One of the issues with the 3-D printing is that someone has to make the 3D CAD model first? This is not mentioned often and that would be an additional cost for someone that has an 'Idea' of what they want. I have looked at a couple of free 3D softwares and haven't found anything that really does what I would want. Just throwing this out there for comments.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
SketchUp is free, and many of the things you see on Shapeways and other sites were originally drawn using it. This goes back to something I've said before in threads like this, where people say it's 'cheating' to use a #d printer. Well, you still have to be able to draw what you want - accurately. I happen to be pretty good at visualizing 3D from a 2D blueprint, but not everyone can do that. I still haven't matered SketchUp. It's not as easy as some people think to draw up a workable 3D model for the printer - not only is there the drawing itself, but the design has to account for the way the machine operates and be actually buildable. Thre's a skill involved there, and not just drawing ability. You could make the nicest looking drawing around, but it could have features that would be impossible to print as-is on most 3D printers. Then it's back to the drawing board to clean it all up and make it printable.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy's got a point in that good 3-D software is not easy to master. One of the best ways to approach the problem is to offer (as part of a 3-D printing service and site) downloadable proprietary software that is tailored to what the capabilities are. There's a company called E-machineshop that does that. Their CAD progam is very simple (2-D, no "fancy" features) and is part of an engineered system that includes a cost estimator. When I had my machine shop, they were a sometime competitor so I had to learn their system (to interpret and make my own drawings on AutoCad) before I could quote a client. I believe before long a clever 3-D printer will be doing the same thing. It would seem that method would make the process less cumbersome in that it wouldn't let a client/designer do something not possible with the hardware. On screen prompts and auto features would guide the designer to quickly render a file that was satisfactory to them as well as the processes involved.
Lou
Speaking of 3D printing, http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/227541.aspx
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Well, shoot, quick reply doesn't do hyperlinks.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/227541.aspx
EDIT: Alright, who broke the forum so I can't insert hyperlinks?
Darth, and anybody else who wants to make the link work, here is how to do it:
1. Highlight the link. In other words, place your cursor at the beginning of the link, hold the left mouse button down and draw the cursor across the link until the whole thing is highlighted in blue. Be careful not to capture anything else in the highlighted area. Let go of the left mouse button. YES, I'm stating the obvious but if you are a computer dinosaur like me , the 'obvious' isn't always obvious!
2. With the cursor on the highlighted link, right click the link and it will open up a menu box.
3. The top line in the menu box will be "Open Link". Left click on that line and voila! you will be taken through the ever amazing place called cyberspace and the link will open!!!
I have posted this solution to the link problem in at least three other threads. Nobody seems to be listening!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Odd, it doesn't do that for me. The new posting box doesn't have the options for inserting photos, links, and other stuff, so it looks like I'll have to go back to the old copy and paste method. I still use the old [img][/ img] code for inserting photos anyway, so at least that works.
This was the first really good complete building I home printed. It is an HO scale smokehouse.
more details can be seen here, if interested, http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2013/09/smokehouse-ho-scale-3d-printed-down-on.html
Kent in KC'nvrr49.blogspot.com
I did a few N scale items on my Afinia printer for friends. A small building, an ocatagon barn, patterned after the HO one I posted earlier, and an open gondola load of wire coils.
You can see the other items at this link: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/02/n-scale-or-just-for-giggles-3.html
Kent in KCnvrr49.blogspot.com
And now for something in O scale. Pool table tops, you supply the base. Details and both HO and O versions can bes seet at http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/03/pool-tables-ho-and-o-scale-just-for.html
I think these items pretty much debunk the idea that the resolution is too grainy. Those last 3 things were all printed on the home Affinia printer and nor the more expensive units that Shapeways uses? Wow!
This is the largest print I have done on my printer. Based on the Bennington State Bank in Bennington, MN. The basic building took 6 hours and 39 minutes to print, that time does not include the windows and the top sections of the front wall or the foundation. Details on the it's design and construction can be seen at http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/04/bennington-state-bank-bennigton-mn-in.html
[qoute]Odd, it doesn't do that for me. The new posting box doesn't have the options for inserting photos, links, and other stuff, so it looks like I'll have to go back to the old copy and paste method. I still use the old [img][/ img] code for inserting photos anyway, so at least that works.[/qoute]
I wish they brought back the old software like the one they use on the other trains.com websites. I am pretty sure kalmbach knows there are many problems with the current mrr software and they aren't happy with it, which explains why they haven'tchanged the software on their other sites.
Personally I keep hoping they will go back to the old software, it worked a lot better.
Made clickable?
http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/04/bennington-state-bank-bennigton-mn-in.html
Some items I designed and sent to shapeways.com for printing. These were printed in FUD. More pictures and details can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/04/latest-shapeways-prints-ho-scale.html
Kent in KC
nvrr49.blogspot.com
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
The next generation for home 3d printing. It made goal in two minutes.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kudo3d/titan-1-fastest-tallest-print-high-res-sla-3d-prin