Source
r/3Dprinting•
stuff_rulz

Looking for help before I start making a 3D model.

Question

I'm planning on making a car for my brother and I'd love if he could paint it like a model car. I've never explored into 3D printing and am still learning 3D modeling. I use Cinema 4D.

  • What file format does it have to be?

  • Would the car have to be one solid piece? Wheels connected to the body? Hood connected to the body? Etc?

  • Anything else I should worry about? Can I make small details like the little air plug for the tire? Or don't bother?

  • I don't know what the material for 3D printing is made of, really. Are there certain paints that I should aim for?

  • Would 3D printing this be expensive? I have no idea what I'm getting into here.

Any help is appreciated! :)

Posted May 2, 2020, 7:56 AM UTC

110
TopHATTwaffleCorrect Number of Machines is N+1 :doge:•

3d models must be solid bodies, and avoid non-manifold geometry (things that would be physically impossible)

You'd export as a STL files, typically. Make sure to model it in mm units as well.

You can have parts be connected or separate to be assembled later.

You can model basically everything. Though little details, typically under 0.4mm (standard FDM nozzle size) may not be captured during printing. If you use SLS or SLA printing all details would be captured.

FDM is the cheapest. 3d printing is all based on size of the object for cost. You can find a model on thingiverse that is about the size you'll make, then submit that to various printing sites for a rough estimate on cost.

Here is a helpful guide for designing for 3d printing

2
stuff_rulzOP•

Hey, thank you! When you say solid bodies, would that mean I should make the car completely full on the inside? Or would hollow be ok?

1
Enbee2009•

The entire model does not need to be solid, but the shell (as on doors, roof etc) need to have depth. They can't be just a plane or there is nothing to print.

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stuff_rulzOP•

Ahh gotcha. I likely would've messed that up. Thank you for clearing that up!

1
TopHATTwaffleCorrect Number of Machines is N+1 :doge:•

Solid body means the model is "solid" so to speak. In 3d modeling look at a cube with 6 sides. Realistically this is just 6 planes that are welded together at the edges. In this state it is solid.

If you deleted a face, it becomes just faces (planes) as there is an open side. This cannot be represented in the real world, only on a computer.

1
stuff_rulzOP•

Ahhh, shoot. Ok, that's really good to know. I probably would've boggled that up. Thank you.

1
Ztric03•

First of all you need a slicer to make the model ready for the printer. Cura or Slic3r are most common and free. In the slicer you drop a .stl file and get a .gcode file out that you can print.

The wheel dont have to be connected but, if printed seperatly, you have to think about how you can connect them to the car. But depending on the size of the car most printer are also able to print in place with enough accuracy.

The amount of details are again depending on your printer and the size of the car. If the car is about 10cm long, the air plug would be hardly recognizable. But coarser details like rims are definetly possible to print.

The most common material is PLA. I dont know what it's made of but basically its plastic that gets melted and dries in another form through the printer. It costs around 20-40 Euros for 1kg of filament and you can get it in different diameters. The diameter depends again on your printer. If you want to hire an online printservice it's mostly about double the price for one print. But if you just want to print the car it should be alright for the price.

If not I would guess that you need about 50 grams of filament. Pay attention that you dont buy filament for a 3D pen. The sort of filament dont changes but you get about 10 grams of filament in 10 different collors or so. So make shure it's a big coil with just one color.

Do you already have a 3D printer or are you planning on getting one? And which one? However, I hope this had helped you a little bit and remember: it's way easier than it seems. ;)

Greetings from Germany

1
stuff_rulzOP•

Holy smokes! I was just thinking that seems really hard haha. I'm just doing this as a one time present for my brother so I'll probably just use a local service to print it. Actually, rereading your comment, it doesn't sound so hard. I just need to start modeling the car lol.

Hey thanks for the thorough reply! I appreciate it :)

1
Ztric03•

You're welcome. The modeling is the harsest of the whole process xD Have fun with it.

1
stuff_rulzOP•

Haha, will do :)

1