(Note: yes, I know this is a distraction and pulling my limited spare time from my main project, but... this is awesome! We will be returning to our regularly scheduled programming soon)
I finally decided to give 3d printing a try. What pushed me over the edge is my wife is now working for the county library system, and they just so happen to have a "Maker Space" at the main branch that includes three 3D Printers! You can print at $1.50 an hour, and this is a great way to try 3D printing before you invest in a printer or a way to get a few terrain pieces cheap.
Contact your local public library and see if they have something similar!
I am eventually going to finish my 6mm Rebels and Patriots project, so for a proof of concept, I decided to print some 6mm split rail fences. I found exactly what I needed for FREE on Thingiverse HERE. All I had to do was download the files, copy them to a thumb drive, and take them in. The ones below took 2 hours to print and only cost me $3.00!
Here is one of the sections, which is about 100mm / 4 inches long, with painted (but not flocked) Baccus AWI militia, on 3mm thick bases, to give you an idea.
I am trying to stay focused on my 3mm East Front project. so I have not painted these yet. But they are waiting for me in a drawer for when I am. The files at the link above have a few different styles and lengths to meet your needs.
So... Guess what I am getting for Christmas! Now back to trying to wrap up the Motor Rifle Brigade of my Tank Corps...
Good Gaming!
Is that one big chunk of fence that you have to cut out, Patrick? If so, how hard was it to separate the runs?
ReplyDeleteI've been printing for "free" for a while now. My printer was bought with credit card points as was all of my PLA spools. It's well worth it. Live off of a rewards credit card that Amazon accepts points for. Buy everything through Amazon spending said points. Remain fiscally responsible by paying off that credit card every month. Enjoy "free" gaming stuff. :D
Those do look good. I can imagine they will paint up well.
I love your strategy! We use our Amazon card too and i am always surprised how fast the points build up for "free" stuff. Of course being able to print the exact terrain I want on demand is a cost saving too, right? Still trying to get my wife to buy that argument...
DeleteThe chunk on the bottom is I believe a "sled" to help with adhesion to the build plate. I do not think it is really needed if you take care of your build plate, and I could have removed it in the slicer software, except I gave my USB drive to the Librarian and she did the slicer. It was very easy to remove, but it is a waste of filament and print time.
I think I am getting the same printer you have, a Crealty 3, correct?
Yep. CR-3 X or Pro or something. Mine came with a glass bed and a bunch of replacement nozzles.
Delete"sled" = "raft" in 3D printing terms. The raft is used typically to prevent model edges from curling up as they cool off. For small models like these it's kind of a must.
You will be building the Ender-3 yourself. It's not difficult but i do recommend you go to youtube and find an instruction video. The written instruction sheet is a bit confusing in places.
Ahhh... I see that makes sense. I fully expect to enjoy a nice learning curve. I will grab as many videos as I can, I hope I do a better job than I did doing an oil change on the lawn mower.
DeleteThe fence looks very useful. No wonder you were easily distracted.
ReplyDeleteMust... Resist... I am promising myself that after I get the printer, I will concentrate on printing markers, etc for my current project first before I start spinning off on other stuff.
Delete