Practical 3d Printers

Desktop or DIY 3D printers are devices you can either buy preassembled as a kit, or build from a collection of parts to design and print physical objects including replacement household parts, custom toys, and even art, science, or engineering projects. Maybe you have one, or maybe you're thinking about buying or building one. Practical 3D Printers takes you beyond how to build a 3D printer, to calibrating, customizing, and creating amazing models, including 3D printed text, a warship model, a robot platform, windup toys, and arcade-inspired alien invaders. You'll learn about the different types of personal 3D printers and how they work; from the MakerBot to the RepRap printers like the Huxley and Mendel, as well as the whiteAnt CNC featured in the Apress book Printing in Plastic. You'll discover how easy it is to find and design 3D models using web-based 3D modeling, and even how to create a 3D model from a 2D image. After learning the basics, this book will walk you through building multi-part models with a steampunk warship project, working with meshes to build your own action heroes, and creating an autonomous robot chassis. Finally, you'll find even more bonus projects to build, including wind-up walkers, faceted vases for the home, and a handful of useful upgrades to modify and improve your 3D printer.

Planning and implementing a 3D printing service in a library may seem like a daunting task. Based upon the authors’ experience as early adopters of 3D technology and running a successful 3D printing service at a large academic library, this guide provides the steps to follow when launching a service in any type of library. Detailed guidance and over 50 graphics provide readers with sage guidance and detailed instructions on: planning a proposal printer selection tips preparing the location addressing staff concerns for new service developing service workflows and procedures managing inevitable disasters developing policies conducting the “reference interview” for 3D printing staff training tips outreach activities This book brings into one place all the guidance you need for developing and implementing a 3D printing service in any library.

Desktop or DIY 3D printers are devices you can either buy preassembled as a kit, or build from a collection of parts to design and print physical objects including replacement household parts, custom toys, and even art, science, or engineering projects. Maybe you have one, or maybe you're thinking about buying or building one. Practical 3D Printers takes you beyond how to build a 3D printer, to calibrating, customizing, and creating amazing models, including 3D printed text, a warship model, a robot platform, windup toys, and arcade-inspired alien invaders. You'll learn about the different types of personal 3D printers and how they work; from the MakerBot to the RepRap printers like the Huxley and Mendel, as well as the whiteAnt CNC featured in the Apress book Printing in Plastic. You'll discover how easy it is to find and design 3D models using web-based 3D modeling, and even how to create a 3D model from a 2D image. After learning the basics, this book will walk you through building multi-part models with a steampunk warship project, working with meshes to build your own action heroes, and creating an autonomous robot chassis. Finally, you'll find even more bonus projects to build, including wind-up walkers, faceted vases for the home, and a handful of useful upgrades to modify and improve your 3D printer. What you'll learn The various types of 3D printers, what they have in common, and what sets each one apart The printer toolchain, including controllers and printer interfaces The art of calibrating your printer How to find and create 3D models to print, including using Google Sketchup How to create multipart models and meshes How to upgrade both the mechanical and electronic parts in your printer Who this book is for Electronics enthusiasts, tinkerers, artists, and everyone who wants to use their 3D printer to do more than make more 3D printers.

This book describes the fundamentals of three-dimensional (3D) printing, addresses the practical aspects of establishing a 3D printing service in a medical facility, and explains the enormous potential value of rendering images as 3D printed models capable of providing tactile feedback and tangible information on both anatomic and pathologic states. Individual chapters also focus on selected areas of applications for 3D printing, including musculoskeletal, craniomaxillofacial, cardiovascular, and neurosurgery applications. Challenges and opportunities related to training, materials and equipment, and guidelines are addressed, and the overall costs of a 3D printing lab and the balancing of these costs against clinical benefits are discussed. Radiologists, surgeons, and other physicians will find this book to be a rich source of information on the practicalities and expanding medical applications of 3D printing.

Since the release of the first commercially available 3D printer in 2009, a thriving consumer market has developed, with a huge variety of kits now available for the home constructor. In their short existence, these printers have developed into capable machines able to make robust and useful objects in a wide range of materials. 3D Printing for Model Engineers - A Practical Guide provides the first truly comprehensive guide to 3D printing in the context of other creative engineering-based hobbies. It covers using 3D Computer Aided Design; 3D printing materials and best practice; joining and finishing 3D printed parts; making your own metal castings from 3D printed parts and building your own 3D printer. Filled with real world examples and applications of 3D printing, this book is based on practical experience and is the essential guide to getting the most from your 3D printer. Illustrated throughout with 446 colour images.

The book is written in a casual, conversational style. It is easily accessible to those who have no prior knowledge in 3D printing, yet the book's message is solidly practical, technically accurate, and consumer-relevant. The chapters include contemporary, real-life learning exercises and insights for how to buy, use and maintain 3D printers. It also covers free 3D modeling software, as well as 3D printing services for those who don't want to immediately invest in the purchase of a 3D printer. Particular focus is placed on free and paid resources, the various choices available in 3D printing, and tutorials and troubleshooting guides.

From a simple desk tidy to an elaborate castle, this step-by-step guide to 3D printing is perfect for children and beginners who want to learn how to design and print anything even if they do not own a printer. 3D Printing Projects provides an introduction to the exciting and ever-expanding world of 3D designing and printing. Learn how a 3D printer works and the different types of 3D printers on the market. Understand the basic 3D printing and designing terms, how to create and prepare files for printing, and also how to scan things to create a 3D model! You will also find out the common troubles faced while 3D printing and simple tricks to fix them. All the projects included in the book can be made using freely available online 3D modeling/CAD programs. Each project has a print time, details of filament or material needed, and a difficulty rating - from "easy" for beginners to "difficult" for those looking for a new challenge. Step-by-step instructions walk you through the 3D design process, from digital modeling and sculpting to slicing, printing, and painting so that children can make their own shark-shaped phone stand, customized lamps, and much more. The book also gives inspiration to further enhance your projects once you've mastered the basics. Join the 3D printing revolution today with DK's 3D Printing Projects book.

Fabricated tells the story of 3D printers, humble manufacturing machines that are bursting out of the factory and into schools, kitchens, hospitals, even onto the fashion catwalk. Fabricated describes our emerging world of printable products, where people design and 3D print their own creations as easily as they edit an online document. A 3D printer transforms digital information into a physical object by carrying out instructions from an electronic design file, or 'blueprint.' Guided by a design file, a 3D printer lays down layer after layer of a raw material to 'print' out an object. That's not the whole story, however. The magic happens when you plug a 3D printer into today’s mind-boggling digital technologies. Add to that the Internet, tiny, low cost electronic circuitry, radical advances in materials science and biotech and voila! The result is an explosion of technological and social innovation. Fabricated takes the reader onto a rich and fulfilling journey that explores how 3D printing is poised to impact nearly every part of our lives. Aimed at people who enjoy books on business strategy, popular science and novel technology, Fabricated will provide readers with practical and imaginative insights to the question 'how will this technology change my life?' Based on hundreds of hours of research and dozens of interviews with experts from a broad range of industries, Fabricated offers readers an informative, engaging and fast-paced introduction to 3D printing now and in the future.