All Glossary

3D Design

3D Design software has revolutionized traditional ceramic manufacturing, now it is accessible to hobbyists and potters.

Key phrases linking here: fusion 360, 3d design, shapr - Learn more

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The biggest hurdle to adopting 3D printing is choosing and learning to use 3D design software. The processing power, multi-function mouse, connectivity and screen of a desktop computer are essential for this. And you need the desktop computer to handle the 3D slicer software anyway. And 3D design software has decades of maturity on the desktop.

Actually, some of what I just said is no longer accurate. 3D design is moving to the iPad. As of 2022 Shapr is taking an industry leading modelling engine, ParaSolid (the power behind SolidWorks), to the iPad. Although not free it also runs on desktop and enables working on the same design on both devices.

Choosing which 3D package to adopt is generally governed by what those assisting you are using (the complexity of learning this is not something to do alone). As already noted, learning a 3D design software package can be the most overwhelming part of getting into 3D printing. To prevent becoming overwhelmed it is vital to have a reliable helper (a consultant) and be willing to spend some money (e.g. $500 over some months) to guide you through the creation of several things. I recommend using Upwork.com to find a consultant. And Fusion 360 as the designer.

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Fusion 360, my choice for the ultimate in 3D modelling

Intimidation by the complexity of this type of software is the biggest obstacle you will face to learning 3D design (for 3D-printing). Fusion 360 is the new mission of AutoDesk, the leader in CAD software for 30 years, bringing much of the power of their industrial strength Inventor product into the hands of everyone! Fusion 360 has a lot of advantages. It is a standard. There is a simple learning curve via their Tinkercad.com, videos on Youtube, easy online help and many freelancers to hire (at Upwork.com). It is free to qualifying users (teachers, students or people who earn less that $100k/yr), the fact that software of this kind of power and utility is actually available to anyone that wants to try it is amazing. Fusion 360 (and other 3D design products) cannot run 3D printers (3D slicers do that). Fusion 360 is very demanding on the processor and graphics hardware of your computer, typical laptops are not powerful enough.

This drawing of a beer bottle shows how far parametric can go

This is Fusion 360. The profile was drawn and various measurements parameterized. That means the measurements were given names (e.g. body_diameter, thickness). This makes it it possible to change many aspects of the geometry of this shape by just editing the parameter numbers.

A parametrically-drawn clay slab cookie-cutter

You may already know that I am very excited about the potential of 3D printing for creating aids to making pottery. I glue four of these together to create a cookie cutter for producing my slab-built mugs. For different sizes of mugs I need cutters with different geometries. This is quarter-cutter and it has been drawn "parametrically" using Fusion 360. That means that certain aspects of its geometry (two lengths and one angle) can be changed by simply changing the parameters (in the Parameters dialog). The drawing then adjusts automatically. It is magic! Other aspects are fixed (e.g. the right-angle, the pucker-preventing hole cutouts, the height, thickness). Parametric design is revolutionary, it fits my try-it-adjust-it-try-it-again way of working. And, I can label these printed quarters according to the parameters, in this case 45-25-108.

Fusion 360 on YouTube

Popular gurus get millions of views on their videos. Lars Christensen and Tyler Beck are popular contributors. Each of them has plenty of videos to teach you everything you need to know to get started designing for your ceramic production. If you get stuck, there are hundreds of places on line to go to find help. It is helpful if you know how to do a screen recording (e.g. using Screencast-o-Matic) to be able to demonstrate your problem. Getting specific answers to specific problems is a surefire way to progress in your knowledge. The first item to learn is sketching, if you can master that much of what you did will be modifying sketches (e.g. extruding, revolving, sweeping and lofting them).

Inbound Photo Links

The Prusa Slicer generates G-Code for 3D-printing

Make your own pyrometric cones? Why not!

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