3d Printers

[LittleBill21]

I bought a 3D printer about a year ago. As with most tech, there is a learning curve. My advice is to join a few FB groups or other online forums that support the particular model you are interested in....then read a LOT. I do RC flying and surface vehicles for a hobby and so use my printer to make components and parts for that. As I type this, I'm printing the parts for building two RC airplanes, for myself and a friend. My winter project is to learn a 3D design program so I can make what I want instead of trying to find an online file printing something close to what I want. In my opinion, a 3D printer is far from "plug and play". It takes time and frustration to learn how to properly use it. Which model you get will, to some degree, dictate how much time and frustration is required.

try thinkercad, once you get that down. maybe attempt fusion360. i used a lot of tutorials when i started

 

[newbury]

Then later you can build a bigger one.

 

[Root Cause]

Like Arizona said, it isn't like a video game where you plug and play.
Someone has to have an interest and some time to succeed. If you look at this as a chore, or waiting for someone else to do it, it will find the back of the closet.

 

[Skeans1]

Not sure yet. Don't want to dive in too deep, because this might be the kinda thing that gets put in a corner and forgotten. Seems like a lot a sketchy websites, found an Ender 3 Pro for $99; but not getting warm and fuzzy from the website; yamas.shop; found some other good deals on misc websites too, but...

I want the Ender 3 V2, but when you can get a Ender 3 Pro for $100 less...

If you’re going to go that route I’d go with the Ender 5 the carriage will be more stable and as you learn you could speed it up easier as well. Myself if you’re after an i3 style printer I’d take a good look at the cr10 v3 or v2 price shouldn’t be much different and it’s more machine for the money.

 

[arizona98tj]

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is (and it's probably a scam too).

 

[arizona98tj]

try thinkercad, once you get that down. maybe attempt fusion360. i used a lot of tutorials when i started

I have tinkercad ready to go since it was recommended by another friend that does a lot of 3D printing and is also a hobbyist machinist. Thanks for the recommendation.....makes me feel like I made the right choice.

 

[LittleBill21]

I have tinkercad ready to go since it was recommended by another friend that does a lot of 3D printing and is also a hobbyist machinist. Thanks for the recommendation.....makes me feel like I made the right choice.

its the fastest way to determine if you can design or not. I strongly recommend doing all the beginner tutorials. to get your head wrapped beginning to design. Now all i see when i look at items, are circle rectangles, and arches... its crazy.

 

[paulsharvey]

Just placed the order for a TEVO Tornado. From what I watched, it is a clone of the Creality Cr10, and I think total order was $182. Also ordered a 2.2 lbs roll of PLA on Amazon for $12 (65% discount code).

 

[Root Cause]

Just placed the order for a TEVO Tornado. From what I watched, it is a clone of the Creality Cr10, and I think total order was $182. Also ordered a 2.2 lbs roll of PLA on Amazon for $12 (65% discount code).

That is great. Hope you like it. Guessing they have a TEVO website for printers to share and help each other. That will be priceless as you begin.

 

[arizona98tj]

The first photo shows the last batch of parts I just finished for building three RC airplanes. There is well over 40 hours of printer time in that photo. The smallest parts took just over an hour each and the larger parts were more than 11 hours each. I'm using foam board to make the wings.

The airplane will tow a streamer and be used in aerial combat with the winner landing with the longest stream and a depleted battery. Of course, mid-air collisions are certainly possible so making your own parts has an advantage versus buying them in a hobby store.

The other photo shows what the parts look like once assembled.

This is typically what I use my 3D printer for.....it's a hobby using the printer to make stuff for other hobbies. LOL