On Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:37:28 +0000, R D S wrote:

On 29/11/2019 18:32, John Rumm wrote:
Draw it in a CAD / 3D illustration program to create a model, and then
use some CAM software to slice the model up and turn into a series of
instructions for the printer.

Is that something that a occasional user could do, or are we in steep
learning curve territory.

A bit of both, depending on how you see things and your general PC /
mouse experience.

It might be worth having a play with Sketchup: (Free / Web version if
you PC is up to it or I think you can download a local copy 30 day
trial (that then might revert to the free version / Layout).

https://www.sketchup.com/


You see, I want to make a bunch of drawer dividers, wondering whether to
get a 3D printer or a load of plywood!

It depends of the width of them. Up to about 200mm long you should be
good and how long you want to wait for them if there is 'a bunch'.

Open Sketchup, select the rectangle tool and drag out a rectangle on
the screen then type in x,y to give you those dimensions.

Get the pull tool and pull the flat face up however thick you want the
divider to be (or any amount and then type in what you want, like 1
Enter for 1 mm thick if working in mms).

Save.

Install a plugin thing that allows you to export an .stl file (free).

Export the file.

That's the design bit done. ;-)

Open up something like Repetier Host.

https://www.repetier.com/ (you can play with all these tools without a
printer. Or design your object and email the code to someone else to
print the job for you so you can see what the final thing will be like
without the machine investment). ;-)

It will (normally) have all your printer details and settings in there
(there are templates and some common settings for the printer movement
/ speeds and extruder nozzle etc). Select Slic3r

(Slic3r is included and I think possibly the default but can be used
separately https://slic3r.org/)

.... and get it to slice the model (nearly instant on your job). This
creates all the individual layers that will make up the final job (not
many for a draw divider, as long as you print it on the flat) and you
can actually see the filament paths though all the layers.

Then you would either hit 'Print' directly from the PC or save the
final .gcode file to the printer via a file transfer (over USB) or on
an SD / USB stick.

The heated print bed will warm up to about 60 DegC (if printing with
the more common PLA) and the extruder to about 200 DegC and then it
will start to print. It can print as many objects at once as can fit
on the print bed (typically 150 x 150 - 200 x 200mm).

Once finished, allow the bed to cool down and the items should just
lift off, sometimes with the help of a razor blade.

Once the job is in the printer, you just need to select the object
again and hit print. ;-)

It is advisable to not leave the printer unattended, as they suggest
when charging batteries or cooking etc.

Some things can be a problem re warping if you don't get your
temperatures right and sometimes you can print with a skirt, a thin
extra border around the job to help it stick to the bed.

Once you have printed your dividers, you will need to order more
filament (~£15/kg) for all the other things you will want to print!
;-)

https://www.thingiverse.com/

Better than the TV or a fish tank. ;-)

Cheers, T i m