3D printing - what do I need to know

[Dahak]

The local public library has a maker space and charges 0.06 cents/gram of PLA using MakerBot Rep2 3D printers. I've spent some time on ThingieVerse and have identified some tools I want (brass sorter, handle for Redding t-7, stackers for extra turret heads, maybe some head space comparators once I am comfortable with the tolerances of the finished products, and so on further down the rabbit hole).

What do I need to learn before heading down to the library with a flash drive full of STL files?

For a discussion starter, let's take this design: Redding T-7 Spare Head Storage Unit by heavytread - Thingiverse

How much roughly in PLA cost? How much time will it take for printing?

I'm clearly new to the 3d printing world, and as a reloader, I fully embrace my tendency to over research before getting started.

Thanks!

 

[rpf2000]

Probably not the best forum here to ask for 3D printing... But I try to help a little.

The .stl file itself is not enough. It is only the design of the object you want to print.
Probably the library has a computer with a programm to transfer the .stl file to a .gcode file. That is the file the printer can read. It this program (e.g. Cura) you define a lot of parameters for the printer:
- rotation of the object to print
- where on the platform it has to be printed
- temperatur of the filament
- temperatur of the printing platform
- speed of printing
- material
- infill of the object
and a lot more!

With 20% infill and no supports, my printer needs 100g PLA and 8 hours. But I'm sure, the library has newer and better printers!

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

3Dprinting?.....wait...wh...what??!!

 

[rpf2000]

I'm sorry, somethig to add

Probably the library has an employee to run the printer. Then it is possible, that you only need the .stl file and they are doing the rest!

 

[Funflyer]

What do I need to learn before heading down to the library with a flash drive full of STL files?

For a discussion starter, let's take this design: Redding T-7 Spare Head Storage Unit by heavytread - Thingiverse

How much roughly in PLA cost? How much time will it take for printing?

Thanks!

The STL file will need to be run through a slicer program so it can be saved as a .gcode file. The .gcode file is what the printer reads. The slicer has to know the specifics, i.e. printer, nozzle size, type of material, temps, speeds etc.

I ran your STL through the Cura slicer, which is free to download, and on my printer with a .4 nozzle it shows a print time of 12 hours, 25 minutes and will use 97 grams of PLA material. Larger nozzles will shave several hours from the print time as will speeding up the speed but quality will suffer.

 

[NCBeagle]

Following this thread. I know nothing about 3D printing but have a friend who prints Glocks, AR lowers, and now Glock magazines. I fired 65 rounds from one of his printed G19 magazines this weekend. Flawless. He prints the magazine body, base plate, and follower but uses OEM spring. He's going to make springs too. Interesting process.

 

[Dahak]

Thanks for all the input. So, there's some technical wizardary that is going on in the background, the results are not quite a cheap as I had envisioned, and it takes more time than expected. Yep, that's the reality check I needed.

I'll find some time to get down to the library to see about getting on the list for printing.