It's begun...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

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Ok, so first some background and the reason I have an Ender 3 Pro on my workbench.

@John generously gave me his Photon, and during the discussions about setting it up he mentioned how I need to vent it using a printed adapter and a PC fan.

I asked around and my usual sources for printing something like it weren't available. But what WAS available was a deal at Micro Center where I could get an FDM machine for $99. At that price, how could I NOT get one?

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/specialoffer3dprinter.aspx

@DeltaBravo and I went over on Friday to pick one up. I spent yesterday afternoon assembling it and there it is doing its test print.

Of course the loosely coiled demo filament got twisted up while we were at dinner and it quit printing, but I now know it works.

So now onto printing the adapter so I can actually use the printer I started with.

Lol.

[Dave V]

I'll ask before Josh does...is the printing resin safe for rectal use? 

In all seriousness, I feel inexorably drawn closer to buying my own 3-D printer, but probably like a lot of folks I'm intimidated by the 3-D design process. I dabbled with Google Sketch-Up while I was still working at the Air Force Academy, but never did anything as complex as, say, a boiler to fit a specific mech.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've already learned that it has its own set of skills and knowledge, but they are accessible. There are a LOT more people doing this stuff than most of the modeling activities we do so there are even more resources available.

That said, the places to start are small. I designed my switch mounts and they only have a few critical dimensions. You kinda work your way up to the incredibly impressive things that some of the wizards here do.

But the thing I think is interesting about it, just from this very first but I've tried is that it can help expand your problem solving toolbox significantly.

Need a jig for a thing? Draw it up.

Need a mounting bracket? Draw it up.

Need an obscure replacement part...

[Sumner]

......... but probably like a lot of folks I'm intimidated by the 3-D design process. ....

I've only printed a couple things that I haven't designed but there are probably thousands of people out there that never printed anything they designed.  Get the printer and start by printing items other people have designed.  There are 1000's of items you can download for free and print for the layout and other uses.  I have over 100 myself here ( https://www.thingiverse.com/sumner/designs  ).

I have a resin printer (had it for almost a year now) and actually will probably try and use it for the first time today.  I've had the Ender 3 for almost two years and love it.  It is printing as I type this right behind me in the living area of the house.  The resin printer is out in the shop area fearing the smell might not go over so well with either myself or Dottie in the house. 

Also for my expectations, not looking at something much closer than 10-12 inches, the filament print on the highest print quality prints pretty darn good.  Here is .....



... a grate that will go under the code 55 track where a load of coal can be dumped into the bin shown.  I'm happy with it.  I'll also probably become quite addicted to the resin printer as there are some items that I'd love to print that the Ender just can't do.

Sumner

[IronPenguin]

Welcome to the club. Start with small things.
The biggest mistake I see commonly on the 3d groups I belong to is the urge to print something big and colossal right off. Inevitably fails and frustration sets in.
Grab a couple of the smaller calibration  models out there and set your printers up.
Then progress up.
Have fun.

[basementcalling]

Dave, I'm thinking Ed can print a tree a day. Might take longer if he puts leaves on each one though.

[Chris333]

He likes tall trees so they will take longer to print 

[Philip H]

He likes tall trees so they will take longer to print 

TWSS

 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

No joke. I've definitely thought about investigating the possibility of printing trees.

The machine itself probably couldn't even keep up with one a night though.

[Scottl]

For a foreground special tree, I think it would be da bomb.  I am expecting you will be our fearless leader on this front.

[JMaurer1]

I've WANTED a 3D printer for awhile now, but also know (from past experience) that I don't want to wrestle with learning the 3D software so I have been downloading files from Thingieverse (loving Sumners turntable) for the day when I finally pull the trigger. Getting a printer for $99 would make me pull that trigger...except it is in store only and while I was born and raised in So Cal, Tustin CA is now over 600 miles away. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've WANTED a 3D printer for awhile now, but also know (from past experience) that I don't want to wrestle with learning the 3D software so I have been downloading files from Thingieverse (loving Sumners turntable) for the day when I finally pull the trigger. Getting a printer for $99 would make me pull that trigger...except it is in store only and while I was born and raised in So Cal, Tustin CA is now over 600 miles away. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing...

Is that the closest one for you?

At this price, it's worth asking a local friend to hook you up.

[Philip H]

For a foreground special tree, I think it would be da bomb.  I am expecting you will be our fearless leader on this front.

Maybe this is how I solve the Southern Long Leaf Pine problem

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Maybe this is how I solve the Southern Long Leaf Pine problem

I don't know if it'll get you all the way there, but it might be a valuable component.

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/u90d21fa0-4f78-44e7-b3a6-89b31a0f7f5e/SOUTHERN-YELLOW-PINE-TREES?hl=en&login=true

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Mission accomplished.

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