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Thread ID: 125396 2012-06-25 10:26:00 Anyone here do/know about 3d printing? 8ftmetalhaed (14526) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1283864 2012-06-25 10:26:00 I'm aware gary is one, but I know there might be a few others here with an interest in it too, so posting it here before pestering him with PM's.
As I made a few people aware the other day, I'm a fan of ponies.
Our fandom has a habit of doing some relatively spectacular things, and some of them happen to be worth quite the pretty penny.

One of those things is 3d printing of models. (well, more usually, customised stock figures. but some are 3d printed and they sell HIGH when they pop up)
Given the limited presence it seems to have though, particularly in NZ, I'm basically looking for local information.

First off, what I'd want printed is something along the lines of this:
www.equestriadaily.com
and/or
img.ponibooru.org shbro%20bow_tie%20Octavia%20sculpture.jpg

So, is there anyone here that knows -

How difficult is it to get done,
How much would it cost,
Is there anyone here who would be interested/able, or can point me in the direction of somewhere/one that can?

oh and edit, for reference, those models are about 10cm tall.
8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1283865 2012-06-25 10:51:00 Double post gary67 (56)
1283866 2012-06-25 10:52:00 It can be done but would need to be printed with support material and so then would need a lot of cleaning up, your never going to get a smooth finish like that though as it is either injection moulded (most likely) or 3D printed with a resin printer ($5000 and upwards to buy). For a RepRap printer you would need to supply the file in a 3D CAD as a .stl file nothing else will work.

The software for converting the model to machine code only works with .stl files. A RepRap printer can realistically print on an area about 200mm square and between 120-130mm high. Oh and you can't do multi colour either.

Have a look at this site here (http://www.thingiverse.com/) it will give you an idea of what can and can't be done
gary67 (56)
1283867 2012-06-25 11:08:00 Have a look at this site here (http://www.thingiverse.com/) it will give you an idea of what can and can't be doneFizgig's Gargoyle, that is really excellent, I want one :thumbs: Iantech (16386)
1283868 2012-06-25 11:39:00 Would there be anywhere that I'd be able to give a model file to and have them print it, even if I then had to sand it and such?

I heard mention a while back of AUT having a 3d printer, any idea what theirs would be likely to handle? (despite being a student, I've no idea even what department it would be in)

I have access to the models people generally have used (ie this one kp-shadowsquirrel.deviantart.com) but I don't know how I'd be able to convert and manipulate them to a usable format for printing.

And this still leaves the question of costs. The ones that have popped up on ebay can go for 80-200+ USD a piece, surely production costs can't be that expensive? I mean maybe if you used coloured materials but even then?
8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1283869 2012-06-25 21:17:00 actual printing cost on a RepRap could be as low as $20, I charge my machine out at $5 an hour + material. If AUT have one it would be in the tech block. If your in Auckland look up the Auckland hackerspace or maybe look up Vik Oliver at Here (www.diamondage.geekofarm.com) he is one of the original developers in NZ gary67 (56)
1283870 2012-06-25 23:17:00 Oh and you can't do multi colour either.
I had heard that you could use two or three different plastics which I thought would give you a choice of colours or would the colours smudge?
mikebartnz (21)
1283871 2012-06-26 01:20:00 It uses a 3mm filament on a continuous feed and extrudes at 0.5mm thick, you can do multi colour if you can join the filament together which can be done but isn't easy and no guarantee it would come out where you want it to. There are loads of colours you can use even glow in the dark. Until someone perfects a dual head extruder your really stuck on one colour at a time gary67 (56)
1283872 2012-06-30 04:47:00 The UP Mini 3D Printer will do a decent job of that, if you have the model let me know and I'll print it for you. It will do the support material automatically.
PM me the STL file
wackojacko (16822)
1283873 2012-07-02 01:33:00 I'm aware gary is one, but I know there might be a few others here with an interest in it too, so posting it here before pestering him with PM's.
As I made a few people aware the other day, I'm a fan of ponies.
Our fandom has a habit of doing some relatively spectacular things, and some of them happen to be worth quite the pretty penny.

img.ponibooru.org shbro%20bow_tie%20Octavia%20sculpture.jpg

If you want it to look like that one (ie: colour & high detail) you need to go with something like Full colour sandstone from www.shapeways.com

In fact, it looks like that's exactly what they have used.
Agent_24 (57)
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