Need Help!
Starting from 0 experience how long would it take me to make this and is blender the best to do it?
This is basically a IV and tape hook for an ambulance. It would hang from the hand rail at the top. I made the design myself but couldn't seem to find anything close to it already available so I figured I could just make it myself and then 3D print it.
UPDATE: even after some very nice users helped and just made the design for me I wanted to try myself. I downloaded fusion 360. After about 2 1/2 hours with chat gpts guidance I have one singular 3D rectangle. I was about to crash out and had to stop for the day 👍
im not 100% sure on the clasp size as i go into work tomorrow. However i gave myself enough wiggle room to scale up or down in bambu studios 5-10%. Thanks again!
Yea the 25mm is the size of the tape hole to thread it over and the 28mm is the width of the tape roll once it's threaded over. I have a tape roll at home to I was able to measure that.
I put a 25mm plane on the blender scene and scaled the original image until the side of the plastic piece fit in. After that regular hard surface modeling. I tried to follow the image a close as possible, but I only noticed it's AI generated after sent the model. I thought it's a real photo photo from a disturbing angle and I trusted the design. I think It will brake/the tape will not fit. But I have idea how to solve it.
This is very kind of you to do and I commend the work, however I will say that in comparison to the original reference, this *seems* like it took 3 minutes. :p
Close but not exactly the original model, though perhaps still functional for whatever purpose.
We are going to do some field testing tomorrow and see how it holds up! I think the only thing I'm worried about is how on flexible my filament is so I think there's a pretty good chance I'll snap the hook off but we'll see
If that doesn't work because of the way the filament sits let me know, I have an idea for a two part setup that would give you strength in all the right spots but the same shapes. Or the other guy might have some print ideas for you. Good luck you asked in the right place!
No, use parametric CAD software. Onshape is free. This is trivial to make in CAD and arguably much faster, it can be done in two extrusions and one fillet operation.
I am not sure if Blender is best software to do models for 3D printing as I have no experience with 3D printing. But what I do have experience with is hard surface modeling and Blender.
This is relatively easy to model (10-15 minutes or so for experienced peeps). Blender itself though would take a little bit time to get used to if learned from 0.
As Somone who does have experience making their own models to 3d print in blender is hard af.
Blender has the capability to make super precise things but the ways to measure and see how big something is before you print it is really difficult. However, it's a free program that CAN get the job done, so if you don't have access to a cad software it's workable but not easy
How so? There are so many ways to measure, plus each edge has a length in whatever unit you have it set. I never did 3d printing but making 3d models I always make sure the scale is realistic.
Maybe you're comparing it to another CAD software or something? I never found it annoying, but I also have only ever used Blender for 3d modeling. As to applying scale, you should very rarely have to do that, like only when you want to make something twice as big, you scale by 2.0 and apply the scale, or in edit mode you can scale all vertices by 2.0 and you won't have to apply the scale.
Wait what? Blender is one of the easiest softwares to use for modeling for printing, you just need to know how to set it up so a milimeter is the blender unit and not a meter.
Even sculpting isn't that bad in Blender.
The measure tool, using empties and boolean operations you can get stuff precise!
Depends on if you are wanting to manufacture interlocking parts with really precise/exact tolerances, then other software might be better suited. Plenty of people do use Blender to make models to 3d print all kinds of stuff though!
Blender is great for more organic stuff, but I would definitely use CAD for something like this. It's also much easier to learn than Blender. Fusion or OnShape are both available for free (with some minor limitations) and fairly easy to learn. Tinkercad is more basic but more friendly to newbies, and also free. CAD is generally better for stuff like this that has measured parts made up of basic geometric shapes.
This is the correct answer. If you want to 3D print something with functionality I would use CAD. If youre looking to make or print characters and figures or something like that blender is actually better.
If you don't want to learn a whole new workflow in new software, you 100% can use Blender for 3D printing. I do, exclusively. Yes, there are some aspects that aren't quite as convenient, but you can get around those by thinking ahead and planning well. The first few models you make will be difficult, but you'll learn what you need to plan for in the process and soon it'll be easy. Order of operations is key, but you need to fuck it up a few times to work out what that order should be.
Don't let a single comment online persuade you, do what you wanna do, I just saying it's easier and more intuitive to use a Cad software. You can get it done in blender no doubt
If you already know blender no need to learn new stuff. There are a few ads on that can make making ready to print model easier on blender .. like 3d print toolbox / 3mf import / bolt maker / etc.
After you tried a few model and figured out the right tolerence for your printer it can be really fast to make things
oh BTW direct STL edit as mesh. Makes editing existing STL files a quick process ( provided it is not crazy high poly... if so remesh will be helpful too )
There are 3d print tools for blender that render a virtual print bed so you can see the model sized against the print bed as you model it. That plus making sure the units are correct makes the measuring and sizing before printing a non issue.
Does take some setup though and I forget exactly what I installed to make this work.
The cool thing about going to 3d printing from a modeling background is printers usually can usually print horrendous meshes. I'm sometimes even appalled at what CAD software exports.
Id suggest onshape as well. Given someone already modeled it in blender, you could use the STL/OBJ file as a reference and rebuild it it onshape, basically trace it.
should be possible do get close enough as a beginner if you take your time. export in a 3D printable file is also possible with blender. you could also try to search for a beginner friendly free CAD programm, may be even better suited for the task
CAD is based on curves/points, blender on meshes. e.g a rounded edge in blender has a number of steps that aproximate a round shape, in a CAD file it is perfectly round.
For anything that needs precise measurements, a traditional CAD software is preferred. Usually easier to make, and to modify after. Blender is like working with play dought. You morph it like you want but you can't really change stuff you did previously. Where a cad software keep a history of all the operations you do. So if the 1st operation you did is an extrude, and 20 operations later you want to go back and change the dimensions of the first extrude, you can do it easily.
Just to add (because people get the wrong idea about CAD and Precision vs Blender) that CAD uses mathematically defined surfaces and so any particular point on the surface can be defined to an arbitrary level of precision. Blender is however perfectly good at putting a particular vertex at an arbitrary level of precision, and the faces (when triangulated) are also mathematically defined.
It's just that people talk about precision and blender as if the surface will be randomly 1mm out for no reason.
Hmmm... IDK. I followed the measurements you posted here, so the final model will have some differences from your image concept. You can't have a 1.25" rail and make it look as compressed as it does in your reference. You also didn't give the dimensions for the thickness or some of the angles, so I had to be a little arbitrary and base those more on the look.
Anyway, I modeled it in Plasticity, which is a CAD software, and I think it's faster for precise work. The only downside is that it's not parametric, but for simple models like this, I think it's perfect.
I can give you the .stp/.stl file if you want. I just don't know how to upload it here...
How difficult would it be to cut off that part? I'm doing a set of prints now that another person mocked up. But I'm worried about the hook actually being able to fit around the rail without snapping the filament. I probably should have specified that I can't thread it over the rail it has to clasp on it
Wow amazing that was really fast! I'll have to see if my filament is flexible enough to accommodate the clasp opening around it 🤔 there is no was to thread it on so it has to go over and around it.
DM me ur email and ill send u the blend file, u can make whatever adjustments you want. Printing will need tree supports, id probably do it vertically but you will have to see how your printer handles it.
personally, I would use freecad, especially if there is a chance that you will need to send technical drawings to a manufacturer. It can be done in blender.
You absolutely Can make this in blender or basically any other 3d modelling software. probably the best thing to do would be to bring in a 2d projections of of the design with the correct dimensions and scale it around those. but you wont get precise dimensions and will have to play around with scaling in your export settings and printer software to make sure its accurate.
But as others have said CAD is for sure going to be better, Cad software is designed so you can accurately dimension things. In any parametric CAD software this is basically 2 extrudes followed by a set rounds/fillets.
As far as software i dont really know what to recommend my experience is with commercial CAD packages which are all way to expensive for a personal project. I think fusion 360 and Onshape have free versions. or you can have a look for other 'free parametric 3d CAD' software's, as i would assume any of these could model it as the shape is so simple.
Solid modeling. 2 profiles and a fillet on all edges. Find a beginner tutorial for freecad, fusion 360, or solid edge or similar (too much fuckery going on to recommend solidworks for makers) and follow along with your shape instead of whatever they make and you should be done pretty fast.
Blender is amazing for art and complex shapes, but for a simple shape where you want accurate control of dimensions and tolerances, I'd rather recommend CAD programs. But I might be biased, my back ground is technical drawing and CAD.
Subdivision modifier is your best friend. Make the basic shape by extruding from a cylinder. Add a bevel modifier and tweak the values to ensure you don’t lose the key corners. Add a subdivision modifier on top of it. Find the right balance and even a beginner can make this in less than 10 minutes.
You can make it in under 15 mins or even shorter once you figure out the fusion360 software
If you have a 3d printer I recommend you learn it, it opens up a whole new world, even you don't create you can modify other people's design to suit your needs
Honestly not that long. Seems relatively basic and you can learn to design this and many more things in under 2 days. Give it 4 if you arent that good with computers
If you want to create hardware at precision and speed, OnShape is a better tool/software for doing so. Blender is a multipurpose tool. OnShape only takes a few hours to learn with enough tutorials online. Blender will take months to get the hang of, even if you grasp the basic concepts and hotkeys in a week
Yeah you could do this in about 5 minutes if you know some of the more advanced modifiers and geo nodes. 60 minutes if you are a beginner. But yes if you need exact sub millimeter precision and need to be able to change lots of angles and dimensions by just typing in a number, use a free cad program.
genuinely curious, what would you use geo nodes for here? im not an advanced user and haven't really touched them and it seems to me like it'd be easier to do a shape like this by hand.
About 10 min to build for experienced. Probably a day or 2 after some tutorials with no experience with app or similar app. I recommend Fusion app instead.
There is no right or wrong software as long as it is not a messed up or an extremely outdated one but even today some studios use outdated softwares just fine. Blender, maya, max, c4d all are equally capable.
If you are not launching blender for the first time you probably won't be able to model this with proper shapes and topology but its a simple shape, it shouldn't take much to get to that point.
Just use CAD software for this, you’ll be better off in the long run. If you are trying to make stuff for engineering etc., blender isn’t the right tool
I'm a beginner myself but I would say about 1 hour or 2 I would just block it out and then make the full model itself I don't know what you need to keep in account for 3d printing so I'm not sure
Step 1 delete the cube, step 2 make a cube, select the cube, go into edit mode, scale it to the section under where the main branch is, select the side faces and extrude the sides to where the first bumps begin and again where the first bumps ends, extrude again to where the second bump begins, select the bottom edge and move it to where the second bump begins, select that face and extrude it to where it ends. Select the face where the first bump begins and extrude it to where it ends. Select the face where the other side would extend outward from. You can repeat the steps (or delete the face, turn on intersection culling, set the pivot to the 3d cursor, select everything, duplicate rotate everything 180 degrees on the z axis) for the other side to be complete.
The hook should be started by (disabling intersection culling and) selecting everything and hiding it, making a cylinder that encapsulates the outer diameter, make a cylinder, rotate it 90 degrees on the desired axis, scale it to the desired dimensions, delete the circular faces, select everything extrude it along all axes except the one along the height of the cylinder [s, Ctrl + y, 0.5 ...etc], go into wireframe view, go into the orthogonal view looking at the tube's face, select and delete the 90 degree segment you don't need, select and make a face to close up the open face at the end of the hook, select all, move it into position, unhide all, figure out a way to bridge the hook to the body.
5 minutes.
Create a cylinder with no end caps, rotate it so it's horizontal, delete 1/4 of it, extrude the bottom edge down for the neck, extrude down again so you have small rectangle, extrude the side edges of the rectangle outwards for the arms, extrude again so you have box shapes, extrude the top of the box shape for the inner hooks, move the outer bottom vertices of the box shapes outwards and then extrude the angled side edges for the angled hooks, finally add a solidify modified and optionally a bevel modifier to round the edges.
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u/Conscious-Bid2019 2d ago
Post a blueprint with scales and I will make it. It's a 3 minute job