steven@thorstad.ca

Learning to 3D Model with Tinkercad

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If you are trying to decide on a program to begin 3D modelling with, Tinkercad can be a great choice. It is capable of most of your modelling needs with many users creating both mechanical parts and artistic creations. Tinkercad has an assortment of tutorials, starting with built-in ones that guide you through creating your first 3D model. They then have short advanced tutorials that focus on specific features and how they are used. This combination makes it both easy to start but also enables you to learn the complex features on an as needed basis. The Tinkercad tutorials page has everything you need know to get started modelling as well as the links to the more advanced content.

Applying Blue Painter’s Tape

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Applying blue painter’s tape to you platform can be done in a number of ways. Below we will discuss one method of applying it that consistently works well for us. Materials Needed: Build Plate(easiest to apply tape when out of the printer) Blue Painter’s Tape Sheet Squeegee(A credit card or similar will work in a pinch) Rubbing Alcohol Paper Towel Sand Paper (320 grit works well) Process The First step is to remove all pieces of the last sheet of tape on the build plate. If there are any large chunks of adhesive left over scraping them off may be necessary, but leaving some adhesive residue from the last sheet generally doesn’t hurt anything. The first step is to peel half the sheet of tape off it’s backing. This should be done starting at one of the shorter edges. With the backing removed align the edge with the side of … Read more

Additional Colors of ABS

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If you are a Replicator 1 or 2X user, it is likely you are printing with ABS most of the time. ABS is a great plastic but the color selection available in the MakerBot brand filament is slightly limited with only 10 colors available. Our house brand filament supplements this color selection with several variations of the same colors as well as several unique colors. Some of the unique colors that we offer in ABS are Gold, Silver, Glow in the Dark, Pink, Light Skin and Translucent. These all print comparably to the MakerBot brand filament you are used to, so there is no need to sacrifice print quality in order to get additional colors. If you are looking to add translucent areas to a print our Translucent ABS makes this possible on your Replicator 2X. This additional color selection can be great for props or parts where you want … Read more

3D Modelling with OpenSCAD

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OpenSCAD is a free piece of software for creating 3D models and is available on most operating systems. It is a programming language based CAD program that you manipulate the files purely using text. It does have a built in compiler which will render the 3D model in a screen beside where you are working to see how your changes are affecting the model. This means it lacks many of the features that make for a good artistic modelling program. By using the text interface for creating the model, it makes it very useful for creating parametric 3D models for mechanical parts. It is very easy to adjust the size of 1 specific part  of your 3D model as well as adjusting a whole portion. This software is a good fit for someone who already has programming experience as it will feel very natural to use. On the other hand … Read more

3D Modelling with 123D Design

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Autodesk’s 123D Design is a great entry-level CAD program. It has most of the tools you need to create your 3D models, while still being easy to use. The other big benefit of using 123D Design is that it is well supported and documented. This means that no matter what you are trying to do you can find some tutorials or guides to help you out. If you are a beginner Autodesk has created a set of quick start tutorials that run you through the basic functions of the program. These tutorials teach you what you need to know to get started on your project quickly. You can find these quick start tutorials here. If you have already used 123D design before and maybe it has been a while or you just can’t quite remember how some of the tools work, there are tutorials for that too. Adafruit has done … Read more