As prices for consumer units have come down over time, many individuals are looking for ways to explore 3D printing themselves but often ask the question ahead of time – how hard is it to print something with a 3D printer? It’s not an easy question to answer, elaborate interior design projects like those produced by Generation3D show what world leaders in the 3D printing industry can do, but even more simple designs take some work to get just right.
There are a lot of skills involved in getting a 3D printing project just right, and we’ll take a look at the different steps required to get a project off the ground.
Creativity
The first step is thinking up an idea, but to do so there’s an understanding of how 3D printing machines work. Most 3D printing machines work in the additive manufacturing space, meaning the material is added rather than taken away as a spool of material produces the shape but this also means there’s some creativity in understanding how 3D items are created.
There are many tools out there with pre-designed blueprints to work from so if creativity isn’t a strong point there is a starting base, but in order to customize, some creativity and forward-thinking are needed.
Computer-Aided Design
CAD is a basic skill when it comes to any manufacturing skill using computer-controlled equipment and as a pseudo-successor, to CNC there is no surprise CAD skills are required. There are many different types of CAD software but all work in essentially the same way, but some may be more beginner-friendly.
Aside from that, it’s more of a trial-and-error approach – trying the software to see what it can and oftentimes more importantly can’t do, and then seeing how these creations in the software manifest when printed. You may find some surprising results and will no doubt have a bin full of failed experiences, but the only way to improve as a hobbyist is through trial and error.
Time
Another big factor when it comes to 3D printing is time – commercial units aren’t always the quickest even for smaller projects and there will be a lot of waiting around to see the fruits of your labor. To some, this does add some complexity as the number of projects that can be completed is limited by time, and therefore the trial-and-error process can be drawn out somewhat.
It may be something that gets easier over time as more software tools are created dedicated specifically for newcomers and as online blueprints become more readily available, but 3D printing is a complex process that does take some learning to get just right, and especially getting projects to come out the way you want them to.
