book

Make: Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing 2014

by Mark Frauenfelder

November 2013

Intermediate to advanced

116 pages

5h 38m

English

Make: Community

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DIEGO PORQUERAS OF BUKOBOTANDREW RUTTER OF TYPE A MACHINESBROOK DRUMM OF PRINTRBOTRICK POLLACK OF MAKERGEAR
ALICE TAYLOR OF MAKIELABJOHN ALLWINE OF FREAKIN’ SWEET KNOTSCOSMO WENMAN, INDEPENDENT ARTISTKACIE HULTGREN OF PRETTY SMALL THINGS
1. Free as in Speech, Free as in Beer2. Cross-Platform Support3. 3D Printing Pedigree4. Extremely Simple Interface5. Easy To Learn6. Powerful7. Tons of Example Files8. Geometry Debugging9. Rapidly View and Modify .STL Files10. Change 2D to 3D11. Create Customizable Models On Thingiverse12. Strong Community Support
FILAMENT FRENZY
Design ServicesQualityVolumeType of MaterialNo 3D Printer
Build the Heavy-Duty TurntableBuild the Scan-O-Tron 3000 Vertical Rail for Kinect ScanningScan and Print Your Party Guests1. Prepare a New Scan2. Record Your Scan3. Reconstruct the Data4. Process Your Mesh5. Share or Export Your ModelScale the mesh and print
ABS Molds for Bismuth AlloysLost-PLA Casting of AluminumSand-Casting Bronze from 3D-Printed Patterns
BUILD YOUR FILAMENT EXTRUDER1. Check your parts1a. Make your parts (optional)2. Attach the motor shaft coupler3. Bolt the motor to the motor mount4. Weld the extruder chas-sis (optional)5. Mount the feed screw and thrust bearing6. Mount the motor7. Install the heater8. Temperature probe and insulation9. Mount the base10. Build the enclosure11. Wire the system12. Close it upNOW MAKE FILAMENT!
PRINT YOUR VIDEO GAME CHARACTER IN 3D
This Year’s Trends in 3D Printing
THE CHALLENGE PRINTS
$399 Assembled, With Open Design FilesPrints Untethered (But Needs Documentation)Good Prints, a Little on the Slow SideConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Deltabot HistoryMini Kossel: Kit OnlyDesign HighlightsNice Prints, Unique Auto-LevelerPrinting UntetheredConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Portability Without SacrificeUnique and Innovative HardwareConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Looking Good!Tons of UpgradesHow’s It Print?Keeping It Open SourceConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Untethered and IntuitiveExtruder Fix Now StandardFirmware ImprovementsSoftware UpdatesConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Awesome Auto CalibrationNice Custom SoftwareMixed Print QualityConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Very Easy Setup, Nice Touchscreen FeaturesQuieter and Safer Than Last Year, but Print Quality SuffersConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Pushbutton-Simple Setup and SoftwareEnclosed for Safety, Cozy for ABS PrintingMostly Quiet OperationExtruder JamsSolid Objects Printed BestConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Easy SetupGreat Prints Right Out of the BoxOnboard Controls and UpgradesNew Model: Felix 3.0ConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Hardware Details Could Use Some AttentionOnboard ControlsSome Software LimitationsConclusionHOW’D IT PRINT?
Out with the Old: 2013In with the New: 2014ConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Solid Hardware, Huge Build VolumeExceptional DocumentationSome Printing SnagsFast and QuietNew Model: TAZ 2ConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
Updated and UpgradedUnique Hardware DesignPut a Fan On ItConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
UpgradeableSupport Your Objects, Level the BedEasily Correctable Over-Extrusion IssuesUntethered Printing PossibleConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
PRIMO FEATURESPRO TIPSAIRWOLF AW3D XLPRIMO FEATURESPRO TIPS
LIQUID DREAMS
Sharp Looks, Seamless FunctionForming UpHOW'D IT PRINT?B9 CREATORManual CalibrationPowerful SoftwareConclusionHOW'D IT PRINT?
THE BEST FROM OUR TESTSTHEBEST VALUEBEST IN CLASS: PROSUMER FFFBEST IN CLASS: JUST HIT PRINTSURPRISE HITBest in Class: ResinBEST DOCUMENTATIONBEST OPEN-ARCHITECTUREOVERVIEW: HOW THEY COMPARE
DAVID LASERSCANNER STARTER KITDAVID SLS-1PREVIEW 3 HOT NEW SCANNERSMAKERBOT DIGITIZERMATTERFORMCADSCAN CUBIK
UpgradesModificationsFILAMENT EXTRUDERSFILABOT WEEFILASTRUDER
NEW FFF PRINTERSTHE BUCCANEERPrintrbot Go v2FILAMENT EXTRUSIONEXTRUSIONBOTNEW WAYS TO 3D PRINTHYPERFORMDIWIRE BENDER
3D SCANNERSDIMBODY

Content preview from Make: Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing 2014

SLICING AND CONTROL SOFTWARE

Where it’s going and where it’s been.

WRITTEN BY JOHN ABELLA

Models go through two software processes on their way to becoming finished prints: slicing and sending. Slicing divides a model into printable layers and plots the toolpaths to fill them in. The printer client then sends these movements to the hardware and provides a control interface for its other functions.

Among slicing engines used in our printer roundups, the trend away from Skeinforge continues in 2014, and Alessandro Ranellucci’s Slic3r continues to ...