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Post by curufin on Feb 2, 2016 16:03:40 GMT
curufin , is it easy to scale a monster up from the original file? Let's say I like the head of a (human-sized) ork, but want that head printed five times larger - does it take much tweaking or is it just a few clicks and buttons to make those changes? It couldn't be easier. There is a scale button on all the different softwares I have tried. You can adjust by percent (like print at 150% or print at 25% ) or you can just type in the dimensions (like print the model height at 28mm). You can also (and are required to sometimes) flip, move or rotate things on the platen. I had to separate the fire giants sword from the fire giant in order to print it. So I created a file with all the giants weapons (fire, frost, and cloud) so I dont waste time or print space.
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Post by wilmanric on Feb 2, 2016 16:28:32 GMT
curufin , is it easy to scale a monster up from the original file? Let's say I like the head of a (human-sized) ork, but want that head printed five times larger - does it take much tweaking or is it just a few clicks and buttons to make those changes? It couldn't be easier. There is a scale button on all the different softwares I have tried. You can adjust by percent (like print at 150% or print at 25% ) or you can just type in the dimensions (like print the model height at 28mm). You can also (and are required to sometimes) flip, move or rotate things on the platen. I had to separate the fire giants sword from the fire giant in order to print it. So I created a file with all the giants weapons (fire, frost, and cloud) so I dont waste time or print space. I am SO LOOKING FORWARD to collaborating on this area of the "Craft." Thanks for getting the ball rolling curufin!
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Post by soonerbdead on Feb 2, 2016 17:21:17 GMT
That is Awesome! Not that expensive, for what you can do with it. So many possibilities.
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Post by adamantinedragon on Feb 2, 2016 18:44:28 GMT
I will be attempting my first scan of one of my sculpted figures tonight. I'll let you all know how that turns out. This is what I'll be scanning:
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Post by adamantinedragon on Feb 3, 2016 2:11:07 GMT
Sigh... scheduling conflict. The problem with using library equipment I suppose. Next week now...
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Post by curufin on Feb 3, 2016 2:17:03 GMT
Shucks. Please keep us in the loop. I'll be very interested to see what comes of the scanner and your print.
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Post by wilmanric on Feb 3, 2016 14:54:02 GMT
You dont need to order anything else. You will need some blue or green painters tape though, to print on. DO NOT PRINT ON THE DIRECTLY ON THE PLATEN (or even on the 3M sticker that goes over it) If you do, you will never get the print off of the plate. I have a bad x-acto knife stab wound to prove it. So, you just stick the tape down on the print area of the platen? The plastic sticks to it just fine? I assume you re-apply the tape for each print?
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Post by curufin on Feb 3, 2016 20:23:44 GMT
You dont need to order anything else. You will need some blue or green painters tape though, to print on. DO NOT PRINT ON THE DIRECTLY ON THE PLATEN (or even on the 3M sticker that goes over it) If you do, you will never get the print off of the plate. I have a bad x-acto knife stab wound to prove it. So, you just stick the tape down on the print area of the platen? The plastic sticks to it just fine? I assume you re-apply the tape for each print? You'll want to cover the platen with the painters tape (not overlapping). Something like this: You will want to do this BEFORE you level the platen to the print head. It wasn't easy to level it, I probably ran the level check ten or twelve times, before I felt good about it. The plastic still sticks to the tape quite well, but not quite as well as the platen. I still have to pry off the prints every time. I have only had to replace the tape once so far and it was just the center strip. Be very careful and gentle when pulling up the prints. I am using a small chisel that I very gingerly work around the edges to loosen it up. It's always the scariest part of the whole process. The platen is fragile and brute strength is your enemy. I printed a frost giant this afternoon, and this is how it looks when it is done printing: The thicker, wider layer at the very bottom is called the "Raft", that is the initial layer the machine uses to stick the plastic to the platen, then it starts the actual print on top of this. The printer also cannot print on air. Each layer must have something underneath it to print on. That's what all the weird 'webbing' is. The webbing is the "Support" (which will be removed later) so the printer can print over hangs or parts that don't touch the platen (like the raised leg). The supports break off fairly easily, but often require a little bit of cleaning, with an x-acto knife, file, sandpaper, etc. I really hate the raft when it comes to cleaning. I am trying to dial in the printer (as well as different software) so I can print with skirts and brims instead of the raft. Then clean up should be a snap....or at least snappier.
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Post by l7arkness on Feb 3, 2016 20:53:48 GMT
I started a thread ( Thinking of buying a 3D printer) a few months ago asking for advice and thanks to that and my personal research I have will be purchasing a Simple Metal tonight. I was wondering why you chose the printer your using? I will be printing in PLA to start and will be purchasing the heated bed later on, I will also be setting up Octoprint once i get all the basics down. Any advice before i go through with my purchase? These will be where I will be pulling my first few prints from ( Miguel Zavala)
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Post by DnDPaladin on Feb 3, 2016 21:11:34 GMT
errr... wouldn't it have been better to print the giant standing instead of on his back ? this seems an hell for clean up. and seems to lose much plastics in the process ?
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Post by l7arkness on Feb 3, 2016 22:59:24 GMT
errr... wouldn't it have been better to print the giant standing instead of on his back ? this seems an hell for clean up. and seems to lose much plastics in the process ? I assume the stilts would have had to of been way to tall to support his arms if he was upright
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Post by curufin on Feb 3, 2016 23:27:05 GMT
I started a thread ( Thinking of buying a 3D printer) a few months ago asking for advice and thanks to that and my personal research I have will be purchasing a Simple Metal tonight. I was wondering why you chose the printer your using? I will be printing in PLA to start and will be purchasing the heated bed later on, I will also be setting up Octoprint once i get all the basics down. Any advice before i go through with my purchase? These will be where I will be pulling my first few prints from ( Miguel Zavala) Honestly, it was the price initially that caught my eye. It has great resolution (.1mm), a good build size (nearly 6x6x9) and almost all the reviews I could find were 4 or 5 stars and said it was great for beginners) It can print pla and nylon and can be upgraded later with a dual extruder and heated bed for ABS. But it was the price that sold me. My buddy bought a printer 2 years ago that prints at .1mm and has a smaller build platform and he payed nearly $1000. I've never printed before.... know very little about it....had no idea if I'd like it or how much I'd use it, but for $300, it seemed like a good opportunity to find out. And after my first couple days printing my biggest gripe about my printer is it only prints X3G files. I'm looking into some different software options that will hopefully increase the quality and decrease the clean up. If you like the Simple Metal, and it does what you want, go for it. I doubt very much once you start printing stuff you will regret it. All the minis I have printed so far are also from Miguel Zavala. The guy is a wizard! I would be very interested to see if there is a quality difference (for better or worse) between the minis and printers.
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Post by curufin on Feb 3, 2016 23:32:54 GMT
errr... wouldn't it have been better to print the giant standing instead of on his back ? this seems an hell for clean up. and seems to lose much plastics in the process ? I assume the stilts would have had to of been way to tall to support his arms if he was upright You typically want to print things as flat as possible. If he was printed standing up, still would have needed supports from the floor up his body to support back of legs, crotch, and arms. Laying flat uses a little less plastic and keeps the front of the figure (the side with the most detail) free of supports.
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Post by l7arkness on Feb 4, 2016 0:01:06 GMT
I started a thread ( Thinking of buying a 3D printer) a few months ago asking for advice and thanks to that and my personal research I have will be purchasing a Simple Metal tonight. I was wondering why you chose the printer your using? I will be printing in PLA to start and will be purchasing the heated bed later on, I will also be setting up Octoprint once i get all the basics down. Any advice before i go through with my purchase? These will be where I will be pulling my first few prints from ( Miguel Zavala) Honestly, it was the price initially that caught my eye. It has great resolution (.1mm), a good build size (nearly 6x6x9) and almost all the reviews I could find were 4 or 5 stars and said it was great for beginners) It can print pla and nylon and can be upgraded later with a dual extruder and heated bed for ABS. But it was the price that sold me. My buddy bought a printer 2 years ago that prints at .1mm and has a smaller build platform and he payed nearly $1000. I've never printed before.... know very little about it....had no idea if I'd like it or how much I'd use it, but for $300, it seemed like a good opportunity to find out. And after my first couple days printing my biggest gripe about my printer is it only prints X3G files. I'm looking into some different software options that will hopefully increase the quality and decrease the clean up. If you like the Simple Metal, and it does what you want, go for it. I doubt very much once you start printing stuff you will regret it. All the minis I have printed so far are also from Miguel Zavala. The guy is a wizard! I would be very interested to see if there is a quality difference (for better or worse) between the minis and printers. Oh i will def send you some prints to compare once im up and running and this is from the printrbot website 3D Printer Shootout – $600 Printrbot vs. $20,000 uPrint SE Plus now if thats accurate im very excied
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Post by Meph on Feb 4, 2016 1:08:59 GMT
Was a busy day when I got home today so I just got around to getting it unpacked. It beat your tile Curufin I decided to start small with my first print and i'm making a Metallica keychain for my Metallica Pinball machine. So now I have so many questions... I used ReplicatorG to convert the stl file to x3g. Is that fine or should I be using something else. Also, any benefit to hooking up a laptop vs SD card? Next, have some links for your RPG stuff? I have the links to Miguel Zavala and Devon Jones. I have no idea where you found that Frost Giant, Displacer Beast, Hook Horror, etc....show me the way
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Post by curufin on Feb 4, 2016 1:19:15 GMT
Here is the Frost Giant along with the Fire Giant (now with sword) and a Reaper Fire giant.
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Post by curufin on Feb 4, 2016 1:25:53 GMT
Meph, I didn't have much success with RepG, but if it works for you, rock on. Im using Makerbot Desktop right now. It was just easier for me... but doesn't have all the options I want. I am only using the SD card... no reason to have your pc tethered to the printer if you dont need to be. Check out Miguel on Shapeways link
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Post by Meph on Feb 4, 2016 3:24:05 GMT
Made my first tile. I need to look at the others and check out sizes before I decide on a style I want to mass print. These are 2" tiles and I got used to Wyloch's 2.5" tiles. Have to see if any of them are larger.
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Post by jennifer on Feb 4, 2016 3:24:29 GMT
So happy you got your printer! Enjoy it and keep sharing photos of your printouts!
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Post by jennifer on Feb 4, 2016 3:27:37 GMT
Sigh... scheduling conflict. The problem with using library equipment I suppose. Next week now... Wow your local library has a 3D scanner?
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