Five 3D Printer Buying Decisions

When you’ve decided to buy a 3D printer there are some questions you should ask yourself before proceeding. The current array of buyable 3D printers is the largest in the history of the world, so having some parameters to make a decision is a good thing. 

 

The questions are actually not about 3D printers, per se, but rather about you. Why? Because the choice of machine must fit its owner, and that’s you. 

 

• Technical: How technical are you? Are you comfortable building electronics and mechanical assemblies? How do you feel if a machine breaks? Do you feel excited about the opportunity to fix it? Or are you struck with fear and asking yourself, “who do I know that could fix this for me?” The answer will help you determine whether to purchase a 3D printer kit or a pre-assembled unit.
• Time: How much spare time do you have? How much of that spare time are you willing to put toward your 3D printing habit? If you don’t have a lot of time to devote to your machine, then perhaps you should seek machines that are pre-assembled and come with a reputation for reliability. On the other hand, if you don’t have very much time to spare, you might want to reconsider the 3D printing thing entirely.
• Purpose: What do you intend on making? Is it artwork (PLA suitable)? Mechanical parts (ABS suitable)? How large might your desired objects be? If you can answer these questions, you will know the size and capabilities of your target machine.
• Environment: Where will you situate your machine? Is it in an area that can be ventilated outdoors easily? If not, then you should not be 3D printing ABS plastic indoors and might require a PLA-only machine. Also, consider how much noise you can withstand. While most current 3D printers are pretty quiet, there are still a few noisy ones available. 
• Wallet: What’s your budget? USD$500? $1000? $2000? The amount of money you can spend on a machine will quickly narrow your choices, so long as they are compatible with the answers to the previous questions. 

 

If you know the answers to those questions before shopping, you’ll have a much better chance selecting a 3D printer that will succeed. 

Top 10 Handheld 3D Scanning Tips

At the Fabbaloo Lab we’ve performed 3D scans using a variety of handheld scanning equipment, ranging from el-cheapo Microsoft Kinect hacks to pricey USD$50K units. The experience can be both frustrating and elating; it’s normally a learning process of discovering what to do and what not to do. Today we thought we’d list a few of the rules of thumb we’ve discovered for you to enjoy. 

 

1. Setup time: Good scans take time - and it’s not only the time spent doing the actual scan. Be prepared to spend time setting up your scan environment and equipment, which may take a lot longer than you suspect. 
2. Cabling: Most handheld 3D scanning equipment involves a bunch of cables to shuttle electronic signals between components. When you set up your scan environment, plan on having a lot of slack in any cables attached to the handheld scanner, because you’re going to be moving it around a lot. For larger subjects the maximum cable length could be an issue. Consider walking around with the cables attached to see if they work from all scan zones because you don’t want to be part-way through a scan and suddenly find you can’t get the scanner around to the subject’s next corner.
3. Live Feedback: Unlike desktop scanners, which typically capture a shape automatically, a handheld scanner requires you to move around the subject. Here’s the troubling part: if you can’t see a monitor that provides feedback on what portions have been successfully captured, you’re basically operating blind. When setting up your equipment make certain you can see a screen for instant feedback, otherwise your scan could include a lot more holes than desired.
4. Resolution: Some handheld 3D scanners, particularly the more expensive versions, offer the capability of setting the scan resolution. Be very careful of this, as there is a tendency to immediately select the highest resolution. High resolutions require very, very slow scan movements. With a heavy handheld scanner, this could be difficult. Instead think first of how much resolution you actually need and then set parameters appropriately. 
5. Nooks and Crannies: Before scanning take a very close look at your subject and try to imagine how you will point the scanner to capture the entire surface. You’ll probably find some nooks and crannies that require wacky positioning. Be prepared to make those unnatural moves during your scan. 
6. Backgrounds: Some 3D handheld 3D scanning solutions require a patterned background in order to interpolate the scanner’s position. This is often easily done by simply avoiding “monotonous” backgrounds, or placing random objects in the scene. One thing you must avoid: moving objects in the background that will confuse the scanning software. And don’t even consider scanning something with a crowd of people around. 
7. Nearby Stuff: Ensure that the scanning area is relatively clear of other objects that might accidentally make it into your scan. While they won’t break the scan, they will add more work later to remove them. Also: any objects in the vicinity WILL BE STEPPED ON. 
8. Props: In some pathological scanning situations there may be surfaces that are obscured unless the subject is raised higher, permitting you to scan “from below”. If this is the case, you’ll need to place the subject on top of an appropriately-sized something. 
9. Color and Lighting: Some 3D scanners capture color information along with the shape. While it’s not particularly useful for most personal 3D printers that print in only a few colors, a good color map can be used with 3D print services for full color output. But color can only be obtained properly if you have good lighting. Overcast outdoor natural lighting is best, but if you’re scanning indoors, we’d strongly recommend proper lighting from all sides. If you illuminate only one side you’ll likely get an underexposed side to your object and it will 3D print darkly compared to the lit side.
10. Cleanup: Once the scan is complete you’ll need to convert it into a 3D model. While some scanning solutions include software that does so, some solutions do not and you’ll have to do that by hand with your own software. In almost all cases, however, you’ll need to fix the model in some way by filling holes, smoothing surfaces, simplifying an overly complex mesh or removing extraneous bits. 

Making Stuff Beyond 3D Printing

Those new to personal 3D printing may still glow from the thrill of creating objects simply by pushing the "print" button. It is always amazing to see objects appear from nothing and then hold them in your hand. 

 

But is this the end of it? Will you simply print plastic items? 

 

Not necessarily. Newbies may think of their 3D printer as a black box that produces objects, which is of course true, but there is much more you can do by thinking of 3D printing in a different way. 

 

Think of 3D printing as a type of manufacturing process. It's one of MANY ways you can build things. By having a 3D printer you now have access to another manufacturing process, which can be combined with other processes to enable the making of different and more complex items. 

 

The simplest form of additional manufacturing process would be finishing. Your 3D printed objects can be sanded, painted or smoothed. 

 

Assembly: 3D printed parts can be glued together, or even snap-fit if you've designed them appropriately. Parts may be drilled and bolted together. 

 

If you have access to other making machines, such as CNC wood cutters or laser cutters, you can make pieces that can be combined with 3D printed parts to create larger structures. 3D printed joints, for example, can be used to link laser-cut beams into a housing in ways not usually possible. 

 

When you're tired of printing plastic pieces alone, consider combining 3D printing with other manufacturing techniques. 

 

You'll discover a world of possibilities. 

The Five Most Important 3D Printing Tips You Must Know

If you have a plastic extrusion-based personal 3D printer, there's some things you'd better know. This printing technology has its quirks regardless of the brand and model of machine you're using. We've put together a few of the most basic things to know before you get started.

 

Level The Bed: Perhaps the single most important thing you can do to encourage successful 3D prints is to make certain your print bed is as level as humanly possible. Even a slight tilt can cause your 3D printer to have varying gaps between the print nozzle and the bed. This means in some areas the nozzle might be too far from the bed resulting in bad sticking; in other areas the nozzle will be too close resulting in extruder jams. Follow your manufacturer's instructions - to the letter!

 

Set The Z-Gap: If your bed is level, you then must make certain your Z-Gap is properly set. It's the space between the print head and the bed. If the gap is too low or zero, there's little space for molten plastic to come out of the nozzle. If it's too high plastic might not be able to properly stick to the bed. Again, follow your manufacturer's instructions.  

 

Watch The First Layers: The most important part of any 3D print is the first layer. It must successfully adhere to the print bed otherwise you're going to have a lot of trouble as the print proceeds. Therefore it's good practice to carefully observe the first few layers as they are deposited. If they succeed, it's likely the remainder of the print will work. If not, it's advisable to cancel the print and try again - you'll save time and a lot of plastic filament. 

 

Print Small: Resist the urge to print gigantic items. The larger your print, the more likely something will go wrong. Smaller prints take much less time to complete and you will be a happier 3D printer owner. Try larger prints when you have experience and are willing to withstand some disappointment.

 

Maintain Your Machine: Your 3D printer is a very mechanical device. It has moving parts that require maintenance. Follow your manufacturers maintenance instructions closely. You will likely be cleaning and lubricating moving parts. Also ensure you keep the machine clear of dust and debris: these can easily contaminate your filament feed system and gum up your extruder. 

 

Be Patient: Printing takes a long time; impatience will lead to huge disappointment. Printing also fails frequently. Plan for failure and be happy when things work.