User`s manual

19
Chapter 2
Process of 3D Printing
Before you start printing with your Sharebot NG it is important to understand how you arrive at a
nished object. This allows you not only to know what you need to do to give form and substance to
your ideas, but it helps you to identify any constraints and limitations of the technology used by this
printer.
In the table we summarized the steps required to obtain a 3D printing:
Model
It all starts with creating or downloading a three-dimensional model of the object that you want
to print in 3D. The creation is done through one of the many modeling programs available over the
internet as freeware, shareware or soware for a fee. There are many and each of them has specic
characteristics. In this respect it is worth noting that you can have dierent modeling requirements
and this is reected in the variety of applications. Some are more suited to mechanical design, other
artistic modeling, other than architecture.
Remember that 3D modeling was primarily used to create projects or for rendering. In the rst case
the model was thought to be accomplished physically and therefore is subject to a series of specica-
tions and constraints that allow the project to be turned into something real. In the latter, the aim is
to create an image for certain requirements: the model might then be awless as display but physi-
cally impossible.
When you choose the program that you want to use for your models you must then ensure that it is
able to create a le suitable for the production (especially 3D printing) so those programs that oer
features of rendering or animation driven.
Working enviroment
Common used CAD soware
Common used CAD soware
Soware: Slic3r
3D printer: Sharebot NG
Operation
Design the object
Import/save file in .stl format
(or .obj)
Generate command file for
3D printer
Select file and preloaded
filament profile filament
profil
Output
Common used format for your file
File .stl
File .gcode
Printed object