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Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
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- hentzau
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Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I searched and couldn't find a topic on it, but anyway...
I'm contemplating taking the plunge on getting a 3D printer. I'm getting into Fallout Wasteland Warfare in a big way, and there are lots of printable models out there, and the official company is out of stock on almost all of their stuff. So I'm getting itchy.
So I'm looking for a decent, $300-400 model 3D printer and wanted to reach out and see if anyone has any practical experience in this field or any recommendations. I know they are finicky and most are DIY type deals where you assemble the base device and print out the rest of your parts.
Anyone?
I'm contemplating taking the plunge on getting a 3D printer. I'm getting into Fallout Wasteland Warfare in a big way, and there are lots of printable models out there, and the official company is out of stock on almost all of their stuff. So I'm getting itchy.
So I'm looking for a decent, $300-400 model 3D printer and wanted to reach out and see if anyone has any practical experience in this field or any recommendations. I know they are finicky and most are DIY type deals where you assemble the base device and print out the rest of your parts.
Anyone?
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I wish! There is so much amazing board game and RPG stuff out there that it is something I would kill to delve into.
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- Isgrimnur
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Feel up for a trip to Bloomington?
- Isgrimnur
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Or perhaps Terra Haute?
- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I couldn't even imagine working around a bunch of people like that, unfortunately.
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- hitbyambulance
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
i did a lot of research last November and came up with the Creality Ender-3 as the best bang for under $200. got it for my dad, who had previously expressed an interest in getting into this hobby (but is now a self-defeating depressive who had me return it because it'll 'take up too much space' and besides, he's 'getting old' and is going to die soon and nothing much matters anymore, etc).
- Zitterbacke
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I got this one when it was 163€. Did some casings for DIY (satisfied), one miniature figurine for roleplay (which was't the most successful without tinkering, but who has got the time for that?). If I'd need to print more I'd go for a 400€ machine, I believe a quality improvement would be seen with that. Cheap usually means slow in addition, you might think you have the time, but in the end you will revise your opinion. Go for a brand with a good forum / community.
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- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
If I did get one, the creality ender 3 is probably what I would get. But man, I just don't know. It's big, I don't have a lot of free space for it, and I'm not sure I have the patience to fiddle with it. That's why I threw this out there, to get my finger away from the "Buy now!" button.
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- LawBeefaroni
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
One of my daughter's friends got one for her birthday.* No idea what kind but it's put out some decent toys and such. Will try to find out what kind.
*Cool story, in lieu of regular gifts she asked for $10 for her 3d printer fund and each kid got an card where they could choose which Pokemon they wanted once the printer was purchased and running. She had the Pokemon figures out a few months after he birthday.
*Cool story, in lieu of regular gifts she asked for $10 for her 3d printer fund and each kid got an card where they could choose which Pokemon they wanted once the printer was purchased and running. She had the Pokemon figures out a few months after he birthday.
" Hey OP, listen to my advice alright." -Tha General
"No scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer." -Stigler's Law of Eponymy, discovered by Robert K. Merton
MYT
"No scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer." -Stigler's Law of Eponymy, discovered by Robert K. Merton
MYT
- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I don't know that I'd use it for many miniatures, save for the occasional obscure thing that isn't available anywhere else. What I'd love to be printing is terrain and special features for a session, plus accessories for board games.
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- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Terrain is absolutely my primary goal. Fallout to start with, but also Gaslands and Gangs of Rome. I think I have enough Wild West stuff.
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Isgrimnur
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
A reminder: 3D printers do bad things to air quality.
- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I was watching a video this morning from Fat Dragon games...they used to make paper craft terrain and are now moving to 3D printed terrain. For this very reason they were recommending PLA filament over ABS, because it is plant based, has a lower melt point, and no toxic fumes.
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Isgrimnur
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Filament additives—included to add shine, electrical conductivity, color, or other properties—can change emissions dramatically. For example, PLA that includes trace substances to make it impact resistant generates more particles than standard ABS, Weber says.
- Anonymous Bosch
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Unless you plan to use a 3D printer on a fairly frequent basis and factor in the maintenance costs, it may be simpler and cheaper to rely on 3D printing services instead (e.g. Craftcloud, Shapeways, Ponoko, Sculpteo etc.)
Sculpteo provides a useful cost analysis tool that can help you figure out if it's worth buying a 3D printer vs. using a 3D printing service.
Sculpteo provides a useful cost analysis tool that can help you figure out if it's worth buying a 3D printer vs. using a 3D printing service.
"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." -- Daniel Webster
- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I've bought things off of Shapeways before. I may have to look into that.
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Montag
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Creality Ender 3 Pro here. Pleased with it. Have friend who got one to and used it way more than me. These style printers can be a pain for figurines with long thin features like legs, arms, weapons. I think resin printers would be better for those.
words
- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Well, Modiphius finally got their item restocks for a lot of their terrain pieces, so I bought a terrain bundle from them. The urgency to get a printer has dropped considerably.
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Zitterbacke
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
That is were my figurine try failed, arms and sword. The rest wasn't worse than those tin figurines with cast-residue. I might have to fiddle with support structures, but again, who has got the time? Those 3D-printing services could be a way to go, especially if you don't have to be exact to the millimeter (as the cases I printed had to be), who cares if a miniature is 5% smaller that it should be?
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- Anonymous Bosch
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Actually, if you want accuracy down to the millimeter, 3D printing services may well be the best way to go (e.g. I used Shapeways to print an SSD mounting bracket for an Asus gaming laptop, and it was a perfect fit).Zitterbacke wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:34 pmThat is were my figurine try failed, arms and sword. The rest wasn't worse than those tin figurines with cast-residue. I might have to fiddle with support structures, but again, who has got the time? Those 3D-printing services could be a way to go, especially if you don't have to be exact to the millimeter (as the cases I printed had to be), who cares if a miniature is 5% smaller that it should be?
"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." -- Daniel Webster
- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Zitterbacke wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:34 pmwho cares if a miniature is 5% smaller that it should be?

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- Zitterbacke
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Did that ninja spot my typo?Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2019 4:36 pmZitterbacke wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:34 pmwho cares if a miniature is 5% smaller that it should be?![]()
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- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Nah. Some (lots) of us really care about scale and making sure it matches.Zitterbacke wrote: ↑Fri Apr 12, 2019 12:38 pmDid that ninja spot my typo?Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2019 4:36 pmZitterbacke wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:34 pmwho cares if a miniature is 5% smaller that it should be?![]()
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Zitterbacke
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Help me out here, how much less is 5% of an Inch. I'm old, I fear I could see the difference.
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- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Sitting isolated? It's irrelevant. Standing next to a bunch of other on-scale figures? Significant enough to stand out like a sore thumb.
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- Zitterbacke
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I can see your point when making a clone army, but a Hobbit and Gandalf, they are different size, not to mention no one knows their supposed size anyway. But as I said, I need perfect size for cases for electronics, so I'm with you there, just not on that point.
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- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
It’s a case of scale. Proportions look off.
A while ago, I made a decision to use 28mm figures for my townsfolk for Zenda, and use “heroic 32mm” figs for the active, player figures, so they would stand out more. Plus the 28mm figs are faster to paint. In hindsight, it was a mistake because it bugs me every time i see them on the table.
A while ago, I made a decision to use 28mm figures for my townsfolk for Zenda, and use “heroic 32mm” figs for the active, player figures, so they would stand out more. Plus the 28mm figs are faster to paint. In hindsight, it was a mistake because it bugs me every time i see them on the table.
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Yeah, at that scale it can make a difference. I have lots of old Ral Partha 25mm figures (the standard before the mid-90s.) I had to put them in 'retirement' because a human knight standing next to a modern, 28mm figure looks like a dwarf. Granted, that's closer to a 10% difference, but it shows how much of an impact it can have at that scale.
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- Montag
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Use one dime thickness per inch to visualize.Zitterbacke wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2019 5:06 amHelp me out here, how much less is 5% of an Inch. I'm old, I fear I could see the difference.
words
- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
As an example of why I'd love to have one, I'm trying to figure out a good solution for card storage for Torg: Eternity. I look at card holders and find two options other than commercial products that aren't a good fit: 3d printed and laser cut.
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- Montag
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
If standard playing card size, then note card holders work great.
https://www.google.com/shopping/product ... IpEALw_wcB
https://www.google.com/shopping/product ... IpEALw_wcB
words
- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I was looking for more of a single container that will let me sort a dozen or more decks of differing sizes. I'll likely have to make something out of foamcore, although I don't have good foamcore cutter.
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- Anonymous Bosch
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Dunno how many cards you're talking about here, but if they're all standard-sized, here's a very simple idea that doesn't cost much:
I used a two-piece 800-count cardboard deck box from BCW supplies (SKU: 1-BX-802) to accomodate the vast majority of standard-sized cards that were included with the Duel of Ages II: Collector's Bundle (basically the Basic and Master sets), which is around 700 or more cards if memory serves. To keep everything properly organised and easily accessible, I labelled around ten of these horizontal trading card dividers to separate the multiple different card types, which divides 'em up nicely and everything fits perfectly neatly within the deck box.
Of course, if an 800 count deck box is insufficient, you could always go with additional or even larger deck boxes if required.
"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." -- Daniel Webster
- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I have a sudden, very unexpected windfall after completing my taxes. Suddenly this is looking more likely...
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Blackhawk
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Thanks, I'll take a look. There are lots of solutions out there that I can make work. My original point (which I didn't make clear) was that with a 3d printer, and ideal solution would be a few clicks away, as opposed to something that can be 'made to work.' IE - having a 3d printer would be really, really handy. Maybe not practical, maybe not cost effective, but great to have around.Anonymous Bosch wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2019 11:29 pmDunno how many cards you're talking about here, but if they're all standard-sized, here's a very simple idea that doesn't cost much:
I used a two-piece 800-count cardboard deck box from BCW supplies (SKU: 1-BX-802) to accomodate the vast majority of standard-sized cards that were included with the Duel of Ages II: Collector's Bundle (basically the Basic and Master sets), which is around 700 or more cards if memory serves. To keep everything properly organised and easily accessible, I labelled around ten of these horizontal trading card dividers to separate the multiple different card types, which divides 'em up nicely and everything fits perfectly neatly within the deck box.
Of course, if an 800 count deck box is insufficient, you could always go with additional or even larger deck boxes if required.
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- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
I've been watching the YouTube video series from Fat Dragon Games about how to print 3D terrain and miniatures. It intrigues me and scares me in equal parts...
"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Zitterbacke
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Just in time a Humble Bundle appears. You can find a lot of free stuff around the net, but maybe this appeals to some of you.
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- hentzau
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Oy. Another push. I hadn’t really thought about dungeon terrain...I’m reaching the end of the D&D game I’ve been running, and I’m not sure I’ll run another one any time soon. But...tempting. So tempting.
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"Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia
- Zitterbacke
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Also build your own Char, download and print it.
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- Isgrimnur
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Re: Any 3D Printer dabblers out here?
Is $15 really such a high price to pay for insurance?