33
votes
Accepted
Will 3D Printed Dice Be Fair?
It probably won't be fair.
Incidentally, I have a decent amount of experience with 3D printing.
It depends heavily on the particular technology that you're using to do the 3D printing, but nearly all ...
- 444
31
votes
Accepted
Designing clips that won't break
It looks like those clips are thin and need to bend pretty far to let the vial out. Try to make the clips thicker, but with a smaller clip to retain the vial so that it doesn't have to bend as much.
...
- 426
22
votes
Accepted
How do I 3D-print fair dice?
This is going to become a 3-step answer, as 3D Printing uses 3 different steps:
Design, Slicing & Material choice before I elaborate alternate ways to some fair dice. Yet, we start with the ...
- 21.2k
17
votes
Accepted
What is the best 3D modeling software for a beginner on a 3D printed mini barrel project?
Your question begins in an inappropriate format for StackExchange, but you've ended it with one more appropriate by asking if Blender would work.
If you are willing to take the time to learn Blender, ...
- 11.3k
16
votes
Accepted
What special considerations must be taken when designing parts for 3D printing?
Designing a part for 3D printing often doesn't seem to have many special considerations, but I have learned the hard way, that there are some things to do differently. This is just a list of things to ...
- 21.2k
13
votes
Accepted
What is the best length of the melting zone in the hotend?
Short melting zone melts material in small amounts which is suitable for thin layers with small nozzles. In opposite, long melting zone can heat a big amount of filament which is needed for fast ...
- 1,911
12
votes
Designing clips that won't break
I agree with the previous assessments -- printing vertically for that part of the clip will definitely alleviate the layer adhesion being your weak point.
You might also consider splitting that clip ...
- 131
12
votes
Open Source 3D scanning
I did find only one 3d scanner which uses structured light. There is many projects using a laser diode. And these systems are completely opensource.
Structured Light
Structured Light 3D Scanning by ...
- 1,911
12
votes
Accepted
Do 3D printers really reach 50 micron (0.05 mm) accuracy?
There's not a simple answer to this question, or if there is, it's "no". However the situation is a lot more complicated. When printer specs cite accuracy like this, they're usually basing the claim ...
12
votes
Accepted
Water does not flow through 4 mm hole when there is a small amount, how to let water flow through small hole even when there is low pressure?
What you encounter there is a combination of Adhesion, Cohesion, and Capillary Force.
Cohesion is what holds the water together. Adhesion is the force to retain water against a wall or hanging from a ...
- 21.2k
11
votes
Accepted
Tips for making parts that push/snap together
There are many different ways too approach this and the question may be too broad, but here's a stab at it...
Here are a few different ways that I've made parts that connect in the past:
Example 1: ...
- 6,284
10
votes
Mechanics for modelling a push button latch spring
A commonly seen method to provide spring action in a 3D printed model is to use a series of curved and straight segments. Some of the designs use the segment assembly in compression, aligned with the ...
- 11.3k
9
votes
Will 3D Printed Dice Be Fair?
I've printed a few dice, and thrown them ~100 times each to check -- they were very far off from fair. One reason, I think, is that the inner fill (and thus a lot of weight) is oriented a certain way. ...
- 3,201
9
votes
Do 3D printers really reach 50 micron (0.05 mm) accuracy?
One of the things I was told about was that many printers don't necessarily have that crazy precision of 0.05 mm (50 micron). Another person told me something different - he said most of those ...
- 14.7k
8
votes
Designing clips that won't break
Considering that you wish to print the clip in the vertical orientation but without supports, I would suggest that you create a suitable taper of the clip from the bottom. The taper would provide ...
- 11.3k
8
votes
Accepted
How are things like a USB casing designed for 3D printing?
3D printing provides a faster method for prototyping and have always been labeled as prototyping machines. Until recently, it has been rare to see 3D printers used for "mass manufacturing".
Yes, most ...
- 6,284
8
votes
How can I have a large 3D printed object?
As Trish states, a print service would appear to be your best bet. Building a printer large enough may work out costing more than the print service, especially if it is only for one print of a proof ...
- 6,153
8
votes
Accepted
Hemispherical Bowl : how is it possible?
There are several factors playing together. For example orientation, printer & slicer settings and more.
Reminder
First of all, not all overhangs of greater than 45° need support. Many printers ...
- 21.2k
7
votes
Designing clips that won't break
Come on. Wider clips will just survive a bit longer.
The real cause is the orientation (plane) of printing.
Continues filament layer will always be more durable than few layers sticked together.
So ...
- 3,456
7
votes
Accepted
Is this model feasible to print?
Here is a set of options you can get:
print the object on multi color printer
Unfortunately we got some limitations here (on the market). Printers have limited set of heads which are in fact ...
- 3,456
7
votes
Accepted
Are self intersecting meshes dirty from a 3D printing perspective?
Self intersecting meshes are considered dirty, yes. The reason you haven't had trouble before is probably that the software you were using was cleaning your mesh for you, behind the scenes.
Generally ...
- 148
7
votes
Accepted
Font for cutting?
I did a quick search using The Google with the terms "stencil font." There were too many results to list here and the first link I clicked on provided some seriously ugly fonts. Stencil fonts by ...
- 11.3k
7
votes
Can the `render` function be used to speed up rendering?
First a disclaimer: I am far from an expert on the subject, I'm just a regular Joe who happens to use OpenSCAD and have done some experimentation with it. I believe the answer below to be correct, ...
- 4,677
7
votes
How can I have a large 3D printed object?
I do not know about your project, but the size of the final object.
Smaller prints glued together
Just design smaller parts and glue them together. Take a look on this video, where Joel Telling ...
- 1,911
7
votes
Do 3D printers really reach 50 micron (0.05 mm) accuracy?
A resolution (sometimes called "accuracy" for marketing purposes) of 0.05 mm means that if you produce a bunch of 10 mm dice and a bunch of 10.05 mm dice, then the 10.05 mm ones will be statistically ...
- 173
7
votes
Accepted
Design connection to motor shaft for printed gear
Design a different connection to the shaft, however I don't know of any
Use a shaft/flange coupler to be fastened to your shaft and to your printed part.
Without knowing the length of the shaft, you ...
- 34.4k
7
votes
Accepted
My 3D printer shows inbuilt designs, but my designs are invisible
Install the "Chitu code" plugin from the Cura website, some companies use the Chitu board as their printer's CPU and Tronxy does that. Without the plugin, it won't show a preview of your ...
- 106
7
votes
Accepted
Tool for modifing STLs?
Sculpting should be the tool you are looking for.
You can find a lot of sculpting software on the web, including free ones. I personally use Meshmixer and Blender for simple works.
- 1,151
6
votes
Accepted
Why are the STL files for the Ultrascope telescope at 45 degree angle?
The orientation of the part in the STL file depends on the Software that creates the file. I had a software that would export the parts standing upright instead of laying flat. Depending on the CAD ...
- 1,611
6
votes
Accepted
Are there any services that offer 3D scanning?
The right Google (or other) search should do the trick. I've provided 3D Printing services via 3D Hubs and MakeXYZ and some people do provide 3D scanning services. If you can't find 3D Scanning, you ...
- 6,284
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible