For more than a year, I shared my fascination with 3D printing with close friends and family. This interest sparked after discovering various accounts on YouTube and Instagram that showcased the endless possibilities of this technology, plus the idea of creating something seemingly out of 'thin air' within the comfort of my home intrigued me. Growing up in a household where my father worked as a carpenter and my mother, an artist and art teacher for over 25 years, I naturally developed a creative mindset. I spent a lot of time assisting my parents with their diverse projects, whether it was framing additions to homes and restoring antique furniture with my dad or engaging in sketching and painting sessions with my mom. These experiences honed my ability to transform theoretical ideas into tangible creations. The missing component was a technological one, and 3D printing seamlessly bridged that gap. After more than a year of hesitation, I finally took the plunge and invested in my first 3D printer. Now, my passion for bringing computer renderings to life through printing has almost spiraled out of control.
The Print Station
When I finally made the decision to purchase my first printer, I was quickly met with a few roadblocks. What kind of printer should I get? How big should it be? Where will I put it? Do I need any special tools? What materials do I want to work with? These were all questions I needed to answer to decide on the right printer to buy. In the end, I settled on a resin printer. I knew it would cost more than what I had originally anticipated; however, it would serve me better since I planned to do a lot of high-resolution prints.
My choice was the Anycubic Photon M3. It had the right size, features, and price for what I needed.
And later on, as a Christmas gift, the Anycubic Wash & Cure Machine 2.0 joined.
I love the combination of these tools. The Photon M3 produces prints with the perfect resolution for the most detailed models I have, and the Wash & Cure 2.0 makes the post-processing a breeze. I highly recommend this setup for anyone interested in starting resin printing. The process is simple: copy the print files to a USB drive, plug the drive into the printer, start the print, endure a 'little' waiting, wash and cure, and it's done. However, preparing the files for printing—that's a whole different story.
Software
Preparing the 3D files for the printer presents a unique challenge. Before you even reach the printer, you have to create or find a rendering of what you want to make, prepare that rendering for printing, and then convert it into a readable file for your printer. These steps require specific software and the right hardware to run them, and there are numerous tools to choose from. Out of all the available options, I sought tools with extensive supporting documentation, a wealth of video tutorials, and most importantly, ones that are FREE! Here are the software tools I use:
I use Blender to create or edit 3D renderings. It's a widely-used tool with numerous features and plugins available. However, it's not a simple program to use, and there is definitely a steep learning curve due to the program's powerful capabilities.
Chitubox serves as my slicing tool, converting 3D files into a usable format for the printer. Choosing it was straightforward—it is widely used, and unlike Blender, its interface is super simple to learn and navigate.
Creating 3D renderings is enjoyable but quite time-consuming. Even for a seasoned 3D artist, it's easy to lose track of time during the creative process. I’m definitely not a 3D artist and as I mentioned earlier, Blender has a steep learning curve. For those still learning how to model, I recommend searching for existing models and then editing them to fit your final idea. When time permits, I enjoy creating my own renderings, but most of the time, I search the web for references and modify them to suit my vision. Here are a few places I like to get renderings from:
Final Thoughts
I was skeptical at first when I decided to start 3D printing, but it has turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences. I've learned to work with new tools and discovered a new way to bring my ideas to life. This journey has honed my skills in time and project management outside of a professional setting. The results include crafting unique gifts, expanding my Anime collection, and having specialized tools to solve household dilemmas.
For anyone considering 3D printing, I would encourage you to give it a try; if nothing else, you'll certainly have fun.
The next step for me is to turn this into a fun side business. Adding more or different printers and setting up a web shop are already on the list. But for now, I think I'll stick to printing for myself and friends. If anyone reading this wants something printed, feel free to reach out to me for "Family & Friends" pricing!
