Engraphic Studio - 3D Printing Journey

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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Engraphic is a studio that I run as a hobbyist. Learning to 3d print has been one skill I gained during the pandemic.

What got me interested was the desperate need to help people. When covid struck all of us, US like many countries had shortage of face masks amongst other things. I saw a youtube video on how a youtuber known for 3d printing starting making parts for face shield. I wanted to help and got myself a 3d printer.

Unfortunately, the area of printing was small and was not able to produce or donate any face shields, I was able to produce face mask straps.

These straps hold the mask so you do not have to wear it and hold by your ears. I got my first big paid order of 400 and I could not be more happy.

Things are not complete ok, but we all are in better shape compared to 2020. I kept learning and kept printing different things.

So I thought, why not share this with you all and document it, who knows one of you might get an interest and want to get into it.

So lets begin. Let me introduce what 3d printing is and how it works.

3d printing in simple language is producing what you dream. You might need some okish modeling skill if you want to design your own prints. You can 3d print in two ways. One using a FDM (Fused deposition modeling) where you take plastic called as filament and heat it up using your printer upto 220 degree celsius. The melted filament creates layer after layer and produces the design you wanted.

Another way to 3d print is by using liquid resin. The resin if cured using throwing UV light layer after layer which then produces your design.

Some post processing is usually needed on the prints like sanding, coloring, etc.


Hope the intro helps understand a bit. I will in my next post go over the machines I have followed by some prints.


Things I have printed so far

Random things



Figurines



Succulents/Flora/Plants

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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So I have 2 3D Printers. I have FDM filament based Qidi Tech’s X-Maker and from the same company’s resin based Mono 6.08.

While you can print anything and everything on both the printers, each has a unique set of strength. I generally use X-Maker to print functional parts like towel hanger, mask straps, funnels, coasters, etc.

The resin printer is generally used for printing modals, figurines, miniatures. The depth, clarity and quality a resin printer gives is far beyond FDM printers. However, resin is toxic and has its own cons. It is also messy process compared to FDM.

Unlike FDM printers, you have to wear gloves, mask, eye protection glasses for resin printers. You also need to wash your resin prints in Isopropyl Alcohol to remove excess resin. The resin also has to be cured in UV light to make it less toxic and solid.

This is the main reason, beginners like me always prefer FDM printers where you just have to insert the filament and you are done.

My FDM printer costed me $299. There are many other known brands like Creality, Flashforge, Anycubic, etc who also compete in this market. My resin printer costed me $149.

Each spool of filament whch comes in a size of 1KG costs around -$18-$30. Liquid resin on the other hand costs. $35-$40 for 1 liter.

In the next post will show you the filament, resin and a print.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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Thank you to all who have shown interest in this thread. Next up is discussing how the prints are formed. The materials behind it.

On FDM printer as mentioned earlier you use something called as filament. There are various types of filaments you can use but it all depends on how good your printer is and what it is capable of printing. You can print plastic polymer in PLA, a tougher material in ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), you can use PETG a thermoplastic polyester that provides significant chemical resistance, durability and quality, nylon, carbon fiber, TPU which is a flexible material (your flexible phone case, ipad, macbook, laptop cases). Filament comes in variety of colors so you can print however whatever you want.



Resin does not have many variations except there is no a plant based resin which is less toxic. Like filaments, Resins too come in variety of colors.



Next up the process and some prints.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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So my journey as I mentioned below began with producing touch less keys during covid. These keys can be used to open door with handles or touch elevator buttons without having to physically touch it.

I produced 1200 of these for various companies to give it to their employees.





Lot of people liked it. Since plastic cannot be used on touch device, I tried to find a filament that had metallic property in it. Hopefully I was able to find it. I had some one who like it so much praised and thanked me for producing this. I felt that getting this 3d printer has finally paid dividends.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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So everyone in the 3d printing community mentions how if you have a 3d printer, you should printing functional parts more. Things can be intimidating when you have 0 3d modeling/design skills. Luckily internet has everything for people like us. There are so many websites out there that provide free ready to print designs. Two of the most famous websites are Thingiverse and Cults3d. Off late a lot more has popped up.

Loved my USB sticks & memory card organizer. Such a highly functional print for someone who has tons (although not all are seen in the photo).



Adding on, I needed something that would hold the usb sticks, memory card as well some stationary like pen, pencils. So comes the below print.



My wife needed a holder to hold the hair dryer.



So these were some of my functional prints. Its pretty cool and interesting to think that all these things would have costed anywhere between $1 to $10. Not only I was able to produce these at home, its fun seeing something manufactured right in front of you.

Enough talk on the functional prints. Next up is some cool projects I have been working on.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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As mentioned in my last post, not everything you print or make is for functional use. After tons of testing, experimentation and failures.. I finally got a hang of printing models, figurines, real life objects.

Off late, I am printing a Star Wars chess set. Currently have printed Luke, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Yoda and R2D2. I plan on gifting this set to my friends and family who love Star Wars.



I am a big Mandalorian fan. This means no more spending big bucks on getting a model for yourself. I just printed one for my work desk.



Along with Mandalorian, I am a biggggg batman fan.



You dream, you find, you print.

 

[Till Valhalla]

biggggg batman fan.

Looks to me you are a Thakur fan too.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Looks to me you are a Thakur fan too.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Looks to me you are a Thakur fan too.

Its not actually a bad idea to have a Thakur themed modals

 

[Till Valhalla]

Its not actually a bad idea to have a Thakur themed modals

Go Desi!!!

Shaktimaan time.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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Its been a while I posted here something. Mid-December, my 3d printer broke and finally died (RIP X-Maker). Wife told me no to get another one but in the end emotional blackmail did work and got one for Birthday/Anniversary combo gift.

Got one two weeks ago and after setting it up and getting it ready for printing, I am all set now. Have printed 3 things so far of the new printer. The new printer is from a brand called Artillery. My previous one could only print 150x150x150 mm (5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches). The new one is a beast and such a big upgrade. I can now print 300x300x400 (11.8x11.8x16 inches). I plan on printing myself a Boba Fett and Mando real size helmet.

So far printed 3 things.

1. Doctor Strange Bust



2. Modern Geometrical Succulent



3. Modern Geometrical Succulent



Currently printing some Star Wars figurine.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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Pokemon -- Gotta Catch 'Em All!

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

View attachment 262737
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Pokemon -- Gotta Catch 'Em All!

View attachment 262738

Pikachu and Bulbasaur ones really stand out

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Pikachu and Bulbasaur ones really stand out

Thank you! Bulbsaur did really come out good. Pikachu could have been better. These are low poly Pokemon's, will print another version of actual Pokemon's.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

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“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” - Darth Vader​