scratch, try http://www.blender.org/.
It is a free, open-source 3d program that can be used for anything.  Takes a few days to learn the essentials, but after that your designs are limited to what you can think of in your bwain...

Da Vinci 2.0 with Repetier Firmware (Printing in ABS/PLA/Exotics)
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16 years old

8 Reply by Twinmum

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

I've been modelling using Tinkercad which is ok for basic things (it has got me started at least) and I have a copy of Blender. Just haven't had a chance to sit down with any tutorials yet. Guess looking at buying a printer without a scanner will motvate me a little bit more to learn sooner lol

9 Reply by barry1685

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

Tinkercad sucks IMO as a professional modeler. Auto desk 123D is free and does an awesome job with booleans and chamfering.

10 Reply by scobo

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

Agreed, 123D Design is a great program for beginners.
I've been using it for a while to design stuff for printing with great results.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

11 Reply by MyMultiExtruder

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

scobo wrote:

But I've had really good results using a Samsung Galaxy S4 phone with the 123D Catch app.
It does take a bit of trial and error to get the lighting right though and using a tripod helps.

That is awesome! I have that phone! smile Woo Hoo! big_smile

RoVa3D with five nozzles (first nozzle down, four to go)
Slic3r and Pronterface
Filastruder and Filawinder - soon enough
Current hurdles - humidity, offsets

12 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-05-12 21:05:00)

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

And even better, it's free. big_smile
Here's a "scan" I did using Catch. A small model with a height of about 30mm.
I was quite impressed by how much detail it was able to pick out for such a small model.

http://www.123dapp.com/catch/s4-ted/3848302

Original ...

http://soliforum.com/i/?HCVyUad.jpg

Scan ...

http://soliforum.com/i/?9ckqviv.jpg

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

13 Reply by MyMultiExtruder

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Re: feeling excited yet overwhelmed

That is incredible!! Very cool! I will be getting that app for sure! Thanks!

RoVa3D with five nozzles (first nozzle down, four to go)
Slic3r and Pronterface
Filastruder and Filawinder - soon enough
Current hurdles - humidity, offsets