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What is a good company to print 3D models?

Sfariah DSfariah D Posts: 26,282
in The Commons

I was thinking of 3D printing.  I don't know if I want my own 3D printer nor do I think I have space for it.

Is there any company that prints 3D models for cheap?  Also if it is for personal uses, do I need to verify I have a particular license?  also how do I make sure the model as a whole is water tight?

Comments

  • FSMCDesignsFSMCDesigns Posts: 12,755

    Not sure, but if you are sending the mesh to a company, you would probably need a printing license, even if it is for personal use

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 100,948

    For purely personal use the standard license suffices, but do gie the company a look over to make sure it is - as far as you can tell - keeping the upload files for printing private to the user (that is, you).

  • ShimrianShimrian Posts: 533

    A new reason for Kinkos to exist? I think FedEx bought them out... Staples says they do 3D printing if you're in the US. Maybe do a search on Yelp for 3D printing in your area? Not sure how good this advice is tho... I've never tried it.

  • richardandtracyrichardandtracy Posts: 5,681
    Look up https://www.shapeways.com/. I know people who have used them for prototype custom fountain pens, which need good accuracy.
  • miladyderyni_173d399f47miladyderyni_173d399f47 Posts: 1,759

    Check your library. We live in a really rural & not wealthy US area and our little library does 3d printing for a fee; my husband, a volunteer, runs theirs. :) There would probably be a limit on size/complexity, but worth asking.

    (I really, really need to install the plug-in so husband can try to print some of my artwork.)

  • wsterdanwsterdan Posts: 2,348

    miladyderyni_173d399f47 said:

    Check your library. We live in a really rural & not wealthy US area and our little library does 3d printing for a fee; my husband, a volunteer, runs theirs. :) There would probably be a limit on size/complexity, but worth asking.

    (I really, really need to install the plug-in so husband can try to print some of my artwork.)

    What plug-in are you thinking of? The only one for 3D printing that I'm aware of was the Gameprint one, and they stopped their service a while ago.

    -- Walt Sterdan

  • miladyderyni_173d399f47miladyderyni_173d399f47 Posts: 1,759

    wsterdan said:

    miladyderyni_173d399f47 said:

    Check your library. We live in a really rural & not wealthy US area and our little library does 3d printing for a fee; my husband, a volunteer, runs theirs. :) There would probably be a limit on size/complexity, but worth asking.

    (I really, really need to install the plug-in so husband can try to print some of my artwork.)

    What plug-in are you thinking of? The only one for 3D printing that I'm aware of was the Gameprint one, and they stopped their service a while ago.

    -- Walt Sterdan

    That's the one. But it wasn't just for their paid service. You can just use it to generate the STL file and print it yourself, IIRC 

  • Charlie JudgeCharlie Judge Posts: 12,737

    miladyderyni_173d399f47 said:

    wsterdan said:

    miladyderyni_173d399f47 said:

    Check your library. We live in a really rural & not wealthy US area and our little library does 3d printing for a fee; my husband, a volunteer, runs theirs. :) There would probably be a limit on size/complexity, but worth asking.

    (I really, really need to install the plug-in so husband can try to print some of my artwork.)

    What plug-in are you thinking of? The only one for 3D printing that I'm aware of was the Gameprint one, and they stopped their service a while ago.

    -- Walt Sterdan

    That's the one. But it wasn't just for their paid service. You can just use it to generate the STL file and print it yourself, IIRC 

    You could upload your file to them and have them make it watertight and suitable for printing. Although it was very low cost it was also a paid service, which evidently they no longer provide. Other than that I don't recall that you could use it to generate the 3D printing file locally on your computer.

  • wsterdanwsterdan Posts: 2,348

    Charlie Judge said:

    miladyderyni_173d399f47 said:

    wsterdan said:

    miladyderyni_173d399f47 said:

    Check your library. We live in a really rural & not wealthy US area and our little library does 3d printing for a fee; my husband, a volunteer, runs theirs. :) There would probably be a limit on size/complexity, but worth asking.

    (I really, really need to install the plug-in so husband can try to print some of my artwork.)

    What plug-in are you thinking of? The only one for 3D printing that I'm aware of was the Gameprint one, and they stopped their service a while ago.

    -- Walt Sterdan

    That's the one. But it wasn't just for their paid service. You can just use it to generate the STL file and print it yourself, IIRC 

    You could upload your file to them and have them make it watertight and suitable for printing. Although it was very low cost it was also a paid service, which evidently they no longer provide. Other than that I don't recall that you could use it to generate the 3D printing file locally on your computer.

    Correct. It packaged your model and sent it to them to either print for you or prepare the STL for you for printing. I did hundreds and loved the service but sady, their service is no longer available.

    -- Walt Sterdan

  • Charlie JudgeCharlie Judge Posts: 12,737

    Although not exactly for 3D printing the Thickener Plugin might be of some help in making a model watertight and printable.

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