"My 3d printer is finally here. First test prints w/pics" Topic

The 3d printer I decided to go with after pricing and reading reviews was the Printrbot Simple Metal. The thing that pushed me over the edge into the buy column was Fat Dragons terrain kickstarter which I looked at and found out all the items shown in their video were made with printrbot play and simple machines and this earlier TMP discussion on would you buy these.

TMP link

I downloaded those thingiverse 1/100 files by M_bergman and chose the T62 model to print. The turret and chassis are separate files but CURA the slicr program download from printrbot and actually done by Ultimaker allowed me to put the turret and chassis in the print area to do together. It took me about an hour and fifty-four minutes to print the model. Here are pictures I have taken of the result. I used black PLA hatchbox 1.75 filament to make this. The model is 1/100 scale or compatible with 15mm/18mm stuff. I took multiple pictures at different views and angles so people could get a general idea of what I wound up with.

After printing this model I have to state I am mightily impressed with my 3d printer. According to my software I used 4 grams of PLA plastic. At the cost I bought it at this works out to the model costing about 15 cents in materials and 2 hours of time to print it. It looks rough in the photos but those are extreme close ups and in my hand it looks every bit as good as any of the pewter 15mm models I have. Once this is painted I doubt most people would ever know it was printed by a 3d printer without actually handling the model, it is very light. I am quite excited by the possibilities this gives me. I would not use it for doing figures but for building and vehicles this thing is going to be great. The only remaining question to me is how durable is the PLA going to be. Now to get cracking and teach myself how to properly do digital sculpting.

That's awesome, congrats! I suspect your right that it would look better in person, especially after being painted. Please post a painted pic when you can!

Amazing how quick this tech is moving and developing…must resist, since my lead mountain is huge enough without me being able to print more.

Very impressive. I may need to start saving my pennies and nickels to get one.

Things I don't need: more temptation to buy a 3D printer.

Great work! Please oh please post pics when you get it painted. Those pictures could cost us a few hundred bucks each.

That looks great Bushy! Are you going to do any WW2 vehicles?

I am going to do EVERYTHING, except maybe figures. I have scratch built some Chinese Type 88 tanks from model chassis and turrets I have printed. I will post some pics of those when they are done. I am also doing some type 86 AFVs for them as well. My 15mm PLA will finally have vehicles! I am going to get busy learning to digitally sculpt also, I have plans man.

the future is upon us rejoice

what resolution (layer thickness) were the models printed at?

It looks a great printer. Interesting that yours got rave reviews but the later standard (the plus model) less so.

I printed mine at .15 layer thickness, it is the default setting on CURA for my printer after set-up. I also printed it with supports that have been cleaned off of the model before I took pictures.

Is there any way you could print something intricate in 0,1mm? For us to compaere we need to see the 0,1mm as that is what we print all our 1/144 models at, being much smaller. I am happy to send an email with the Round Robin model (see post of same name in this section of TMP.

Keep up the good work.

I sent you an e mail UshCha2.

I prefer models already assembled like the old RoCo 1 87 stuff and I also game in 1 300

So last thing first
Can any 3D printer do 1 300?
and did you have to, with your 1 100 model print the tank trscks/suspension or the machine gun seperately and then wssemble it