How to Get Started With 3D Printing

It takes a tremendous amount of money and effort to get started in 3D printing. However, if you are resourceful and creative, it can cost much less.

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For many people, 3D printing is simply a hobby but for others, it is much more. 3D printing can be a great educational tool, or you can even turn it into a business.

Regardless of why you want to do 3D printing, getting started will probably require a strong commitment. The following are tips to help you get started with 3D printing:

Decide Whether You Want to Buy One

The first thing you should decide on when you want to get started with 3D printing is whether you can afford to buy one as they are quite expensive. If you cannot afford one, you can decide whether to build or rent one.

This decision will be mostly influenced by whether you will be using the 3D printer for business or pleasure. You can assemble the parts and build them yourself. It is cheaper but also requires more time and expertise.

 Though 3D printing machines have gotten much cheaper and more accessible, if you want one for casual use, you should not buy one. Find a friend or a place with several printers and use those which leads to the next point.

Go to a 3D Printing Service

One of the places where you can get several 3D printers is a 3D printing service. You can get to use one of their printers for much less than it would cost to buy one.

There are many 3D printing services where you can use their printer or get them to print a design for you. An example of where you can get 3D printing services is at PRTWD.com. However, most 3Dprinting services serve professionals who require large scales 3D models like architects and engineers.

There are benefits to using a 3D printing service but there are also disadvantages. You will have to decide how suitable it is for you.

Type of Printer

Whether you intend to buy a printer or rent one, you will have to decide on the type of printer you want. There are two main types of 3D printers namely Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and Stereolithography (SLA) printers which are classified due to their printing process.

The FFF or Fused Deposit Modelling (FDM) is the most common type of 3D printing. It also costs less than SLA printing. However, they are slow and may produce unwanted results.

On the other hand, SLA 3D printers are more accurate and flexible. They will print even the most intricate designs with incredible detail. The downside is that they cost a lot, especially for starters.

Learn How 3D Printing Works

The best thing you can do when you get started with 3D printing, and even before is to learn as much as you can about 3D printing. The more you know, the more options you will have as it pertains to 3D printing.

Learn about the anatomy of a 3D printer and all its constituent parts. The builder platform, the extruder, the print head, and the control interface are the main parts of any 3D printer.

You should also learn about the various elements involved in the 3D printing process. Learning about the printing process should help you a lot with coming up with designs and also the final result.

You should get various 3D models that have already been printed to get a good idea of what the final object should look like. On the other hand, you will need to learn how to use 3D modeling software.

Address the Side Effects

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3D printing is a form of the industrial process, the only difference being you have the equipment to do it in your home rather than in an industrial park. Every industrial process has side effects such as noise and smell pollution.

The materials used to make 3D objects are mostly plastic and metal. The fusion of these materials and their exposure to extreme heat will result in the production of various chemicals that may be harmful to your health.

Therefore, you need to take the necessary precautions to address the side effects of 3D printing. The more you learn about 3D printing, the more you will know about which measures to take.

As you can see, there is much to learn and to be done before and when you get started with 3D printing. The tips above should help you get started to a significant degree. The key is to learn as much as you can about 3D printing.

Lesley Montoya

Update 20 November 2020