Finishing a 3D printed model?

[Shark]

I'm a little out of my element here, so I've decided to ask you - sainted members of AST - How do I prime and smooth a 3D model I got from Shapeways?

It was printed in "White stong and flexible" (Not the best choice) and is pretty rough.


https://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm30 ... 1shape.jpg

[Del]

Good luck with that one. WSF is a horrible material. Actually, it's a pretty good material, it's the Shapeways resolution that sucks. I've ordered something in Black Detail that should be arriving in a couple of days, and then some other stuff in Frosted in a week or so. We'll see how those turned out. I gave up on the WSF ships I ordered.

[Shark]

Thanks Del... I think.

Oh well, at least I finally have a replica of this shuttle. Do you know if the Blue Strong and Flexible Polished is any better?

[Del]

Is that this shuttle? I doubt that polished will be much better, but I don't really know. When I get the piece in the next couple of days that is Black Detail, I'll let you know how it turned out. However, Apo Agathos (mlhaden) is not allowing any better materials for printing, so it's kind of a moot point.

[Tesral]

A lot is going to depend on what the actual plastic is. "White strong and flexible really describes nothing. Is it PVC, ABS? Both are fairly common in 3D printing rigs because they have a low melting point. However both are a pain to work.

Resolution is always an issue.

Daddy wants a maker-bot.

[Shark]

Is that this shuttle? I doubt that polished will be much better, but I don't really know. When I get the piece in the next couple of days that is Black Detail, I'll let you know how it turned out. However, Apo Agathos (mlhaden) is not allowing any better materials for printing, so it's kind of a moot point.

Yup, that's the one. Guess it is moot, oh well.

[zookman]

what kind of 3d printer do they use .... ive been thinking of getting one for myself to make parts for other kits from other kits without scratch building them ....

here is the unit ive been looking at .... nothing real fancy and price isnt too bad depending on what its able to do and how things come out

https://store.solidoodle.com/index.php?r ... duct_id=56

course i would have to get a 3d scanner to go with it to scan in kit parts from other stuff and just enlarge or reduce them down to scale i want ...mostly be for aircraft kits making them smaller ( 1/350 ) for alot of my bigger birds ... but can see using it for trek stuff as well depending on what im trying to do ...

course first dozen or so attempts will probly be like crap lol till i know what im doing lol

[patrickivan]

This is pretty interesting. I didn't know that 3D printing was so accessible. I was looking at the pricing, but that doesn't really give me much. What does that little shuttle run if you don't mind? I would love some of my Google skethup stuff physically modeled!

[Tesral]

You can get into it for between 700 and 1500 bucks. Several models of affordable 3D printer exist.

[Shark]

This is pretty interesting. I didn't know that 3D printing was so accessible. I was looking at the pricing, but that doesn't really give me much. What does that little shuttle run if you don't mind? I would love some of my Google skethup stuff physically modeled!

It was $17 and change for me with shipping and tax. Poke around there, they've got some really cool stuff.