Want to buy some 3D printer for my son, need an advice
Hello, I want to buy some cheap 3D printer for my 7 year old to play around like creating small objects, easy figures and etc. May be spark some interest for him into art or engineering or just for fun.
Any suggestions something under $200?
How costly are materials?
What software to use to model for a kid?
I am sure we got some guys here who knows and can give a straightforward help.
Any suggestions something under $200?
How costly are materials?
What software to use to model for a kid?
I am sure we got some guys here who knows and can give a straightforward help.
Comments
Models can be downloaded from sites like Thingiverse. "Slicer" software like Cura is free. Design software like Fusion 360 is free for individuals and small businesses.
That should help get a feel for what real-world results look like from consumer-grade printers, and how much is down to your ability to set it up correctly in the first place.
Unfortunately my only practical experience with these is with something closer to industrial quality.
When my kids are just a little bit older, I have the same idea as you, though, to get something cheap to play with and explore their interests.
So please keep us updated on what you decide to use and how it turns out.
You should probably do a search on the associated sub-Reddit.
That should help get a feel for what real-world results look like from consumer-grade printers, and how much is down to your ability to set it up correctly in the first place.
Unfortunately my only practical experience with these is with something closer to industrial quality.
When my kids are just a little bit older, I have the same idea as you, though, to get something cheap to play with and explore their interests.
So please keep us updated on what you decide to use and how it turns out.
Ok, I will. Its definately something I will buy in a couple of months or less. But I hate reddit, never used it and read it, the whole lay and all
You should probably do a search on the associated sub-Reddit.
That should help get a feel for what real-world results look like from consumer-grade printers, and how much is down to your ability to set it up correctly in the first place.
Unfortunately my only practical experience with these is with something closer to industrial quality.
When my kids are just a little bit older, I have the same idea as you, though, to get something cheap to play with and explore their interests.
So please keep us updated on what you decide to use and how it turns out.
Ok, I will. Its definately something I will buy in a couple of months or less. But I hate reddit, never used it and read it, the whole lay and all
I'm not a big fan of Reddit, either, but from some casual browsing they seem to have a sizable contingent of die-hards for almost any "maker" hobby (3D printing especially).
Hello, I want to buy some cheap 3D printer for my 7 year old to play around like creating small objects, easy figures and etc. May be spark some interest for him into art or engineering or just for fun.
Any suggestions something under $200?
How costly are materials?
What software to use to model for a kid?
I am sure we got some guys here who knows and can give a straightforward help.
Is your son a member of this forum? Are you helping your son make a custom arcade cabinet?
Filament is very cheap. $20 goes a very long way if you're making small things (which is all cheap printers can make anyway). Dozens of prints.
I use Tinkercad to make my own models. It's dead simple compared to most of the desktop software I tried. For dummies who don't want to learn, which is what I am!
I have a Monoprice Maker Mini and IMO it's pretty finnicky (V1, it looks like the V2 is better), but for my purposes (stands, DIY spare parts, etc.) it works fine. I would say to get something a little more expenisve. Real $200 3D printers were basically unheard of when I got it, and that's still on the ultra low end of budgets. I do remember there was a Kickstarter scam every month with some revolutionary $99 3D printer though.
Filament is very cheap. $20 goes a very long way if you're making small things (which is all cheap printers can make anyway). Dozens of prints.
I use Tinkercad to make my own models. It's dead simple compared to most of the desktop software I tried. For dummies who don't want to learn, which is what I am!
Ok, so lets says I want to make a solid regular size tea cup. Roughly, how much is it in cost materials?
Filament is very cheap. $20 goes a very long way if you're making small things (which is all cheap printers can make anyway). Dozens of prints.
Also the software has gotten a lot better about being able to print hollow objects to save material. (i.e. honeycomb internal structure, versus solid)
I have a Monoprice Maker Mini and IMO it's pretty finnicky (V1, it looks like the V2 is better), but for my purposes (stands, DIY spare parts, etc.) it works fine. I would say to get something a little more expenisve. Real $200 3D printers were basically unheard of when I got it, and that's still on the ultra low end of budgets. I do remember there was a Kickstarter scam every month with some revolutionary $99 3D printer though.
Filament is very cheap. $20 goes a very long way if you're making small things (which is all cheap printers can make anyway). Dozens of prints.
I use Tinkercad to make my own models. It's dead simple compared to most of the desktop software I tried. For dummies who don't want to learn, which is what I am!
Ok, so lets says I want to make a solid regular size tea cup. Roughly, how much is it in cost materials?
It's really hard to say because you determine how much infill there is in your structure. Very few things need to be 100% solid, usually 10-25% is fine. The only answer is a "a few". A 1kg spool will print 1kg worth of plastic baubles! Like a D&D miniature figure would probably be like $0.10 of materials, if that.
I've heard the resolution is improving. How blocky or rough would a D&D miniature be from a $200 printer today?
Is there any noticeable difference to durability with printing less solid/ variable density? Perhaps more brittle, or more flexible? I've heard the resolution is improving. How blocky or rough would a D&D miniature be from a $200 printer today?
Pretty horrible, at that scale.
My coworker printed a couple of Heroquest miniatures on our $5,000 printer and if they were cast or injection molded parts, these would be thrown away for the low quality.
They work as place-holders, but they are nowhere close to high quality castings or injection molds.
Yeah 3D printed stuff looks like 3D printed stuff.
Pretty much.
You can smooth out the ridges with acetone, but it really isn't a suitable medium for miniatures at high detail.
These things are just fine for DIY kid's toys, though.
You can print at a larger scale to where the z-step isn't as offensive, and with less detail, you can teach your kid to sand it rather than dealing with harsh chemicals.
In terms of software, you can't go wrong with Cura for making the GCode that the printer itself reads. In terms of software, I recommend Tinkercad by autodesk. It is an online software that is free for use and is very simple to learn being that it uses basic building blocks, perfect for a 7-year old.
My friend has this one, he says it has been reliable for him for the past 6 months, this one is $215: https://www.amazon.com/Creality-Ender-Aluminum-Printing-220x220x250mm/dp/B07H9T3H57/ref=sr_1_8?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1549409669&sr=1-8&keywords=ender+3
Edit: Some assembly required^
It isn't as big a deal for the Creality printers as it is for the random Prusa clones because there are many other users ready to share experiences, but the genuine Prusa kits are on a whole other level. They are reliable and consistent and use the best technology to minimize as much of the fiddlyness as possible (auto bed leveling, spring steel removable bed, all-metal hot end, etc). That said, I'd probably have a print farm of several Creality printers before I consider the expense of a Prusa! Already have two (CR-10 and Ender-3).
Is there any noticeable difference to durability with printing less solid/ variable density? Perhaps more brittle, or more flexible? I've heard the resolution is improving. How blocky or rough would a D&D miniature be from a $200 printer today?
Quick follow-up on this one -- if you can spring for a $500 printer, you can get an entry-level resin printer that will give MUCH better detail for miniature-printing than any sub-5-figure FDM printer can offer.
The trade-off is that the material is quite a bit more expensive, it is toxic in liquid form (probably toxic dust if you sand it), and you have to set up an exhaust system for the fumes.
You trade curing the UV-resin (in a light box, after they are washed thoroughly) for needing to give plastics an acetone bath (where you inevitably lose detail)
But if you look at the "printed miniatures" subreddit, you can see the extreme difference in detail and quality between FDM and resin at the 25mm-32mm scale.
Just how far have 3D printers come so far?
The most common material used is plastic, though metal and glass printing is also possible (though prohibitively expensive for most home uses.) It'll be awhile before it takes over injection molds for mass production, if ever. It's more useful for one-off items that have a specific specification.
It's also a tech that predates Next Generation Star Trek airing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing_processes
We're just only now seeing it priced for consumer use.
My workplace just bought our fifth 3D printer. It's kind of fun watching them work.
Quick follow-up on this one
Thanks for the info.
I hear the main library here has a printer. Sometime I'll check out the schedule /prereqs and go over there to see what I can see.