Advice on my first design & print

[Nikki]

Hello All,
I’m about to start my first full process (designing in Tinkercad and printing with the Maker Bot Replicator) 3D printing project. I’m usually over ambitious so wondered whether anyone had any suggestions for a great design to start with?

[Pot8oSH3D]

Hey Nikki,

My recommendation is to start simple. That way, you stand the most chance of that warm feeling of satisfaction at a job done without a single hitch. I guess it all really depends what you’ve designed and what you’ve printed before but one good exercise is to design something you can measure and make sure your printer is set up correctly. If you don’t own a digital caliper, I’d definitely recommend getting one as soon as possible. You’ll need it, without a doubt. Something like this should be fine…

6 in. Digital Caliper

It may seem a bit basic but how’s about a simple 40mm cube with a 20mm diameter round hole through it? Of course, you can start with more complex shapes if you like. You could try a cone with a cube on the top or try making one shape into a “hole” and subtracting it from another. For instance, a cone with a cube-shaped hole in the base.

Whatever you do, have fun and you’ll be surprising yourself with your creative output before you know it! Make sure you have plenty of filament so you can print Christmas presents for everyone you know!

Feel free to ask more questions if you need any help.

[gabriela3d]

Great to hear this, @Nikki well depending on how much time you’re willing to spend on it, you have various options. For my first 3D print, I went to the Instructables - they have some pretty cool projects for beginners: http://www.instructables.com/id/Beginner-3D-Printing-Projects/. Turns out, at the end of the day, a 3D printed name tag is both cheesy and cool Happy printing and make sure to share with us the final print, we’d love to see it

[Nikki]

@Pot8oSH3D Thank you so much for your great advice. I’m gonna get cracking on it today so that I have loads of time to improve before Christmas.
Oh and I’ll definitely be sharing @gabriela3d!

I’ve attached is my first design which @Dano did a terrific job printing for me - Thanks you!
I had envisaged a ring, but sizing didn’t work out so Danno kindly resized the piece into a bracelet and a tiara.

Now to work on my first design+print.

[Filemon]

Marvin is always good 3D Hubs Marvin - Key Chain by HubsMFG - Thingiverse
Although you don’t design it yourself in that case.

[Nikki]

True @Filemon, but I do have this perfectly printed guy already

[Faktuu]

just print yourself a set of coasters with family names and some fun shapes