Category Archives: 3D Printing

Blender 3D Printing by Example – Published and On Sale!

Greetings All! Working with Packt, I wrote a project-based learning book to teach Blender for 3D Printing. It got published last week! I decided my return to YouTube should be called, “You Guys, I Wrote a Book!!!”.

The book walks through four separate projects to teach Blender tools and skills.

Profile Pendant

  • Background Images
  • Bezier Curves
  • Extrude
  • Boolean Union

Coordinate Bracelet

  • Standard Shapes
  • Mirror Modifier
  • Boolean Difference
  • Text

House Figurine

  • Loop Cut and Slide
  • Extrude
  • Inset
  • Subdivide
  • Array Modifier
  • Using SVGs
  • Boolean Intersection


Human Hand

  • Subdivision Surface Modifier
  • Topology Edits
  • Proportional Editing
  • Materials
  • UV Maps

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY MY BOOK! I am already very happy as is. If you do wish to have a copy, you can purchase the book on Amazon.

What’s next for me? I have a long list of videos I would like to make. I’ll be working on my proposal and projects for the MakerFaireNova on March 18, 2018. I will also be helping with the East Coast RepRap Festival which is looking like it will be in late June. Also don’t forget to check out the Friday Night 3D Printing Community Hangouts . I’ve been known to show up from time to time. 🙂

Etsy Updates – School Bus Wine Stoppers, Standing Cancer Ribbons, More Bow Ties

This morning I caught up on a few things for my Etsy site. New listings now available for perusal:

BlackBowTie Black 3D Printed Bow Tie
A few months ago, I got a rushed custom order from someone looking for a Black Bow Tie for a wedding. They had a good idea and I’ll make sure to keep a black “tuxedo-ready” version in stock for the future.
Brown, Wood-Like Bow-Tie
I inadvertently discovered the Brown Plastic version of the Bow Tie looks just as good as the Wooden One. Since this material is a little less finicky, I can offer it for a lower price than the full blown wood… just in time for Father’s Day!
BrownBowTies
BusStopper School Bus Wine Stopper
A great gift for your favorite retiring School Bus Driver! After about a dozen custom orders, I decided to finally list my School Bus Wine Stopper up on Etsy.
Standing Cancer Ribbon
This is another one where custom orders have enticed me to make an Etsy listing. The Standing Cancer Ribbon can be customized in color and inscription.
CancerRibbon

Prints in Action! GoPro Mount for SpaceOne 220x

A friend of mine who is a drone-enthusiast recently starting dabbling in Fusion 360. He designed himself a GoPro Mount for his SpaceOne 220x which I printed over here on the Wanhao Duplicator i3. It ended up being a pretty darn sweet deal for me. Quick easy print and I got a free sushi dinner out of the gig (not to mention great company over the meal).

Now that the weather is warm, my friend is flying more frequently and I’m finding it delightful to see the print in action… or rather what the print helps records while in action. The latest video is below. You can also check out his channel at Pokey FPV.

If you need a GoPro Mount for your SpaceOne220x, you can download the model on Thingiverse.

I could, of course, print it for you. It’ll cost you some sushi! 🙂

Tom Lum’s Multi-Colored Print

One thing I find absolutely invigorating– helping people out in the community. After my Simplify3D Print of the Week, Twitter user @TomLum1 reached out with some questions. Look how quickly he mastered and applied his new knowledge! Lovely!

Simplify3D’s Print of the Week!!!

Well now, that was a surprise.  I started getting some unexpected Twitter and Facebook notifications.  I was surprised to find I was highlighted by Simplify3D for their Print of the Week.

 


 

This five color print is for a friend in Crookston, Minnesota.  I, of course, use my beloved Simplify3D Multiple Processes.  I believe it is my largest multi-colored print– it took up the whole bed of the MakerGear M2.

I’m glad Simplify3D enjoyed the print.  I hope my friend does as well!!! 🙂

Filling 3D Prints with Sand

One of my Maker Faire Nova experiments was filing prints with sand. I am still new to the process, but already had a few tips to pass along.

And since it has been a while since I went into detail about multiple processes in SImplify3D, I decided to do a tour of my slicing settings of the two prints.

Ending Script of my First Print of the Ribbon:
G91 ; relative mode
G1 Z10 ; lift 10mm
G1 X30; move over 30mm

Starting Script of my Second Print to Finish the Ribbon:
G90 ; absolute mode

Maker’s Muse has a most excellent tutorial on running Multiple Processes together– that is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcddlK36OVs

And if you want to try RJ Make’s approach, please see his Embedded Magnetron Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubvs2vgv014

There is a Creative Commons image in this video. It is by Amanda B and you can fill the photo on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/muddybones/5550623402/

Spool Holder Switch on The Wanhao

Ha! I have had not one but TWO YouTube commenters point out that my Spool Holder on the Wanhao was backwards. I did a Google Image search and sure enough– it appeared I was the only person in the entire world that had mine pointing towards the outside of the machine.

I felt a little relieved when I looked at the Quick Start Guide. At first glance the image made it look like I wasn’t a complete trail blazer. When I looked at the picture, I saw the spool holder pointing outwards…. like mine.

3D Printing - Wanhao Spool Holder Mystery

But when my husband looked at the picture, he saw it differently. It’s the angle of the image. It is pointing to “outside” of the machine— but the other side. So it is still pointing to the center like the rest of the Wanhao User Base.

When I decided the Wanhao was going to be accompanying me to the Maker Faire Nova, I decided it was time to make a correction. First thing in the morning, I got out an allen wrench and made the switch.

I am now assimilated! 🙂

(And I think my filament is going to thank me for it)

Painters Tape for the Wanhao!

The last full printing day before Maker Faire Nova, I went to start a print on the Wanhao and the whole machine shut down.  The LCD Panel went black, the steppers turned off, the works.

Anomaly?

I turned the machine off and on and tried again– same result.

I turned the machine off and on and then went to Quick Settings->Preheat PLA— same result, the machine died.

I figured the worse, but I did a quick Google search and the very first link I pulled up was a discussion on Thingiverse about how the motherboard can’t always handle the load of the heated bed.

Hmm….  Worth an experiment.

I turned the machine back on and I tried just heating up the Extruder.  The machine kept running.

Well if the 3D Printing Dieties were trying to stop me from printing on that Wanhao, there is something they don’t know:

I actually kinda like printing on Painter’s Tape!  🙂

I know, I know.  I’m in the vast minority.

  • I fancy how fast I can start and remove prints (not waiting for the bed to heat up and cool down).
  • I also like how if my first layer is a little too close and the print wants to  be stubborn coming off, I have the freedom of just using the BuildTak Spatula to rip the tape to remove my object.
  • Finally, for things were I want the top layer and bottom layer to be similar in appearance (like dice or spinning PokeStops), I find the Painter’s Tape to have a better match than the shiny gloss that comes with a heated bed— particularly a glass heated bed.

The things I wanted to print didn’t need a heated bed, so I resliced with no heat and the show went on!
3D Printing - Painter's Tape on the Wanhao