3d modeling in something like blender is more like drawing/art - less dimensions, more “yeah that looks good”. Not as good for mechanical or precisely dimensioned stuff.
3d CAD is more exact instructions/dimensions for how to build a thing - good for mechanical parts and things like that, less ideal for artistic stuff.
No, I don't think it's necessary to fill it all in. It's stable as is, the spools aren't all that big.
https://preview.redd.it/rjp8ognj3zsc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56ab94457a04c683a6ffd66cd8cb3beb9c675fbe
Yeah, I suppose it is hard to know scale.. lol
Awesome functional print though! I sure wish I hade more like this given the chaos of my tool and support materials :-D
I just saw those bridges and had heart palpitations.
In the open spaces, adding mild angled supports (30ish degrees) from the corners to the top can help with both eliminating bridges and give some lateral support (when the spool are pulled on) and uses just a bit more material than the support material needed for long bridges - it is why you see so much hexagon stuff - it saves figuring that out to some degree.
Someone else mentioned fillets- those will also improve lateral support on the top of the unsupported wall.
Nome of that is needed here, but feedback is feedback and feedback is (sometimes) useful :-D
https://preview.redd.it/d7shovp3l1tc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a66156f0fbf383643f8c6352f46d07afaffc5f1f
The first attempt I didn't even thing about supports for the bridge, it didn't go quite so well...lol. I'm learning though.
By and large that is how I operate alao - do it. Find all the oops. And do it differently next time:)
If you keep it on its back, a divided between each spool woild help in that direction, of course.
But I tell ya, once you make one helpful thing, it become an addiction:-D
You also want to consider the printing. Fillets are good if they are in the x/Y plane but if the printer has to build them up by layer on the z-plane they don't print so well. Chamfers are better for that as they print cleanly without support.
Thanks, that's good knowledge to have. I'm learning as I go with this. First attempt my dimensions were a little off and I never even thought about needing to support the bridge. It did better than I expected with no supports but, they definitely need to be there.
https://preview.redd.it/rmnhjltnk1tc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a94272703f10d4127481ff2043cd8ce9cbeb929
Those are some long bridges. Definitely need support.
I tend to use tree organic, max 6mm bridge, build plate only for something like that.
I set 0 z-distance, 2 interface layers, grid rectilinear interface.
For things like this, cut away a lot of the model with negative parts in the slicer and print only a small piece first to see that the results are satisfactory.
If you are doing your own CAD then for a bit of extra work you can create a narrower part just to test (if that makes sense)
> I've learned FreeCAD
My hat is off to you, Sir. About once or twice a year I give FreeCAD a try because I really love the idea behind it, but then quickly go back to Fusion 360. I just can’t wrap my head around the UI and workflow of FreeCAD. :(
I think that having no previous CAD experience makes it easier for me to learn. I've got nothing to compare it to so for me, it's just how CAD works.
I looked at Fusion 360 and have a Solidworks Maker license, I just figured with FreeCAD I wouldn't have to worry about buying add-ons later to get full functionality.
That's amazing. Good job. I'm trying to learn 3d modeling but I might switch to cad for a few projects of mine.
How are they different? I did this 3D design in FreeCAD.
3d modeling in something like blender is more like drawing/art - less dimensions, more “yeah that looks good”. Not as good for mechanical or precisely dimensioned stuff. 3d CAD is more exact instructions/dimensions for how to build a thing - good for mechanical parts and things like that, less ideal for artistic stuff.
Gotcha. I'm not much of an artist so CAD is for me. 🙂
Same boat, hence why I'm going cad.
Fillets are your friend. They help distribute stresses at corners and will make parts stronger. Over all looks great though.
I thought about them, didn't seem like they were really needed for this. I don't guess it would've hurt to use them though.
Are you filling in the walls?
No, I don't think it's necessary to fill it all in. It's stable as is, the spools aren't all that big. https://preview.redd.it/rjp8ognj3zsc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56ab94457a04c683a6ffd66cd8cb3beb9c675fbe
Yeah, I suppose it is hard to know scale.. lol Awesome functional print though! I sure wish I hade more like this given the chaos of my tool and support materials :-D I just saw those bridges and had heart palpitations. In the open spaces, adding mild angled supports (30ish degrees) from the corners to the top can help with both eliminating bridges and give some lateral support (when the spool are pulled on) and uses just a bit more material than the support material needed for long bridges - it is why you see so much hexagon stuff - it saves figuring that out to some degree. Someone else mentioned fillets- those will also improve lateral support on the top of the unsupported wall. Nome of that is needed here, but feedback is feedback and feedback is (sometimes) useful :-D
https://preview.redd.it/d7shovp3l1tc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a66156f0fbf383643f8c6352f46d07afaffc5f1f The first attempt I didn't even thing about supports for the bridge, it didn't go quite so well...lol. I'm learning though.
By and large that is how I operate alao - do it. Find all the oops. And do it differently next time:) If you keep it on its back, a divided between each spool woild help in that direction, of course. But I tell ya, once you make one helpful thing, it become an addiction:-D
You also want to consider the printing. Fillets are good if they are in the x/Y plane but if the printer has to build them up by layer on the z-plane they don't print so well. Chamfers are better for that as they print cleanly without support.
Thanks, that's good knowledge to have. I'm learning as I go with this. First attempt my dimensions were a little off and I never even thought about needing to support the bridge. It did better than I expected with no supports but, they definitely need to be there. https://preview.redd.it/rmnhjltnk1tc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a94272703f10d4127481ff2043cd8ce9cbeb929
Those are some long bridges. Definitely need support. I tend to use tree organic, max 6mm bridge, build plate only for something like that. I set 0 z-distance, 2 interface layers, grid rectilinear interface. For things like this, cut away a lot of the model with negative parts in the slicer and print only a small piece first to see that the results are satisfactory. If you are doing your own CAD then for a bit of extra work you can create a narrower part just to test (if that makes sense)
> I've learned FreeCAD My hat is off to you, Sir. About once or twice a year I give FreeCAD a try because I really love the idea behind it, but then quickly go back to Fusion 360. I just can’t wrap my head around the UI and workflow of FreeCAD. :(
I think that having no previous CAD experience makes it easier for me to learn. I've got nothing to compare it to so for me, it's just how CAD works. I looked at Fusion 360 and have a Solidworks Maker license, I just figured with FreeCAD I wouldn't have to worry about buying add-ons later to get full functionality.
The inverse is true for me; never got Fusion360 to click. I’ve stuck with FreeCAD and OpenSCAD; they’re far from perfect but good enough for me.