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- Herausgeber: Packt Publishing
- Kategorie: Fachliteratur
- Sprache: Englisch
A new industrial age is here. Machines designed to build useful and interesting objects have moved from the factory to the home. Whether you have a 3D printer or not, learning how to design your first 3D models is the best way to become part of the 3D printing movement. 3D Printing Blueprints will teach you, step by step, the tools and techniques of using Blender, a free 3D modelling program, to build 3D models for printing with simple and fun hands-on projects.3D Printing Blueprints uses engaging and fun projects that teach Blender modeling for 3D printing through hands-on lessons. First you'll learn basic modeling and make a small simple object. Then each new project brings with it new tools and techniques as well as teaching the rules of 3D printing design. Eventually you'll be building objects designed to repair or replace everyday objects. Finally you'll be able to even tackle other people's models and fix them to be 3D printable.
Through the course of doing the blueprints you will custom build one-of-a-kind objects that you can call your own. Starting from a custom vase formed from a picture, lessons will progress to a multi-part modular robot toy. Then simple machines will be designed with custom gears and functions. Eventually you'll learn how to download models from the Internet and make custom objects. Finally you'll be able to build models with near real life specifications and make a print that can be used for small object repair.
3D Printing Blueprints will teach you everything you need to know about building custom 3D models to print successfully on modern home 3D printers.
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Seitenzahl: 241
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013
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Table of Contents
3D Printing Blueprints
3D Printing Blueprints
Copyright © 2013 Packt Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.
Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.
Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
First published: August 2013
Production Reference: 1160813
Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.
Livery Place
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Birmingham B3 2PB, UK.
ISBN 978-1-84969-708-8
www.packtpub.com
Cover Image by Joseph Larson (<[email protected]>)
Credits
Author
Joe Larson
Reviewers
Henry Garner
Andrew Mazzotta
Thomas P.McDunn
Erwin Ried
Acquisition Editor
Edward Gordon
Lead Technical Editor
Arun Nadar
Technical Editors
Shashank Desai
Dennis John
Chandni Maishery
Sanhita Sawant
Project Coordinator
Shiksha Chaturvedi
Proofreader
Mario Cecere
Indexer
Monica Ajmera Mehta
Production Coordinator
Shantanu Zagade
Cover Work
Shantanu Zagade
About the Author
Joe Larson is one part artist, one part mathematician, one part teacher, and one part technologist. It all started in his youth on a Commodore 64 doing BASIC programming and low resolution digital art. As technology progressed, so did Joe's dabbling eventually taking him to 3D modeling while in high school and college, momentarily pursuing a degree in Computer Animation. He abandoned the track for the much more sensible goal of becoming a Math teacher, which he accomplished when he taught 7th grade Math in Colorado. He now works as an application programmer.
When Joe first heard about 3D printing, it took root in his mind and he went back to dust off his 3D modeling skills. In 2012, he won a Makerbot Replicator 3D printer in the Tinkercad/Makerbot Chess challenge with a chess set that assembles into a robot. Since then his designs on Thingiverse, have been featured on Thingiverse, Gizmodo, Shapeways, Makezine, and others. He currently maintains the blog joesmakerbot.blogspot.com, documenting his adventures in 3D printing.
Dedicated to my wife, who I've seen far too little of during the process of making this book.
Thanks to the people at Packt Publishing who reached out to help me write this book.
Special thanks to the awesome people at Makerbot.
About the Reviewers
Henry Garner started 3D printing in 2010 after buying a MakerBot Cupcake CNC kit as a present for himself. Then a professional software developer with no 3D modeling skills, the obvious next step was to learn the printer's wire protocol and control the print head directly with his own code. The result was the open source Ruby library called Cupcake and many tangled knots of extruded plastic.
It was whilst studying for a Fine Art degree years earlier that he first became interested in programming as a means to create interactive installations and reactive sculptures. The combination of technology and tangible objects remains his passion, and he thinks 3D printing offers a fantastic new way to bring ideas out of the confines of a computer screen into the physical world.
Henry is now Chief Technologist at Likely, a big data analytics company based in the heart of East London's Tech City. When not working, he is often to be found at his art studio by the Tate Modern, floor still littered with extruded plastic tumbleweed.
You can follow him on Twitter at @henrygarner.
Andrew Mazzotta started his career in finance with an MBA. After recently traveling the world, 70 countries in three years, he changed his career for engineering and is now working on three degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. He is currently (August 2013) building RepRaps in Albania for undeveloped areas. The project is in collaboration with Printers for Peace.
He started www.3dhacker.com, a free site dedicated to 3D printing. Members can showcase 3D printers, extruders, printer upgrades, STL model designs, software, printing tutorials, and so on. Additionally, there is a forum for members to support their products/services and a blogging platform for all members to use as well.
I would like to thank all the people that have made 3D printing available to the less fortunate!
Thomas P. McDunn is an engineer and tinkerer and finds 3D printing fuels an ever growing list of projects and experiments. Though formally trained in Mechanical Engineering, receiving a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison, his interest in computers pulled him on the fence between Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He constructed his own microcomputer for home experimenting and cut his teeth on electromechanical applications of microprocessors at a time when memory was expensive and code had to be small, not only for memory considerations but for execution speed and hand coding sake. Applying knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems with servo control theory he developed a career in motion control in the Machine Tool Industry and was granted a patent in 1992 for a microprocessor-based transfer line control. He experimented with robotics with a Hero 2000 robot and worked briefly in the industrial robotics industry. Thomas enjoys education and has developed many hands-on curricula for quick immersion of technical concepts. More recently, Thomas has applied his managerial and marketing experience and consults with small businesses in leveraging social media as a marketing tool. Frustrated with the hodge-podge of image sizes used in social media he self-published a book, "72 Pixels" that details the image size requirements of the most popular social media applications. Spurred by an episode of "The Shark Tank", he started a blog to pass along lessons learned in inventor and investor relations. Thomas spends a lot of time online and is enamored with the growth and accomplishments of open source projects.
The open source movement has paved the way for many innovations and more to come. Thomas studies open source applications in a wide arena including Arduino, GIMP, Inkscape, REPRAP, and Drones to name a few. Thomas has experience of many types of 3D printing and rapid prototyping models, setting up a design, and prototyping bureau including SLA, SLS, FDM, Zprint, and PolyJet machines. He has a Makerbot and has recently added a Rostock Max to his personal 3D printer arsenal. Thomas is constantly on the lookout for world changing applications of 3D printing technology. He recently registered with Robohand, a website and organization that makes affordable prosthetics available for children who are born without fingers using 3D printing technology. He catalogs his personal printing projects at www.tpmtech.biz/Makerbot.
I'd like to thank my wife Holly for her encouragement and patience in supporting my technological passions.
Erwin Ried has been enjoying computers and electronics since the age of seven, when he first received his Atari 800 XE. Playing with the buggy coding examples from the Atari booklet always sparked something special in his mind; the idea of governing the machine.
In 2009, HP and Microsoft chose his website as one of the top 50 world best blogs in the HP Magic Giveaway. Later in 2011, LG electronics selected his invention SinStandby as the best green energy related solution for "Casa Eficiente del Siglo XXI".
Now, he is a Computer Civil Engineer (Bachelor) from Chile who loves any kind of challenge including electronics, mechanics, and coding in particular when they involve 3D Printing, electronics, robotics, automation, games and/or programming.
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Preface
A new industrial age is here. Machines designed to build useful and interesting objects have moved from the factory to the home. But these 3D printers can't make things without a design. Whether you have a 3D printer or not, designing things for 3D printers to make is the best way to become a part of the 3D printing movement. Learn to design successful models for home by 3D printing on a Makerbot or other 3D printer with cool hands-on lessons.
If you've ever won a round of Pictionary you've got all the artistic skill it takes to get started. If you've ever gotten past level 1 on Tetris then you've got spatial reasoning. If you've ever played with modeling clay then you know all about designing in three dimensions. You can learn and practice the rules of design that will take your virtual models to real life prints you can hold in your hands as well as enable your creations to stand out on popular websites such as Thingiverse.
This book uses blueprints; simple, fun projects that teach Blender modeling for 3D printing in hands-on lessons. First you'll learn basic modeling and make a small simple object. Then each new project brings with it new tools and techniques as well as teaching the rules of 3D printing design. Eventually you'll be building objects designed to repair or replace everyday objects. Finally, you'll be able to even tackle other people's models and fix them to be 3D printable.
What this book covers
Chapter 1, Design Tools and Basics, will start with the rules of designing objects for successful 3D prints and then introduce the software that will be used.
Chapter 2, Mini Mug, introduces the most common modeling tools to make a simple object.
Chapter 3, Face Illusion Vase, uses a reference image, a picture, to help create the shape of a 3D object.
Chapter 4, SD Card Holder Ring, takes measurement of real-life objects and translates them to the design space. Success is measured by how closely the print matches the real life object.
Chapter 5, Modular Robot Toy, combines separate parts with joints to make a single object.
Chapter 6, D6 Spinner, uses the add-on functionality to allow Blender to create new objects and using that to model a new way to choose a number from 1 to 6.
Chapter 7, Teddy Bear Figurine, introduces a different method of modeling that can be used to make appealing organic shapes.
Chapter 8, Repairing Bad Models, is a good skill to have when working with other's 3D models, particularly those that might not have been made for 3D printing.
Chapter 9, Stretchy Bracelet, shows how advanced 3D printing options can change the way a model is printed.
Chapter 10, Measuring – Tips and Tricks, are important to know when translating real life into the design space.
What you need for this book
This book uses only Blender for 3D modeling available at www.blender.org, a free, open source program. The first chapter covers downloading and installing Blender.
If you have a Makerbot or other brand of 3D printer you will need software to prepare models for print. Either Slicer or ReplicatorG is recommended for Makerbots. No other software will be necessary for this book.
An account on Thingiverse (www.thingiverse.com) to upload your own models is recommended but not required.
Who this book is for
This book is for anyone with an interest in 3D printing and the slightest bit of computer skill. Whether you own a 3D printer or not you can design for them. All it takes is some free software, this book, and a little creativity and someday you'll be able to hold something designed on a computer in your hands. No special computer skills are necessary beyond simple file and directory navigation. No previous 3D modeling experience is necessary at all.
Conventions
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Code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles are shown as follows: "Type in MakerbotBlueprints as the name for the new directory."
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Note
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Tip
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Chapter 1. Design Tools and Basics
Owning a Makerbot 3D printer means being able to make anything you want at a push of a button, right? 3D printer owners quickly find that while 3D printers have no end of things they can produce, they also are not without their limitations. Designing an object without 3D printing in mind will result in a failed print that more resembles a bird nest or a bowl of spaghetti.
Making a 3D printable object requires learning a few rules, some careful planning, and design. But once you know the rules the results can be astounding. 3D printers can even produce things with ease that traditional manufacturing cannot, for example, objects with complex internal geometry that machining cannot touch.
There are many places online such as Makerbot's own Thingiverse that hosts a daily growing library of printable objects. Printing out other people's designs is all well and good for a while, but the most exciting part about 3D printing is that it can produce your designs and models. Eventually, learning how to model for 3D printing is a must.
Can you learn 3D modeling? If you've ever won a round of Pictionary you've got all the artistic skill it takes to get started. If you've ever gotten past level 1 on Tetris then you've got spatial reasoning. If you've ever played with modeling clay then you know all about designing in three dimensions.
Design basics
There are some design rules and basic ideas that will be true regardless of the modeling software used.
The working of 3D printing
3D printing has come a long way in terms of technology and cost allowing home 3D printers to be a reality. In this process there have been choices that will limit what can be printed. Seeing a 3D printer in action is the best way to learn about the process. Fortunately there are many 3D printing time lapse videos online of printers in action that can be found with a simple search.
3D printers build an object layer-by-layer from the bottom to the top. Plastic filament is heated and extruded, and each layer is built upon the last one. Usually the outside of the object is drawn and sometimes additional shells are added for strength. Then the inside is usually filled with a lattice to save plastic and provide some support for higher layers, however the inside is mostly air. This continues until the object is complete as shown in the following screenshot:
Because of this layer-by-layer process, if a design is made so that any part has nothing underneath it, dangling in the air, then the printer will still extrude some plastic to try to print the part which will just dangle from the nozzle and be dragged into the next area where it will build up an ugly mess and ruin the print:
Building for supportless prints
One way of fixing the dangling object problem is to configure the preparing software to build the model "with supports". This means the slicer will automatically build a support lattice of plastic, up to the dangling part so that it has something to print on. Higher-end printers can actually print with a different material that can be dissolved away, but so far most home printers only use break-away supports. Either way after the print is complete it is left to the user to clean up this support material to extract the desired part.
While supports do allow the creation of objects that would be impossible any other way, the supports themselves are a waste of material and often don't remove cleanly leading to a messy bottom surface where they contact the print. If a part is designed needing supports that are hard to remove, such as if they're internal and partially obscured, it can be difficult and frustrating to completely remove the support material (this can be true for even the higher-end 3D printers). The process of removing it may actually damage the print.
It is possible and very easy with just the slightest application of cleverness to make designs that are printable without the need for any supports. So the blueprints in this book focus on making designs that print without supports. The limitations imposed by this demands just a little more effort but allow for the teaching of principles that are generally good to know.
Designing for dual extruders
Some models of Makerbot and other 3D printers have the ability to print in multiple colors at once using two different extruder heads feeding plastic from two different spools. There are some fun prints that come from this process. But as most Makerbots and other brands of home 3D printers do not have dual extruders at this time this book will not explore this process in detail. The basic idea of the process is creating two files that are aligned to print in the same space and combining them in the slicer.
Designing supportless – overhangs and bridges
When designing for supportless printing the rules are simple: Y prints, H prints okay, T does not print well.
Branching out with overhangs
It is possible to have the current layer slightly larger than the previous layer provided the overhang is not more than 45 degrees. This is because the current layer will have enough of the previous layer to stick to. Hence a shape like the capital letter Y will successfully print standing up.
However, if the overhang is too great or too abrupt the new layer will droop causing a print fail, hence a shape like the capital letter T does not print. (If the T is serif and thus has downward dangling bits, it will fail even worse, as illustrated previously.) So it is important to try to keep overhangs within a 45 degree cone as they go upwards.
Building bridges
If a part of the print has nothing above it, but has something on either side that it can attach to, then it may be able to bridge the gap. But use caution. The printer makes no special effort in making bridges; they are drawn like any other layer: outline first, then infill. As long as the outline has something to attach to on both sides it should be fine. But if that outline is too complex or contains parts that will print in mid-air, it may not succeed. Being aware of bridges in the design and keeping them simple is the key to successful bridging. Even with a simple bridge some 3D printers need a little bit more calibration to print it well. Hence a shape like the capital letter H will successfully print most of the time.
Of course this discussion is purely illustrative of the way overhangs work or fail. In real life if a Y, H, or T needed to be printed the best way to do it would be to lay them down. But for purposes of illustration it still stands that Y prints, H prints okay, T does not.
Choosing a modeling tool
There are many choices of modeling programs that can be used to produce 3D printable objects. There are many factors including versatility, simplicity, and cost to take into account. A tool with too steep a learning curve can turn off new users to the idea all together. A tool with too limited a set of tools can frustrate a user when they hit the limit. Investing a lot of money into something that doesn't end up going anywhere can be extremely disappointing. So it is important to explore the options.
SolidWorks (www.solidworks.com) and other drafting oriented programs can do technical shapes with extreme precision. They include the necessary tools to accurately describe a shape that can be brought into the real work with high fidelity. However these sorts of tools tend to be costly and don't do artistic or organic shapes very well. Their highly technical nature also gives them a steep learning curve.
OpenSCAD (www.openscad.org) is free and famous among the people who make 3D printers and can make technically accurate models as well. OpenSCAD also allows the models to be parametric, meaning that by changing a few variables and recalculating a new shape is generated. But OpenSCAD is difficult to use unless the user has a very technical and programmatic mind since the shapes are literally built from lines of code.
Zbrush (pixologic.com/zbrush), Sculptris (pixologic.com/sculptris), or Wings3D (www.wings3d.com) are great tools for modeling organic shapes like the kind used in video games or animation. Sculptris and Wings3D are free and are very easy to pick up and use. But these tools lack when precision is necessary.
Sketchup (www.sketchup.com) is a great free program with a library of shapes built in ready to import and play with. Its modeling tools are great for precise or architectural models. Sketchup doesn't do organic shapes well either and it can be tricky loading the plug-ins necessary for Sketchup to export their models to something printable. Even then models from Sketchup often have to go through an extensive clean up phase before they'll be ready to print.
Autodesk 123D (www.123dapp.com) is not one but a whole suite of free programs designed around 3D modeling with specific focus on 3D printing. There are programs to design creatures or precise
