How to Make 3D Printed Materials Without a 3D Printer
3D-press – it’s damn cool, but promises that by now it will be for all of us at home, did not materialize. Luckily, you don’t need any of your own to bring your imaginary creations to life.
You may still be wondering why you need 3D printing at all. Fair question! While prices for 3D printers have not dropped as some expected, the community around them has grown significantly. Sites like Thingiverse have huge libraries of print-ready models from which you can download everything from cool stuff like the miniature Millennium Falcon (hey, great gift idea!) To useful stuff like coasters. for phones or cord protectors . You can print a lot of things that are absolutely worth the cost. They just might not cost $ 500-2000 for a printer. If your latency is hardware related, here are a few places that will allow you to print objects without buying a mini factory.
What to look out for before printing
Before choosing a location to create a 3D object, you will need a 3D model to print. There are several things you need to consider when looking for something to do. Contrary to what early adopters say, 3D printing isn’t the best solution for everything. When you start, ask yourself a few questions:
- Does what I want already exist somewhere else? When I was going through the 3D printed objects, I found a potentially useful carry bag that would make it easier to ship groceries. Then I found this thing on Amazon for $ 6. 3D printing is cool, but not always necessary. Before ordering anything, see if there is a regular production version.
- Does the model have disadvantages? If you’ve never worked with 3D models before, let me give you a tip: it’s hard to get it right. Before spending money on an object, read reviews, if any, or look for images of the object after it has been printed, rather than just rendering of what the object “should” look like.
- Do I need to change or customize this model? While you can technically modify any 3D model using modeling software, some objects are easier to customize than others. Thingiverse has a whole collection of customizable elements with specific aspects that you can customize to suit your needs, such as an adjustable diameter Christmas tree stand so you can fit your tree. Before downloading and printing a model, be sure to familiarize yourself with all the available methods for setting it up.
- What materials will it be made of? Wait, aren’t all 3D printed objects just colored plastic? No, it’s not . You can 3D print objects from wax, sandstone, porcelain, and even precious metals such as gold and silver. It’s super cool , but it’s another thing that can affect your subject. If you’re looking to make anything other than plastic, check out the Material Sample Kits to see how durable your object can be or how difficult it can be to print.
Even if you do your due diligence, remember that printing isn’t always perfect. You may end up with an object that needs to be sanded to make it look right, or you may have a complex object that doesn’t quite match. Be prepared for the fact that something may not turn out the way you imagined it.
Option one: order through online services
Several 3D printing services have emerged over the past few years that allow you to upload your own models and print them from whatever material you want. One of our favorites ( and yours ) is Shapeways. This site allows you to upload your own designs and get an immediate quote on how much a particular item will cost from a variety of materials. You can explore an object in the 3D Model Viewer.
If you don’t have a ready-made 3D model to work with, services like You3Dit will connect you with designers to help you create what you want, then print it for you. This can be a little more expensive than just downloading a model and ordering a print, but it also reduces the chances of you receiving a spoiled product. Not to mention, most 3D printing services will use industrial grade hardware that can get a lot more detail than the typical consumer models you’re used to seeing in stores.
Option 2. Get a quick printout from your local stores
I confess: I don’t have a printer. And not in 3D: I don’t have a conventional paper 2D printer either. I have so few occasions when I need to print something and unused printers break down so badly that it makes sense to go to the nearest FedEx office and print something when I need it. Unsurprisingly, some stores have decided that this concept is also suitable for 3D printing and are now offering in-store printing of your own models.
UPS is one of the leaders in this field, with dozens of factories around the country equipped with 3D printers. They may not be for everyone nearby, but if you live close to them, it’s probably easier to take a short trip to the store than buying a bulky car to make a cool figurine .
Option three: check your local library
We’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating: go to your local library . When you get there, among the many other cool things they have, you can find a 3D printer . That’s right, libraries are cool. You first heard it here. If your library has a 3D printer, you can use it for free (although you may have to buy or bring your own materials).
If you want to really get your hands dirty learning how to 3D print objects, this is one of your two best options. Most libraries will not have a desk clerk who takes a USB stick and gives you a printed item. They will allow you to become familiar with the software and how it works. Not every library has a staff who knows a lot about 3D modeling, but you can experiment and learn how to do it yourself. Learning in the library. Imagine that.
Option four: join the Makerspace community
I visited three different Makerspaces in Atlanta this year, and they each had at least one 3D printer. If you can find a Maker Faire in your city or your local maker community and you’re even slightly interested in 3D printing, take a day and visit. If you really want to know how 3D printing works, this will be the most educational and probably the most rewarding.
Not only do most jobs have shared resources (like 3D printers!), They also have people who have experience using them locally. You probably won’t be able to walk in the front door, ask for a print job, and exit. Instead, you can join classes or work directly with someone who knows what they are doing.
In my experience, this has been the best way to get started with 3D printing as you learn some of the finer points of what you do, not to mention the problems that can arise . Despite the cool demonstration videos, prints may not be aligned correctly, nozzles may clog, or material may not come out evenly. All of this can quickly ruin a project, especially if you don’t know how to fix your printer.
Having a 3D printer is probably not a good place to start.
With all of these options on your desk, you might reasonably be wondering, “Should you ever have a 3D printer?” But really … probably not? It is easy to imagine a wonderful world in which you can build anything imaginable. The reality is that 3D printers remain printers. They clog, jam, and slip, and they can ruin your day if not working properly.
On the other hand, 3D printing services are much more convenient for consumers. You can use the models you find on the Internet (or make yourself) and ask someone who knows what they are doing to make the product itself. If you really want to learn how to make your own stuff, libraries and workspaces are going to be much better for you than just buying a 3D printer for your home and fiddling with it until something good comes along. For enthusiasts and casual manufacturers, owning a 3D printer might be a great idea, but for the rest of us, a contract for this job is likely to be the best option for a long time to come.