steven@thorstad.ca

3D Modelling With Cubes Using 3D Slash

by

3D Slash is a new 3D modelling program that is both browser based and able to be used locally on a computer. It is built around the concept of providing Minecraft style 3D modelling with cubes. This makes it both very easy to pick up no matter the skill level of the user and also creates a very comfortable user experience. There are no hard to learn tools just simply adding and removing cubes. It even provides the ability to place a reference picture right on the face of an object. These features plus it’s ability to work with STLs you have created or found elsewhere make it a very powerful tool for novice users.

Acetone for Gluing and Finishing ABS Prints

by

Acetone is one of the most versatile and useful things to have around when you have a printer that uses ABS such as the Replicator 2X. It serves as a great way to clean off your build plate as well as to promote adhesion between your part and the kapton tape. Acetone also happens to have a few more uses with ABS. First off you can use it to glue multi-part prints together. This is incredibly useful when you want to either make smaller more manageable prints out of a bigger print, or if you want to print something bigger than your build volume. To use acetone as glue for ABS you simply brush it on each side of a joint and press the parts together and it will become somewhat stuck fairly quickly and fully dry in about a day. Acetone can also be used as a method to … Read more

The Effects of Print Orientation on Strength

by

When you are slicing your 3D model for printing, the first focus is often on how to most easily get the print to stick to the platform. This is very important to consider but generally it is possible to get a model to properly stick in almost any orientation. As such it can be very beneficial to plan your orientation of the print in such a way to maximize the strength. Generally the Z axis of a print is considered the weakest. This is because on the Z axis there is the possibility of separation between layers, while the X and Y axis are composed of much more continuous beads of filament. This means if everything else is equal, the print is most likely to fail between each of the layers on the Z axis. The degree of the difference in strength between the different axes will depend on the printer and the … Read more

Thingiverse Jumpstart 3D Modelling Resources

by

MakerBot’s Thingiverse has just released Jumpstart. Jumpstart is a collection of resources on several easy to use pieces of software as well as the basics of how to use Thingiverse. These all combine together to provide a good framework for any user who isn’t exactly sure where to start their 3D printing journey. We have covered some of the same topics as Jumpstart, but it is always great to have multiple references when learning new technology and software.