When I was getting started with 3D printing, of course the first big decision was "which machine will I get". It's one of those things where there's not necessarily a wrong answer, but there could be a best choice.
I am very pleased with the machine I ended up with, but I think this was partially dumb luck. It's hard to know what you don't know! And therefore...it's hard to know where to start without a guide. (My guide was a YouTube channel dedicated to printing miniatures for Table Top games, not costumes.)
If by some cosmic coincidence this blog is your first exposure, then allow me to make some suggestions on where to start and some of the questions to ask.
What do you want to 3D Print?
- Small - Jewelry, Accessories, Mini-figurines
- Medium - Props, Figurines, Costume Parts,
- Large - Large Props, Full size costume parts,
For Detail think high to low.
Low Detail - works for prototypes, simple shaped items, polygon shapes.
High Detail - mostly natural looking things, animals, humans, figurines and such.
What is your Budget?
This refers not only to the tool itself but also the materials you will constantly need to get to make things. Some printers can handle many different types of materials while some specialize in ONE.
Is it worth it?
- Some mechanical, electronic, and technical skills are required to use the machine. Most machines need some form of assembly. If you don't have these skills, you should at least be resourceful enough to find places to learn online.
- 3D printing is mostly trial and error...well...mostly error in my case. Even experience won't save you from a print going wrong at the end and you need to start over and wait another 10 hours to finish.
- You work space needs to be appropriate. 3D printing is finicky! Some materials produce stinky fumes and need proper ventilation. Nearly all printing needs temperature regulation and a sturdy surface to print on!
- Knowing how to at least manipulate a 3D model and edit it is one of the technical skills.
- It takes a long time for anything to print, so it's not instant.
- For most printed items, there is still tons of work to do after printing it. Finishing is probably the most tedious part.
My Personal Experience and Tips
- Cheaper, biodegradable, non-toxic material
- Larger bed size for the low price
- Versatility in printing projects
- Well documented both officially and unofficially
- Mechanical and Finicky
- Long post-processing (so much sanding!)
- Need very specific glue to keep things together (depends on materials)
- Time consuming to troubleshoot
- Can only capture so much detail
- Obvious striation lines
- Captures high detail
- Less post processing
- Hardened material
- Less assembly needed (usually)
- Well documented
- Stinks
- Refills of Resin expensive
- Very tricky mechanical and technical troubleshooting
- Limited to fairly small projects
Recommendations:
- 3D Printed Tabletop / YouTube Channel (My starting point)
- CHEP 3D printing (Lots of Ender and cura tutorials)
- Punished Props 3D Printing
Comments
Post a Comment