3D printers have arrived! Complex and beautiful objects are available at the touch of a button in our schools, libraries, or even our homes. Whether or not you have a 3D printer, learning how they work and how to design for them is the best way to be a part of this new industrial age. And the best part is it doesn't cost a penny.
This book will teach you the things you need to know about 3D printers. Then, you will use the robust and free software, Blender, to follow step-by-step instructions through a planned project. This book is part of a series of projects that will help you acquire the tools, techniques, and skills you need to make your own projects that you can print by yourself on a 3D printer near you and share with others online to print around the world.
Chapter 1, 3D Printing Basics, will help you understand 3D printing basics, types of 3D printing, and how FFF printers work.
Chapter 2, Beginning Blender, will introduce Blender, how to set it up, and some basic and mid-level functionality. Knowing the content of this chapter will get you over Blender's infamous learning curve and provide the basic knowledge and reference necessary for following along with future projects.
Chapter 3, The Octopus Pencil Holder, the project in this book, and octopus pencil holder, will involve simple selection techniques unique to Edit mode, modification commands in Edit mode, and applying modifiers to soften and combine shapes. This technique alone can be used to make an unlimited number of cool things once mastered.