BABY BROTHER PRINTS
Instagram: @bb_prints
WHAT IS 3D PRINTING?
The Basics
3D printing is exactly what it sounds like. Similar to how ink printers lay ink on paper, 3D printers use filament (usually plastic-like) to produce 3D models. The process of how the printer exactly does this can be seen in the time-lapse below. The setup process is relatively simple. After turning on the printer, the printer will have a button that prompts the nozzle to heat up. Once the nozzle it hot enough, filament can then be inserted through a gear which is followed by a long tube that feeds into the nozzle. On most printers there is a knob that helps make the feeding process a little easier. The knob is then turned till a little bit of filament comes out of the nozzle. After inserting the filament an SD card, in most cases, is inserted in to the machine and you can select which model on the card you wish to print.
3D MODELING
Now that the basic concepts of how 3D printers work, lets dive into how the models printed are produced. So if you haven't read my journey of how I got into 3D printing, I'd encourage you to before reading further into this section. 3D models are created in different CAD (Computer Aided Design) softwares that are out there. This software allows the user to use lines, arcs, and configured geometric shapes to produce a desired 3D model. There are many different CAD softwares out there and some are easier to learn then others. The most well known of them are TinkerCAD, Fusion 360, and Autodesk Inventor. If you so perhaps want to get into 3D modeling, I'd strongly recommend starting with TinkerCAD.
In addition to making your own models, there are also sites that creators, like myself, upload our models for free for others to download and print. Links to two of the sites I primarily use are below. Some models on MyMiniFactory are a paid download due to the amount of work that the designer might have put in to making the model.
SETTING UP MODEL FOR PRINTING
CONVERTING CAD MODEL
The first step in getting the model ready to print is to convert the model to a readable file type by the slicing software. Before you panic, relax. I'll talk more about the slicing software in the next step. In order to convert the CAD file you have to export it as a .stl or .obj file. A .stl file is more commonly used but .obj is also acceptable.
SLICING SOFTWARE
This software creates a file that the printer can read and print out. Similar to how the CAD file needed to be converted to a .stl file, the slicer software converts to a different file type called a .gcode file. Inside the slicing software there are many different settings that can be adjusted to make the model print better. I will be making a different section outlining the different settings that can be tinkered with inside of the software.
PRINTER SETTINGS
I vaguely at the top of this page talked about how to load filament so I will be talking a little more about the others things the need to be done to print your model. The first thing that needs to be checked is that the bed is level. Every printer is different in this aspect. Some printers you have to do this manually while others have built-in technology and do it for you. Another step to take is to make sure the print bed is clean and free of all debris. I mainly print on glass now and I primarily clean it hydrogen peroxide. In addition to cleaning the bed the nozzle needs to be cleaned as well. I usually heat up the nozzle and brush off any excess or burnt filament with a toothbrush.