UPS Store offering 3D printing services in 100 markets

[BadMouth]

http://www.theupsstore.com/small-business-solutions/Pages/3D-printing.aspx

My local UPS store is included!
Now just to figure out what I need and how to design it.
(installed autocad2007 over the weekend, haven't started learning how to use it yet though)

[ChadTower]

You might want to review their pricing first.  It would be cheaper to buy your own printer, even now, if you're going to do this regularly.

[lilshawn]

i have been seriously considering this as of late and the price of a 3d printer is a real turn off.

but i have found a very economical alternative that i may just order...

http://printrbot.com/shop/simple-makers-kit/

if you aren't afraid of putting it together yourself it's a way to save a couple hunskis. while i'm not sure of it's quality of print, it's specs are similar to the other models they offer, just a smaller platform (4x4x4) and i imagine the print quality is linked to how well you can assemble the parts and maintain a tight tolerance between parts as you assemble.

but being able to get it shipped to my door for 400 bucks is certainly a great price even if it takes me 4 hours to assemble it... not like my own time is worth anything. I can certainly make use of it...I've probably thought 5 or 6 times in the last 2 months "man if i had a 3d printer i could blast off a new part for this and be done with it" or "i could make this thing better by..."

ALSO:

a (slightly) larger metal version capable of printing 6x6x6 volume is available as a kit too:

http://printrbot.com/shop/simple-metal-kit/

[jdbailey1206]

Forbes has a write up on the printing.  The article includes costs.  Thought about this the other day to make a cheaper yoke but after creating all the pieces I could probably just buy an original yoke that is a lot more sturdy.

[lilshawn]

one of my local libraries has a couple 3d printers in their makerspace. They charge 0.10 /gram for your "prints"

[Generic Eric]

UPS has a list of locations with 3D printers.  It is a uPrint SE Plus

http://www.theupsstore.com/small-business-solutions/Pages/3d-printing-locations.aspx

Although the press release is from yesterday.  So they may not be up to speed.  I'm emailing my local one to get an idea of when the unit will be online.

Hi Eric,

Thanks for your inquiry about 3D printing! We do have a 3D printer online and ready to print.

We can take .CAD, .STL or .CMB files for print. If you have a different file format, let me know. We do have a program that can convert certain files to .STLs - so just let us know what file type you have and we'll work from there.

In order to give you a quote on cost and turnaround time, we'd have to see the file. There are a few variables that determine those numbers in each print job, so because of this, we don't have a brochure with costs/time estimates.

If you'd like to send us the file, that would be the best way to determine the cost and turnaround time. Along with the file, please provide us with the size that you'd like this finished at. Our printer prints up to 8x8x6 pieces. If it's larger than that, we can print in two parts and piece together.

We're very excited about 3D printing and would be happy to answer any other questions you have. Please feel free to give us a call or email anytime.

Thanks again for your email! We look forward to working with you.

Does anyone have a trigger made up in cad? 

[lilshawn]

123d design will output stl files and it's free and easy as hell to use.

http://www.123dapp.com/

there is a free online one too but it's name escapes me.

EDIT:

tinkercad.com

[Generic Eric]

123d design will output stl files and it's free and easy as hell to use.

http://www.123dapp.com/

there is a free online one too but it's name escapes me.

EDIT:

tinkercad.com

Shazzle

[lilshawn]

123d design will output stl files and it's free and easy as hell to use.

http://www.123dapp.com/

there is a free online one too but it's name escapes me.

EDIT:

tinkercad.com

Shazzle

Fo shazzle my nazzle.

[Alistair Keith]

I'm thinking of learning how to use AutoCad so I can 3D print.

[TopJimmyCooks]

If you do decide to buy rather than print at UPS, I heartily recommend the printer I have, the Makerfarm I3v over printerbot simples or anything else that costs less.  The makerfarm is under $600 and is a lot better for many reasons I could elaborate on if needed.  Even cursory research on printers will reveal the same information.  Basically, 1. you will want to make the upgrades that get you to a similar cost very quickly, and 2.  8x8x8 is the lowest build volume you want in this day and age without severely limiting yourself. 

One reason I would consider buying rather than UPS - for the parts I design, and even for the parts uploaded by others that are well sorted, it usually takes 2 or three prints with adjustments to settings to get it just right as printed by your system. 

[TopJimmyCooks]

Also, it's easy to use sketchup with an .stl exporter plugin to design parts.  you can avoid some of the learning curve of scad, which is the main free cad design program that is used by 3d printers. 

[Slippyblade]

Only problem with SketchUp for doing 3D print work is it has a habit of flipping faces the wrong way and thus not making "solid" objects.  It's a pain and takes some practice to get used to fixing.  But you can't really argue with the price.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Nettfab's online service fixes stl's exported from sketchup with a 100% success rate for me so far.

https://netfabb.azurewebsites.net/  You can download their program as well.

I use the stl exporter from the extension warehouse:

https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/sketchup-stl

I don't fix reversed faces or any extra internal lines/structure, but I also try not to leave any obvious holes.  Any tiny holes they do a very good job of fixing.  I was afraid I would have to learn openScad, but my sketchup results have been so good I haven't needed to.