Low budget 3D-printing again ...

Discussion in 'General Entropia Universe Discussion' started by Jamira, Jan 9, 2015.

  1. IMHO at current stage of technology you will get way better results (and maybe cheaper, depends on how much and often you need to print), using 3D printing services. You will be able to print even using metal, not talking about wide range of various plastics.
     
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  2. Nor Alien

    Nor Alien Wisker Fish

    I have access to some extreme 3D printers ranging in print size from as small as watch parts to as large as automobiles. They print using various plastics, metals, and even carbon. I get the use of these for fairly cheap. The problem is, some of my designs have slight to large flaws, and when using these printers, even little flaws can turn disastrous. :cautious: The metal one is more forgiving, but the plastic polymers, yikes! :confused1: In the end, these flaws are time consumers, and there are others who could have used this time more adventagiously.

    I was looking for a printer that I can make my own disasters with at home. :biggrin: Then when I get a working model bring it to the high end ones. :wink:

    But I think Jamira is correct that I need more practice. So I will do some runs with her excellent example model and see how I fair! :geek:
     
  3. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    I had this issue with flaws too. "Open geometry", "bad triangles", "double triangles" and what more. Now I use the software from my 3D-printer. That's a bad ass. It sucks everything and all. No grumble. Never. That's very relaxing!
     
  4. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    Hehe ...
    First of all as Alien said: It's hard to make errorfree models from such a software like DAZ, if not impossible. Second: Guess what - it's my hobby ;-)
    Third: Well, I asked around to print my Imperium Spec Lancer (130 mm long). -------> 300 or 600 Euro! ... can't remember. (Got my printer for 800 Euro - LOL!)
     
  5. Jamira, that was reply to Nor Alien, not to you. :) I remember your old threads on PCF and your works there and I clearly understand reasons why you got your own 3D printer. :)
    But I guess Nor Alien want just try it out, and in his case it maybe worth try out some 3D printing service (like I told it depends on amounts he going to print).
    [updated] I read his reply just now and I see — my assumption was wrong. :oops: [/updated]

    About errors - I think they will check and fix models before printing (worth ask them before ordering).
    About prices - last time I check them, it was quite cheap already (just few examples, never ordered anything myself).

    For example:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapeways (more at See also).

    http://www.shapeways.com/support/pricing
    You can get instant price here by uploading your 3D model: http://www.shapeways.com/create
    So if you have something to try I would like to hear final price as well. :)
     
  6. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    Ooops, sorry.
    Yep, I know Shapeways. They printed some parts for me already. To expensive, not good enough. But thank you.
     
  7. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    Well, that's it!
    upload_2015-1-15_1-6-37.jpeg

    upload_2015-1-15_1-8-24.jpeg
    I am soooo happy! I have to admit she doesn't look very good so far at the pictures. More like a zombie ;-) She looks way better irl. That's because I was sanding her one time. Just to remove all the unwanted remains of the printing process. And we still have all the areas were I cutted the original 3D-model to resize the parts to fit to my small printer. I used standard Revell glue to put all parts together ... running around in my small cabin holding her in vertical way until the glue was drying up. Okay, standing she would be a really tall modell: 340 mm. Really impressive at my keybord. It's kinda 1:5.
    Well, the main question was: Can I print serious 3D-models with my low-budget-printer?
    The answers are: YES, if ...
    • the model is big enough
    • I'm ready to put in a lot of work after the model was printed (glueing, sanding, filling, sanding again, priming and painting)
    ... or NO, if ...
    • I want a quick good model
    • small, accurate models
    • accurate models at all
    • models from grabbing online-stuff like Entropia Universe
    There is still a long way to go for me. But for now I've learned that my shitty little printer is worth the money I paid for it (800 Euro). Made in China ... btw ;-) It is the first choice for hobby modelers. Especially because of the omnivore-software. This seems to become one of the major parts of the story. No errors, minor problems while printing ... crazy!
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2015
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  8. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    What does it cost?
    DAZ Studio: 0.00 Euro
    DAZ 3D-model: 0.00 Euro
    DAZ pose: 0.00 Euro
    Cut and convert to STL with Rhino3D: 900 Euro (probably it's possible with Blender too = 0.00 Euro ... dunno)
    FreeSculpt 3D-printer EX1-Basic (http://www.pearl.de/a-PV8600-1122.shtml;jsessionid=qaaFQuLAkVi-86j07iRRu) 700 Euro atm
    ABS print-material 4.43 Euro (25 Euro print-material included when you buy the printer at PEARL ... so 0.00 Euro if you go from scratch)
    Additional: sandpaper, glue, priming, color ... all optional ... ~20 Euro.

    That's fair. I love it!
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2015
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  9. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    I won't put too much effort into this print. It was just a test if bigger models will work. Again I've learned a lot ... at a new level if you want. Next steps:
    • learn how to make the right poses
    • learn to add items
    • learn to add clothing
    • get/build clothes/items
    • try to make kinda final model
    • feed community with infos ;-)
     
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  10. Nice work!

    Just be careful about distribution... can't find the specifics about 3d model printing on the victoria web page but the main daz eula mentions something about it... I think for personal use, it's fine, but if you start selling the printed models you might have to contact Daz about it if you get too far in to it.

    Not sure it'd be as useful as Daz, but you might check out Make Human.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2015
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  11. IMHO it's looks like it made from wood and it looks nice even on photos.
    Gratz with successful test! :)
    Looking forward to see your next 3D prints.
     
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  12. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    No worries. I am one of the fighters for considering copyright issues. IF I ever want to sell a model made with DAZ's content I will pay for it and ask them about details to handle it. Sooner or later I'll need clothes and items too. And I don't want to make them by myself. I think I'll buy this stuff and read the conditions for selling my own products using them. Probably you remember: I did this with MA too few years ago.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2015
  13. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    Meanwhile she looks a bit better although she lost her arms and head :-(
    I did a lot of sanding today, will print another head (at the photos is an old head wich doesn't fit in size 100%) and glue her together again. Tomorrow I will treat her with basic color. I have an old can of Revell's Basic Color left. Let's see how she looks in plain white ;-)
     
  14. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    OMG! I chosed 0.2 mm layer thickness for the print of the head. It is out of the original specifications (0,24 mm) ... but works. And looks pretty good! The new specifications at PEARL's webside say: 0,15 as minimum. Oha! If this is true, we have to rethink everything!
    Sure, every print would take way more time. But does it matter against high quality? No.
    I will make a test soon with 0.15 mm layer thickness.

    So never ever pay money for a 3D-printer with a minimum layer-thickness >0.15 mm! As I said above: The layer thickness is the main criteria.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2015
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  15. Great print!
    As you printed in ABS you could also "glue" the parts together with Aceton, basically the parts will melt together. In this way the cuts could become less visible.
    To smoothen the model even more you can treat the sanded parts with an aceton vapor bath, which would remove the visibility of the individual layers.
     
  16. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    Hehe ... got a can with 1 litre Aceton already (see picture above). Today I coloured her with basic colour and filled some gaps in the surface and at the glue places and sanded her again.

    upload_2015-1-16_21-16-52.jpeg

    upload_2015-1-16_21-17-10.jpeg

    Still a lot of work to do. Especially the face is a desaster! The details are still to small. Next time I will go to a 1:4 model (~420 mm). At least it's really fun to be able to make such models. But as stated above: I won't put too much work into this one. Since I know now, that I can make good models I should continue with the model I really want. The horror: Hair! Let's see.

    ... got two more kilogramms of printing wire today ;-)
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2015
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  17. narfi

    narfi Lost

    dont use the acetone once you have paint on it though, it will blister most cheap paints and fillers. (is ok over cured epoxy paints)
     
  18. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    I won't. I will experiment with the acetone later for welding parts and treat the surface. Additional I collected some of the abrasive dust already to use it as my own filling material. Probably combined with the Revell glue or acetone.
    Hey, are you all hobby modelers? Or how can you know such details?
     
  19. RAZER

    RAZER Custom title ... uh ...

    Looking good, I am just struggling to understand why you have a box of 3,5" floppy disks on your desk ?
     
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  20. RAZER

    RAZER Custom title ... uh ...

    Oh and when can we print some of those EU creatures ?
     
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