With the current pandemic our world is still going through I have saved up some money and hope to spend it on a 3D printer for making Mini's and possibly even terrain (Trees, rocks, etc). I am looking for recommendations about what printers are worth the money as well as if it's even worth the effort to print/paint your own minis as oppose to just buying them outright. Any recommendations as far as printers or specifics on printers that I should be looking for would be much appreciated.
I used the anycubic photon and its quality is amazing. However, all 3d printing will require some time investing in how to properly level and support and slice your miniatures.
horse before the cart...do you know how to use 3d modeling software? I'd start there before buying a printer.
There are actually a lot of free and affordably priced sources of 3D models out there, so there's no prerequisite to learn how to model. Shapeways has lots of free monsters, there's someone on reddit that's made freely available models for everything in the MM, VGTM and even MTOF. There are even open terrain systems that let you download and print free dungeon tiles that are compatible with the new WizKids warlock system.
There are also sites like Heroforge that let you make characters and then buy just the STL file, zero 3D modelling experience required.
horse before the cart...do you know how to use 3d modeling software? I'd start there before buying a printer.
There are actually a lot of free and affordably priced sources of 3D models out there, so there's no prerequisite to learn how to model. Shapeways has lots of free monsters, there's someone on reddit that's made freely available models for everything in the MM, VGTM and even MTOF. There are even open terrain systems that let you download and print free dungeon tiles that are compatible with the new WizKids warlock system.
There are also sites like Heroforge that let you make characters and then buy just the STL file, zero 3D modelling experience required.
Totally understood - but if someone is going to spend the time, money, and energy to get into 3D printing, it’s potential is hugely under-served if the person doesn’t actually learn how to create anything of their own
It is possible to get a 3D printer for printing 3rd party models immediately and also learn modelling to eventually create new ones, too.
Using the printer is another matter. Qidi and AnyCubic are good recommendations, but before going all-in on complicated models, start simple to learn the printing process. Tinkering isn't all that cheap and mistakes can be quite the setback. There are several ways to handle printing - material to use, print all at once, print pieces to assemble, post-print cleanup of items, what you intend to do the item - and you'll need to find which way works best for what you want to print. Lots of 3D printing guides out there to peruse, but don't feel overwhelmed with the number of guides. Start with something easy, and once you know the right questions to ask, it'll be easier to find better ways to do stuff.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I'm planning on getting into 3D printing myself with almost zero 3D modelling experience. I've been eyeing up the Elegoo Saturn due to it's print resolution and ease of use. As for models, there are more than enough out there to keep me going well beyond how long it may take to learn some basic modelling skills. There's an amazing magnetic tile system out there I want to use, plus some fantastic patreons that offer custom 3D models for D&D that are beyond belief.
So I'm pretty confident a beginner could get a 3D printer and not learn any modelling and still get a world of value out of it.
not saying you wouldn't...saying you're forgoing an opportunity by not learning how to realize your own ideas when you have the tool right in front of you.
As far as value if you're using it to just print other people's creations, that's totally debatable and completely dependent on how much its used. You can't even really argue it ahead of time - its a hindsight-only calculation - you have to add up the cost of the machine, all the materials, all the time you spent figuring it out and using it (whatever totally debatable cost per hour that is)...then compare that to just buying those items, and sure, throw in some value to this side of the calc for the joy of seeing it print - that's worth something.
...but hey, everyone needs a hobby regardless of what the math says.
creator vs consumer imo, getting a 3d printer without knowing how to actually make something - IMO - is like buying a computer and printer and only being able to copy-paste without being able to actually type anything. ...sure, you can print stuff of value all day long.
that's all coming from a parent with a 'learn how to make something' soapbox.
With the current pandemic our world is still going through I have saved up some money and hope to spend it on a 3D printer for making Mini's and possibly even terrain (Trees, rocks, etc). I am looking for recommendations about what printers are worth the money as well as if it's even worth the effort to print/paint your own minis as oppose to just buying them outright. Any recommendations as far as printers or specifics on printers that I should be looking for would be much appreciated.
I used the anycubic photon and its quality is amazing. However, all 3d printing will require some time investing in how to properly level and support and slice your miniatures.
Check out the Qidi tech shadow
Gets great reviews, reasonably priced
horse before the cart...do you know how to use 3d modeling software? I'd start there before buying a printer.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
There are actually a lot of free and affordably priced sources of 3D models out there, so there's no prerequisite to learn how to model. Shapeways has lots of free monsters, there's someone on reddit that's made freely available models for everything in the MM, VGTM and even MTOF. There are even open terrain systems that let you download and print free dungeon tiles that are compatible with the new WizKids warlock system.
There are also sites like Heroforge that let you make characters and then buy just the STL file, zero 3D modelling experience required.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Totally understood - but if someone is going to spend the time, money, and energy to get into 3D printing, it’s potential is hugely under-served if the person doesn’t actually learn how to create anything of their own
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
It is possible to get a 3D printer for printing 3rd party models immediately and also learn modelling to eventually create new ones, too.
Using the printer is another matter. Qidi and AnyCubic are good recommendations, but before going all-in on complicated models, start simple to learn the printing process. Tinkering isn't all that cheap and mistakes can be quite the setback. There are several ways to handle printing - material to use, print all at once, print pieces to assemble, post-print cleanup of items, what you intend to do the item - and you'll need to find which way works best for what you want to print. Lots of 3D printing guides out there to peruse, but don't feel overwhelmed with the number of guides. Start with something easy, and once you know the right questions to ask, it'll be easier to find better ways to do stuff.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I'm planning on getting into 3D printing myself with almost zero 3D modelling experience. I've been eyeing up the Elegoo Saturn due to it's print resolution and ease of use. As for models, there are more than enough out there to keep me going well beyond how long it may take to learn some basic modelling skills. There's an amazing magnetic tile system out there I want to use, plus some fantastic patreons that offer custom 3D models for D&D that are beyond belief.
So I'm pretty confident a beginner could get a 3D printer and not learn any modelling and still get a world of value out of it.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
not saying you wouldn't...saying you're forgoing an opportunity by not learning how to realize your own ideas when you have the tool right in front of you.
As far as value if you're using it to just print other people's creations, that's totally debatable and completely dependent on how much its used. You can't even really argue it ahead of time - its a hindsight-only calculation - you have to add up the cost of the machine, all the materials, all the time you spent figuring it out and using it (whatever totally debatable cost per hour that is)...then compare that to just buying those items, and sure, throw in some value to this side of the calc for the joy of seeing it print - that's worth something.
...but hey, everyone needs a hobby regardless of what the math says.
creator vs consumer imo, getting a 3d printer without knowing how to actually make something - IMO - is like buying a computer and printer and only being able to copy-paste without being able to actually type anything. ...sure, you can print stuff of value all day long.
that's all coming from a parent with a 'learn how to make something' soapbox.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks