3D Printing & Design

3D Printing & Design
Lots of availability to bring your designs to life!
By Joseph

3D printing has existed for a number of years now, and is only getting easier to get into. With a number of new consumer-oriented machines being released each year from the likes of Bambu Labs, Creality and Flashforge, it’s important to have a good understanding of what goes on behind the scenes before tinkering with one yourself and getting into the hobby.

What is a 3D printer?
A 3D printer is a modern marvel that can create physical objects from digital designs, much like how a regular printer produces documents from computer files. It works by laying down thin layers of melted plastic or other materials, building up the object layer by layer until it forms a complete, three-dimensional item you can hold in your hand.

Watch an easy-to-understand 8 minute YouTube video on 3D printing here.

3D Printer Sizes & Specifications
When you’re exploring the world of 3D printing, you’ll come across some technical terms, especially when it comes to printer sizes and capabilities. Let’s break these down into simpler concepts:

Print Bed Size
Think of the print bed as the “stage” where your 3D creations come to life. It’s the flat surface where the printer builds your objects. The size of this bed determines how big your creations can be.

Dimensions: X, Y, and Z
3D printers work in three dimensions, just like our world:

• X is the width (left to right)
• Y is the depth (front to back)
• Z is the height (bottom to top)

Build Volume
This term describes the maximum size of object a printer can create. It’s usually written as three numbers, like 200 x 200 x 200mm. This means:

• 200mm wide (about 8 inches)
• 200mm deep (about 8 inches)
• 200mm high (about 8 inches)

Examples of Printer Sizes

• Smaller printers, like the Flashforge Adventurer 5M, have a build volume of 200 x 200 x 200mm. This means they can create objects up to about 8 inches in each direction – perfect for small toys or decorative items.
• Larger printers, like the Ender 5 Plus, can make bigger objects. These are great for larger projects but keep in mind that bigger prints take longer and have a higher risk of something going wrong during the printing process.
• Remember, the size of the printer you choose should depend on what you plan to create. Smaller printers are great for beginners or those with limited space, while larger ones offer more possibilities but require more attention and experience.

3D Printer Filament: The Building Blocks of Your Creations

• Think of 3D printer filament as the “ink” for your 3D printer. It’s a long, thin strand of plastic material that comes wound on a spool, much like a thread for sewing. When you’re ready to print, the printer heats up this filament until it melts, then carefully lays it down layer by layer to build your object.
• The most common types of filament are PLA (made from plant-based materials like corn starch) and ABS (the same plastic used in Lego bricks). PLA is great for beginners because it’s easy to use and doesn’t produce strong odors, while ABS is tougher and better for items that need to withstand higher temperatures.
• Filaments come in a rainbow of colors, from basic black and white to vibrant reds, blues, and even glow-in-the-dark varieties. Some filaments have special properties – for example, there are flexible filaments for making rubbery objects, wood-filled filaments that look and feel like real wood, and even metal-filled filaments that can produce items with a metallic sheen. The thickness of the filament is also important; most home 3D printers use 1.75mm filament, which is about as thick as a piece of spaghetti. When choosing a filament, consider what you want to make, what your printer can handle, and how much experience you have with 3D printing.

3D Printing Software Requirements
While the hardware of 3D printers is fascinating, the software that drives them is equally impressive. Modern 3D printing software, often called “slicers,” turns your ideas into reality. These programs take 3D models (which you can design yourself or download from the internet) and convert them into instructions that your printer can understand. Many of these programs are user-friendly, with intuitive interfaces that let you adjust the size of your print, choose how solid or hollow it should be, and even preview exactly how it will be built, layer by layer. Some advanced software can even suggest improvements to your design or automatically fix small errors. With the right software, your 3D printer becomes not just a tool, but a gateway to bringing your imagination to life in three dimensions.

More information and 3D printer news can be found at All3DP.
If you want to have a look at available 3D models, check out Thingiverse or Cults3D.