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New forum about 3D printing - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: New forum about 3D printing (/showthread.php?tid=2503)

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RE: New forum about 3D printing - JasonB - 20th-Oct-21

Yes, it looks good.

I guess some of the older 3d formats, such as stl and 3ds were created long before 3d printing became popular, so it was probably about time for something new.

I do find the proliferation of file formats in 3d frustrating though, but at least 3mf is open source, so it might encourage take up amongst software makers.

RE: New forum about 3D printing - Kevan - 20th-Oct-21

Cura (slicer) can open 3mf's

RE: New forum about 3D printing - JasonB - 20th-Oct-21

Going back to the 3mf video, would the Prusa slicer settings be compatible with other systems, and if not, doesn't that reduce it's compatibility and indeed appeal to other companies?

I also noticed that the video was made by a certain Josef Prusa.

I'm not trying to be critical here, as I have no experience of the software. But I can be a bit cynical so I have to ask the question, especially when Microsoft and Autodesk are involved in an open source specification, not something they are normally known for.

Final devil's advocate type question, what was wrong with amf, which as I understand it is quite similar, using xml, having similar capability, and which was already supported by autodesk.

RE: New forum about 3D printing - Kevan - 21st-Oct-21

As long as the sliced gcode is supported by your particular printer. I have a Qidi fdm printer, their slicer obviously creates gcode their printer recognises but if I want to use Cura slicer I have to install the Chitu extension then slice then save as Qidi gcode.

RE: New forum about 3D printing - MrFlippant - 21st-Oct-21

The video (yes, by Prusa) does mention that not all features are supported across platforms. But, what is not supported, is simply ignored. And, Prusa Slicer is also open source, based on the foundation of Slic3r.

I'm not big on more and more file types, but I hope this one catches on because it's open source, and the STL is still in there. Even if your preferred slicer doesn't support the complete feature/data set as Slic3r and its branches (SuperSlic3r, PrusaSlicer, and more, I'm sure), your slicer can probably still open the file and have the model there for it's own uses. As the format is adopted, it can be enhanced and more slicers can support the features of the format.

That said, I generally upload an STL as well as a 3MF when sharing my work, if not also a STEP file so that it can be more easily modified as needed.

RE: New forum about 3D printing - JasonB - 21st-Oct-21

Thanks for your answers, it sounds good.

To broaden things out a bit, I wonder if any of you 3d printers would be willing to give us a sketch outline of roughly where we are with current, affordable technology?

I guess what I'm asking is, how complicated is it, how expensive is it, would it need us to turn it into a hobby in itself, and basically is it worth it?

I'm sure it must feel like an alien technology to many, and certainly the discussions surrounding it can often seem very offputting, with multiple tales of printing failures, technical problems, and models that look like they need a heck of a lot of post printing work.

I know it's asking a lot with such a varied and complex technology, but is there any chance of a realistic appraisal of the current pros and cons, in layman's terms?

RE: New forum about 3D printing - Kevan - 21st-Oct-21

When the day comes you can load a file and press print then it's not a hobby, sadly printing your own stuff today entails knowledge and problem solving. To me that means it's a hobby rather than a tool because when it goes wrong you need to know how to fix it.

RE: New forum about 3D printing - MrFlippant - 21st-Oct-21

I agree that it is a hobby in itself. Even machines that market themselves as "plug and play" are as likely to have failures of various kinds as any other machine. It's a complex tool, and therefore the user must learn how to operate it, and how to repair it in the event of failure. That's why I try to steer people away from machines that are all closed up and encased in fancy shells. WHEN there is a problem, if you can't fix it, you've just wasted a lot of money. Those machines tend to be quite overpriced, as well.

But, once you understand the machine, it becomes a tool for you to better enjoy your other hobby, the one you actually bought it for. ;-)

As I've posted elsewhere, this is a great series of relatively short videos that offer all of the answers you seek as a person interested in the state of things. This may be outdated in a few years, though.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDJMid0lOOYnkcFhz6rfQ6Uj8x7meNJJx

RE: New forum about 3D printing - Kevan - 22nd-Oct-21

As some of the 3D makers on the other forums are aware, I'm having a 'mare with my filament printer. Once I've sorted it out (the problem could even be the new roll of filament I'm using which is the same make and spec as the roll I've recently finished) I intend upgrading the printer which entails downloading and printing plastic parts from a help group for my printer, buying extruder and hot-end parts from China then setting it all up...these printers can use a lot of your time.

RE: New forum about 3D printing - JasonB - 22nd-Oct-21

Thank you gents, I'll check out the videos later.