3D printer advice

[Markocaster]

Hello all, so I am trying to decide what Santa will bring me and was
Thinking a 3D printer may be a nice item to have for making stowage and other bits for the tanks I have just begun to research and I know several of you 3D print your
Own parts. Any suggestions? I am looking to keep it under $500 and just a basic
Unit , just incase I am horrible at it XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 1.0 3D Printer
Was one I saw on Amazon. What you you think ?
Cheers Mark

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Mark I have just ordered this from ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141913024926? ... EBIDX%3AIT
and am expecting delivery today. I am going to start a thread as I unpack it and get it working so you may want to hold fire on ordering.
Alwyn

[Markocaster]

Hi Mark I have just ordered this from ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141913024926? ... EBIDX%3AIT
and am expecting delivery today. I am going to start a thread as I unpack it and get it working so you may want to hold fire on ordering.
Alwyn

Alwyn, I will be watching to see your post. I'm in no hurry it doesn't have to be Xmas
And I am not sure if I have the patience for 3D printing I hear it's a bit touch and go?
Going to research a bit more:)
Cheers for the reply

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Mark, it's not so much the printing although I do not underestimate what is ahead of me, the first thing you need to do is get familiar with using the CAD software to create the designs. There are a number of free CAD programs and I use OPENSCAD which I find is good for a beginner - lots of tutorials available with examples of 'how to', but there are a number of others. Before buying a printer I suggest you download one of the programs and try it out, as without using a CAd program the printer is useless. After you've designed a couple of items then see if you can get someone to print off your designs and critique what you've created. I had a lot of help from WOZ (warren) who helped me with some designs and then printed off the result when I was building my Universal Carrier, and that gave me confidence to get my own printer.
Anyway good luck and if you do go ahead then I'm sure there will be lots of help and advice on the forum.
All the best
Alwyn

[971wright]

Hi Alwyn ,I too am thinking of getting a 3d printer in the not to distant future , I have a good understanding of reading drawings (40 years of engineering) but very little in the cad drawing side , so will be a new feather in my cap if I crack it.
Ian (Tankbear) has just bought a printer and is already making stuff, has a servo recoil and trays for the IBUs also some other stuff.


regards pete

P.S. we might be able to do file sharing save time making a programme someone else has already done

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Pete, I'm all for the sharing bit, if anyone is interested in anything I'm building let me know.
Alwyn

[Woz]

I've read lots of good things about the Prusa I3 (and clones).
Once you get used to designing models for printing and doing a bit of maintance on you printer then you can make just about anything.

The only downside is finding time to do all the things you want to print.

Just found this (Not tank related)-

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20161019- ... nting.html

Looks like it was printed on Wanhao Duplicator I3's (Prusa clone).

[wibblywobbly]

It's been said above, and I would support it, get a CAD system first and design some parts. The printer part is easy, but designing on a CAD system and learning what you need to do to get a printer to print it is way more complex by comparison. It never ceases to amaze me how you see people spending megabucks on a printer, and then proudly showing off a completely useless green Yoda on the web.They could have gone and bought a perfect Yoda from a shop for a fraction of the price that one cost them.

If you get a reprap printer, they are all good, then help, advice, and spares are available.