Originally Posted by
RobinLeblond
Ok, Is it that hard to learn ?
No, but its takes time! Att printers are individuals an need quite some fiddling to get going. I would buy the parts from shapeways, not that expensive if you really design them as 3D prints and for the technic you desire.
For example your box is a $600 piece if done solid. If using a home printer tell the printer to make the box sparse, 5% infill.... now it's a $20 print. Or if going SLS (powder) make the box hollow in CAD and a small hole in the bottom to drain the powder.(or make any form of honey comb 3D structure inside the box) Again back from $600 to maybe $40. Or just cut a chunk of styrofoam $1
Originally Posted by
csandt051196
What app do you guys use to create your designs?
Use something that make solid parts, not surface models. A printer can only prints solid parts, not surface models. the printer can with very simple shapes assume how the surface model would look as solid, but that's only guessing and is a big cause of failure. Better do it right the first time and draw solids.