OT: Took the Plunge on a 3d Printer - Now what?

[brewsmith]

I posted a while back asking for suggestions on which printer to get and after a lot of back and forth I just pulled the trigger on a Bambu Lab P1S Combo. The Prusa was appealing but at this stage in life, I have a lot of other hobbies I am learning and young kids, so I opted for something a bit more plug and play.

While I eagerly await it's arrival, what some places folks trust for project files? Seems like thingverse is the main game, but curious to whittle down what else is out there. What else should I be looking at in preparation, info on different filaments etc.?

Lastly what are some fun beginner prints, cycling related or otherwise. My 5yo is obsessed with Legos, so bonus points for that content.

[Louis]

Invent then build the best ever Garmin / smart phone holder.

[oliver1850]

Reproduce the slip in inserts for Campagnolo 8/9 Ergo levers that are between the shifter body and the clamp. Don't know what they are called or why they should go missing but they do.

[kppolich]

https://www.printables.com
A nicer thingiverse

https://www.thingiverse.com
The place to find files

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...thread.384990/
The place to get inspiration on a large scale.

Start with Tinkercad for taking existing STL files and making basic changes to them:
https://www.tinkercad.com/dashboard

[brewsmith]

Originally Posted by kppolich

https://www.printables.com
A nicer thingiverse

https://www.thingiverse.com
The place to find files

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...thread.384990/
The place to get inspiration on a large scale.

Start with Tinkercad for taking existing STL files and making basic changes to them:
https://www.tinkercad.com/dashboard

Just the kind of stuff I was looking for, thanks!

[Talrand]

Typical 3D Printer life cycle goes something like that:

1. Buy a 3D printer you don't need.
2. Waste kilograms of plastic making useless trinkets you'd not spend a penny on otherwise.
3. Try hard to find 'practical uses' AKA spend hours printing spacers and angle brackets that would cost next to nothing at Home Depot.
4. Put it in the garage where it will collect dust until you throw it away, adding to local landfill.

If you bought it without a clear use in mind the best thing you can do is try to return it.
Second best is throw it away immediately, seems counterintuitive, but the alternative is just wasting spools of filament on 'cool projects' before skipping to this step.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by Talrand

Typical 3D Printer life cycle goes something like that:

1. Buy a 3D printer you don't need.
2. Waste kilograms of plastic making useless trinkets you'd not spend a penny on otherwise.
3. Try hard to find 'practical uses' AKA spend hours printing spacers and angle brackets that would cost next to nothing at Home Depot.
4. Put it in the garage where it will collect dust until you throw it away, adding to local landfill.

You need to think outside the box:

[brewsmith]

Originally Posted by Talrand

Typical 3D Printer life cycle goes something like that:

1. Buy a 3D printer you don't need.
2. Waste kilograms of plastic making useless trinkets you'd not spend a penny on otherwise.
3. Try hard to find 'practical uses' AKA spend hours printing spacers and angle brackets that would cost next to nothing at Home Depot.
4. Put it in the garage where it will collect dust until you throw it away, adding to local landfill.

If you bought it without a clear use in mind the best thing you can do is try to return it.
Second best is throw it away immediately, seems counterintuitive, but the alternative is just wasting spools of filament on 'cool projects' before skipping to this step.

I can see that happening for some, but I did not mean that I don't have any clear use cases.

I use the Milwaukee Packout system and there are several mounts and adapters that I have needed which cost $20+ each that I will be able to print and customize as needed. On those alone I'll be making a dent in the purchase price.

I also sew, woodwork and other maker pursuits, so the ability to expand my jig and patterning hardware will be improved as well. These are just on the start of my 'practical list', having young kids means it will also be used for some fun projects, as well as trying to encourage interest and engagement in the STEM elements that come with 3D printing

[Louis]

I would think that just as important as the 3D printer itself, you'd want to have a good CAD package.

[charliedid]

Maybe print a muzzle for Talrand?

[Carbonita]

Agreed @Louis! When I volunteered at the library for CAD and 3DP, tinkercad was great for starting kids (and adults) on their first projects. For complex shapes, parametric CAD wins out for me, since adding fillets or modifying one of many objects in the part updates everything. Onshape works well, is a pro level tool, and is free for personal use.

Originally Posted by Louis

I would think that just as important as the 3D printer itself, you'd want to have a good CAD package.

[brewsmith]

Originally Posted by Carbonita

Agreed @Louis! When I volunteered at the library for CAD and 3DP, tinkercad was great for starting kids (and adults) on their first projects. For complex shapes, parametric CAD wins out for me, since adding fillets or modifying one of many objects in the part updates everything. Onshape works well, is a pro level tool, and is free for personal use.

Originally Posted by Louis

I would think that just as important as the 3D printer itself, you'd want to have a good CAD package.

Thanks for the insight both of you. This was actually another reason I wanted to get one as CAD has long been a skill I have wanted to learn, at least on a hobby/practical level. As I mentioned, my 5yo is a lego obsessive, so I also want to introduce him to ways to make use of that that mindset in other applications.

I have a tinkercad account and will look at onshape. Fusion360 was also reccomended and it looks like there are some good tutorials. Any other good resources or walkthroughs to learn one of these programs?

[JAGI410]

Tinkercad is fun, especially for the kids and lego mode!

For using Fusion, I haven't found a better instructor than Lars Christensen. https://www.youtube.com/@cadcamstuff

[FriarQuade]

Originally Posted by Louis

I would think that just as important as the 3D printer itself, you'd want to have a good CAD package.

One is worthless without the other. If you don't have skills on the CAD box or the goal to learn the printer will forever be an under utilized tool.

I've got a Prusa and we use it a couple times a week on average. Mostly for printing workflow aids for the shop, but we do some prototypes on occasion. I keep meaning to mess with a flat bar AXS shifter paddle that doesn't suck...

FWIW, filament drivers seem to be a local specific need. I've never had an issue with our filament in the high desert.

[kppolich]

Originally Posted by Talrand

Typical 3D Printer life cycle goes something like that:

1. Buy a 3D printer you don't need.
2. Waste kilograms of plastic making useless trinkets you'd not spend a penny on otherwise.
3. Try hard to find 'practical uses' AKA spend hours printing spacers and angle brackets that would cost next to nothing at Home Depot.
4. Put it in the garage where it will collect dust until you throw it away, adding to local landfill.

If you bought it without a clear use in mind the best thing you can do is try to return it.
Second best is throw it away immediately, seems counterintuitive, but the alternative is just wasting spools of filament on 'cool projects' before skipping to this step.

What an absolute $hit post. Go ride your bike or take a walk before posting a broad generalization here or hand out absolutely baseless advice at 4 in the morning.

OP - perfect hobbies for a 3D printer and it will no doubt save you hundreds of dollars over the first 6 months. Once you get the hang of designing things, having a printer on hands makes going from a digital world to a working prototype so quick that you'll be on version 3 in your head while you test fit version 1.

The 3D printers today are what welders were 60 years ago. Except instead of simply attaching things together, you can make whatever you want and nobody can tell you no.

Perhaps the coolest thing about the 3D printing community is the open source aka free aspect of so many files out there to start with. People share designs, remix them, and share them openly for other to use and do the same thing. It no doubt replaces countless trips to the store for something that would otherwise a compromise on the perfect part you made yourself in a few minutes on the printer.

Overall, a pretty dang affordable hobby compared to cycling and the resale value on that P1S will remain high for a few more years in case you are ready to upgrade or it doesn't work out.