How to get started and what to do to stay w/ 3D

[OldEastRR]

Is there a sticky thread, other website, or on-line instruction on how to get started (and succeed) in 3D printing? Sounds like a complicated process, so what can one expect in terms of money, time, learning curve and other resources spent in getting into 3D printing?

[Sumner]

Have you determined yet if you are interested in getting started with a filament printer or a resin printer?  I have both and use both, they both have their pros and cons.  I have some tips on what is involved with resin here...

https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/3D-Printer-2/page-66.html

What scale are you?  What type of items would you like to print?  Will you only be printing items that others have designed?  Are you interested in design also?  If so do you have any CAD experience?

Sumner

[robert3985]

@Sumner - Sumner's questions are essential.  Maybe you don't know the answer to the question about whether a filament printer or a resin printer would fit the majority of your needs yet, and an explanation of the attributes and negatives of both would be in order.  I don't have a filament printer yet, so I can't compare them to each other like Sumner can (or anybody that uses both types).

Your end-use, what you want to print is what's most important.

I will say that my evolution into 3D resin printing has changed my modeling in many ways.  However, it didn't change my attitude (extremely detail oriented), but gave me the tools I needed to accomplish what I wanted to do for years.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Chris333]

Step one to a successful print is learning how to draw.

[jagged ben]

IMO actual printing is not that hard. Learning curve is relatively short.  Figure out what kind of printer you want by answering a few questions like Sumners.   Buy a printer, follow the instructions, learn pretty quickly from experience.

On the other hand, precise 3d modeling on the computer can be very time consuming and will also have a steep learning curve if you do not have a background in CAD.  Really a whole different skill set than understanding how to use a printer.

So it really can make a difference what your goals are.  Are you trying to design your own models?  Or do you just want to be able to print models you find online or are shared by friends?   Are you trying to design precisely protoypical train models or are you wanting to make buildings or scenic items where the right look is sufficent? Or somethine else?

For what it's worth, as far as money, I spent about $350 on printer and wash-and-cure, and $50 on first couple of bottles of resin, for an ambitious project I haven't finished, but I'm enjoying the process.  That amount of money or a bit more for more resin should keep me having fun for a few years working on rolling stock projects.

[JeffB]

Step one to a successful print is learning how to draw.

Or knowing someone that can...  I gave my father in law my old Phrozen Mini-4K in an effort to get away from printing stuff for him.  He refuses to learn how to do anything with CAD, so I'm still doing work for him occasionally, though at least it's only doing the solid models.  He liked printing so much he bought a new, larger format, higher resolution printer.  Now, if I could just get him to learn at least some rudimentary CAD skills, I might be off the hook.

Jeff

[OldEastRR]

I figured the CAD would be the hard part. I took drafting in college but that was pen and ink and scale. Tho I'd probably like to try my own designs, I see a lot of designs online -- how much trouble is it to use those for my own printing?

[samusi01]

Files available online range from turn-key (designed for N or whatever scale, print and go) to never going to work. Depends on the model. Rescaling is easy and can be handled in the slicer, but results may vary. Typically I find scaling down (e.g., H0 to N) works better than scaling up although the former can result in details that are so small as to be unworkable.

Editing files found online is generally more trouble than it’s worth.

[Sumner]

Good advise there from @samusi01.

I figured the CAD would be the hard part. I took drafting in college but that was pen and ink and scale. Tho I'd probably like to try my own designs, I see a lot of designs online -- how much trouble is it to use those for my own printing?

If you aren't commercial or going to be I'd recommend downloading the non-commercial version of Fusion ....

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal#:~:text=Fusion%20360%20for%20personal%20use%20is%20free%20for%203-years,%2C%20manufacturing%2C%20and%20fabrication%20projects

... then with it up also run the....

.... video above at the same time and work though the steps he is presenting at the same time.  I designed a lot of items after what I learned in that one video and still use those tools all the time now.  Fusion is very powerful but you don't need to learn everything about it to use it.  You will learn as you go and usually there is a YouTube video that will help you anytime you need to expand your knowledge.  I probably use about 20 of the tools available for all I've designed.

A good part of what I have heret....

https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/3D-Printer/3D-Printer-Index.html

.... will print on a filament printer but a lot of the later designs print best with a resin printer.  You can pretty much see which is which as you explore them at the link above or on thingiverse here....

https://www.thingiverse.com/Sumner/designs

Always welling to help with this,

Sumner

[OldEastRR]

OK, great material to know in  general. Now ... equipment. What kind of printer should I buy? What kind of resin? How does the machine operate? What kind of software do I need for it (and computer model if so)? And finally, what's the price ranges for this stuff? I'm not looking to spend a fortune to get into 3D printing. I know there must be a range in prices, reliability and quality.

[Sumner]

There are a million answers to you questions and probably that many good answers.  This is like what car should I buy next.

OK, great material to know in  general. Now ... equipment. What kind of printer should I buy?

I feel most are good enough now that you can print about anything with any one of them if you are talking a resin printer.  I like staying with a name brand as more help is there if you need it.  I'd get one with the biggest build plate you can afford and also afford a wash-n-cure station that will handle the prints.  I wouldn't be resin printing with out a wash-n-cure station.

...What kind of resin? .

I like Siraya Tech Build as it does everything I need/want.  Strong, somewhat flexible, can be tapped and drilled and gives excellent detail on really small parts.  Others will have their favorite resins.  There again lots that will work for you .  I'd recommend getting one, not the cheapest, and download the printer setup for your printer and stick with that for a little while.  I still print everything with the settings for my printer without changing anything and get excellent results.

.....How does the machine operate? What kind of software do I need for it (and computer model if so)?...

A resin printer is easy to run...you will get instructions.  For software I use the free ChituBox software....again easy to use if you aren't into experimenting a lot.  If you have a computer that is halfway new it should work to run the software.

......... And finally, what's the price ranges for this stuff? I'm not looking to spend a fortune to get into 3D printing. I know there must be a range in prices, reliability and quality.

To buy a reasonable size printer with a 6+ inch long build plate, a wash-n-cure station, resin, cleaning supplies to clean the print and misc. I'd budget $400 to $450.

I go over most of the above in the link I provided in my first post, have you had time to read it?  Also lots of YouTubes on all of your questions.

Sumner

[Chris333]

I would Google "Youtube".

[robert3985]

As far as recommending Autodesk Fusion 360...although I use it and really like it, Autodesk has stopped supporting Windows 10 and the new Fusion 360 updates will only run on Windows 11.  I have the commercial version, so I am not sure if the non-commercial version will continue to run, or for how long...if your OS is an older version of Windows.

I attempted to boot up my Fusion 360 two days ago, and it wouldn't, saying that my OS was no longer supported by Autodesk.  So, now I am attempting to figure out how to initiate "Secure Boot" on my computer, which is the only reason mine isn't Win11 capable, so I can get back to work.

Sooo...if you really really really don't want to have Windows 11 in your life, you might want to consider a different 3D modeling app than Autodesk Fusion 360.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Sumner]

I put off going from 10 to 11 as long as possible and was under the impression that my Fusion (non-commercial) would continue to work but wouldn't be able to use any new updates.  Finally decided to go ahead and switch to 11 and it went without a hitch at all.  I had two older programs, MovieMaker and something else I use, that I had to spend about 10 minutes to follow some directions on how to get them to work.  That ended up being easy.

So far I have no real complaints about 11.  I've been running pretty much the same programs for about 10 years now and don't add many new ones so since I can still run them I'm happy.

I would not want to give up Fusion even if I had to pay for it.  If that was the case then some of the things I put up would have a cost associated with them.

Sumner

[basementcalling]

What configuration in a computer do you need to run the splitter software and control the 3d printer? I am assuming that requires a Windows or Apple computer and not a Chromebook, which is what I am currently using.

Is a dedicated graphics card essential? I would assume so if you want to do any drawing.