How to use ChatGPT for 3D printing

If you keep up with tech news, you may have seen some of the headlines that ChatGPT has made over the past few years. Launched in November 2022, OpenAI's chatbot has taken the world by storm. This innovative AI engine seems to continuously push the boundaries, helping users find new ways to leverage the power of ChatGPT every day.

For makers and 3D printing enthusiasts, ChatGPT offers a variety of tools that make bringing your projects together much easier. But how can you use ChatGPT for 3D printing?

Can ChatGPT help with 3D printing?

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Before starting to use ChatGPT for 3D printing, it is important to know that it has many limitations. Although it can create basic 3D models, the tool is not created to take on the role of a 3D design tool, and this means you will have to do some of the work yourself.

ChatGPT can make creating and managing files for 3D printing much easier, and save you a lot of time and effort. Creating 3D models is a time-consuming process, often involving many repetitive tasks, and this makes it worthwhile to use AI tools to do it faster.

Create STL files using ChatGPT

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STL is the most commonly used file format for 3D printing. STL files store sets of instructions that allow CAD and slicing software to build 3D models that have been saved elsewhere or created at another time. Thanks to their simplicity, ChatGPT can create simple STL files for you.

Let's start with a simple 3D model and ask ChatGPT to create the volume in STL format. It's important to make your request specific to ensure that ChatGPT understands what you're asking for. In this case, you need to clearly specify that you want your STL file to be in ASCII format for easier reading.

You will need to visit the OpenAI ChatGPT website, create an account, and open the chatbot to get started.

Give ChatGPT the request 'Generate a 3D model of a cube using ASCII STL format' and wait for it to give a response. You'll see a small code snippet and a brief explanation of how it works below.

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Copy text from the window and paste it into a blank Notepad file. When you save the file, make sure you change the extension to '.stl'. You can now load the file into the software of your choice and prepare for 3D printing.

Note that on the first try you may not always get the 3D model you require, in which case you need to ask ChatGPT to fix it.

While ChatGPT is certainly capable of generating STL files of greater complexity, OpenAI cannot dedicate the resources required for this type of operation to free users. However, this is still a great tool for those who want to learn how STL files work.

Create 3D modeling scripts for CAD software using ChatGPT

Many 3D modeling tools have the ability to create 3D models using scripts. This is not always the most efficient way to create a 3D model when you have to write the script yourself, but ChatGPT can create the script for you.

Depending on the 3D modeling software you use, you will need to do some research to determine the programming language it uses. Python scripts are available in Blender, but ChatGPT can work with many different languages.

Start with 'Generate a Python script for Blender to create a cube 3D model' in your request to ChatGPT. It may take some time for the chatbot to write your script, but there should be no problem doing this with simple 3D models.

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Once you've copied the script, you can load up Blender and go to the script's workspace. By default, you will see the script console on the left side of the screen. Paste the script generated by ChatGPT into the console and press the Enter key to see your 3D model appear in the 3D workspace.

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Just like when creating STL files with ChatGPT, there are limitations that mean the chatbot will not try to create scripts that are too time-consuming. Luckily, you can find paid services on the web that extend ChatGPT's scripting capabilities. You can learn how to access GPT-4 to further enhance your 3D printing capabilities.

How else can ChatGPT help with 3D printing?

As you can see, ChatGPT has a lot of potential for 3D printing enthusiasts, but it doesn't stop at creating scripts and STL files. OpenAI's chatbot can provide support and advice for a variety of 3D printing questions.

1. Repair G-Code files : G-Code files are often used by 3D printers to store instructions to execute during the 3D printing process. When a G-Code file is corrupted or has errors, your 3D printer may refuse to print or not print properly. You can ask ChatGPT to analyze your G-Code files and give you tips to help you repair them.
2. 3D model reminders : You can ask ChatGPT to provide 3D model reminders. Prompts like these make it easier for you to tackle more complex 3D modeling tasks, while also allowing you to use third-party tools.
3. Third-party add-ons : Most 3D modeling applications have add-ons available that allow you to use ChatGPT to help with your 3D designs. Some of these tools use ChatGPT-generated prompts to create 3D models, while others rely on automatically generated scripts to work.
4. 3D printer settings : Choosing the correct settings for the material you are 3D printing is challenging, especially when you encounter errors and problems with your prints. You can use ChatGPT to troubleshoot 3D printer settings and help you choose the best settings for your prints.

Jessica Tanner

Update 22 October 2023