"3D Printing at Home - Pros and Cons" Topic

I recently purchased some excellent 3d printed figures and vehicles that made me realise that the technology had caught up with production in other materials. It made me wonder whether it would be worthwhile having a go at home.

To buy one pre-printed figure/vehicle is about the same as a metal or plastic production. But if you wanted multiple figures clearly buying the STL file and printing all you want is cheaper. Or is it?

What do people think about printing at home for personal use rather than for commercial gain? Is it worthwhile? And if so, what are the best printers to go for?

Any opinion or advice welcome.

I am not an expert but an interested amateur.

I recommend a PLA (basic) printer as it is easy to use with few side smells and chemicals. The quality is not as good as resin but probably good enough for gamers.
The one I chose is a Bambu P2S which has its own enclosed case. A plus for me. If you buy the AMS option you can use multiple colours easily too.

Printers do need a dedicated table (2x2 feet) as it is really not nice to get it out and out it away a lot.
The place must also be very dry and well lit.
Space for a toolbox, very necessary. Maybe under the printer's table.

You need a friend to come and explain the bare necessities too. `Otherwise beginner frustration will cause grey hairs.

Bambu (shamefully Chinese) package in a really good piece of software for model preparation (scaling etc).

Recommended.
You might end up printing far too many items.

martin

The McBrides have three printers of different styles. I am not up on the details but they get a LOT of use. I am Awaiting the production of a troop of cavalry from Knuckleduster, and a horde of Sioux that have to be assembled. We calculated that once you have the printer and the file the minis run about a dollar each for mounted.

Do some research to make an educated decision about it. FDM printers (ABS is one type of filament they can use) usually produce miniatures with layer lines which are challenging to fill in; resin printer (4k and higher) do not have detectable layer lines, and these are the best for miniatures. Resin is toxic, lots to learn. Many types of resin are brittle ($), some are flexible ($$$). Lots to learn.

STL files (3D sculpt files) must be sliced, that is, translated into print commands your printer will understand; supports might need to be added; you might need to rotate the STL file -- rotate the orientation the figure will print in-- to get the best result.

3D printing is a hobby pursuit unto itself. There is a great deal to learn: resolutions, nozzle sizes, print rates, and more. Study YT videos to see if you want to commit to it, before you buy a printer. Cheers!

I have an Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra, have had for about a year. I have printed an entire Mycenean army that I was supposed to have painted and ready for a game in October. Not going to happen.

However, resin printers give a really good quality print and I am happy with mine. There are issues. Replacing the FEP, replacing the screen protector and keeping it clean.
Mine lives in a simple enclosed container I purchased which came with an extractor system to pump the unpleasant fumes out of a window. (Which is good because my sense of smell packed up 25 years ago.)

From my understanding, and from what I have seen others produce, PLA printers don't give the same level of detail to 28mm style figures. But are great for terrain. They are also easier to use and less smelly than resin printers.

I printed some Indian Elephants for a friend a couple of weeks ago, they came out great.

It's horses for courses. If you want nice 15-40mm figures, then I think resin is best. Larger scales or terrain pieces, then PLA is probably a better option.

I have resisted the temptation to have both. I can only paint so fast.

Yes, lots to learn. The youngest McBrides are doing that for us. It is, I think, a huge growth in what we can do within the hobby, but keeping up with the technology is a gigantic assignment.

2 bottles of resin and an army worth of stl files on sale from my mini factory sets me back about $200 USDNZ. When I add up the cost of an equivalent army from the GW webstore it comes out around $2,500 USDNZ.
Any further questions?

Robert

Toaster, you mean you are not using OFFICIAL GW minis? I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED I tell you!

They're very good now, and if it sounds like you'd like 3D printing go ahead, you probably will and you'll get good figures. If it sounds awful to you, well, maybe you're right.

Resin printers: very messy. Spectacular figures.

FDM printers: super easy. Good results are possible, but tricky. Depends on your standards and what your printing.

I have had multiple FDM printers for almost ten years, love them. I have an Elegy Mars 5 Ultra, it worked great for awhile but has recently been giving me fits, not sure why. I do FDM printing because it's fun and I can use the results. I have a resin printer only because it gives good prints.

Doc, I'm not using GW rules either!

GW just makes a convenient measuring stick for fantasy and sci fi armies. I'm playing One Page Rules and using their offical miniatures to do so, happy now?

Robert

Lol! Some of their (GW) minis have been very fine, but their business model is off putting.

Make sure you do the proper ventilation and wear masks. I have several friends who have such printers and have developed serious health issues.
Also wear masks and dust clothes before going back into the home.

I have been printing FDM 1/144 scale figures for proably 12 years plus. My current Printer (prusa Mk4 S+) is now several years old so not the best. Having first had a Makerbot and a cheap second hand small printer.

I do not understand the 3D printing is a hobby on its own statement. Never has been for me. Prusa printed straight "out the box" no ajustments after a quick get it to print like this (adjusting print height initially to look like the photo. Only eever changed the nozzle for a smaller one once and went back straigt away to the original, no improvement even at 1/144. Lines are a strange thing lots of folk mention them. They are invisible beyond 12" WHEN PAINTED AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT GAMING DISTANCE (MIN 29") unless you have very short arms

A decent FDM printer helps Prusa is acceptable. The other printer used independent slicer (Simplify 3D) but the Prusa software is fine and simple to use. As mentioned you do need somwhere to put it, stable temperature and somthing to stand it on. I sue a Paper printer stand, space underneath for Spare reel etc. It lives in my dining room no fus, no small and runns in "silent" mode, not silet but you can comfortably write you TMP posts when it running. Hyper cheap to run maybe 0.20 GBP per 1/144 tank for material.

Wow! Thanks for all the information. Fascinating! The Sarge's comment '3D printing is a hobby pursuit unto itself' seems very apposite. More research and consideration to follow.

I have been printing both resin and filament for a few years now. I enjoy it. However it IS a hobby unto its own- as while much of the time things go smoothly, there are always problems and you have to solve them. You are always looking for better ways to print, or tools that will life easier.

As an example, a lot of us use custom mixed resins to deal with the brittleness issue. (80% standard/20% Tenacious seems to work best).

It takes space, tools, supplies, and all manner of stuff. But I do love being able to crank out plate after plate of figures I like for quite literally pennies. My unpainted stash is massive, but I still love it.

And while the printers are good, they keep making giant leaps in technology, and so don't scrimp on getting a 'basic' machine. The difference between my Ender 3 and my newer Bambu labs A1 is light years.

There's a learning curve in both styles of printing. It takes some practice to learn the software, and learn about supporting either type. It can be REALLY frustrating at times, when you have to troubleshoot some crazy problem. It can be messy, and stinky, and often (resin especially) a pain in the butt. But I do love it so.