At the Hackers group, we started learning how to use 3D printers this week. 3D printers are a fantastic technology for turning 3D computer models into physical objects. They are also impressively inexpensive. For example, one of the printers we are using, the Arduino-based Materia 101 printer, costs about €600.
Thanks to Kevin’s employer, Boston Scientific, who have loaned two 3D printers to us and are also covering the cost of the plastic “ink” used in them.
Here are Kevin’s notes on how to set up a 3D printer: 3d-printer-setup (PDF)
Here are the configuration files needed for the Materia 101: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6otj5ok7i00ikds/Slic3r-Materia101-Settings.zip?dl=0
We have another model of 3D printer, the Prusa i3 MK2 in the group as well. We will post notes about using it at a later date.
And here also is a diagram Kevin prepared, showing the 3D printing workflow:
At our next session, we will look at how to do some 3D modelling to create objects we can print. Should be fun!