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Not interested in being a Hub, but have aquired 2 makerbot replicators to use at my schools (biology dept).

I have 2 new computers to run the systems, but need advice on software.

Obviously I will install the makerbot desktop, but I want to get to the point I can either design or scan in images and turn them into printable files. I have an autocad licence.

so what software, and scanner would you guys recomend to be able to scan 2D images, and turn them into 3D models, as well as scanning in a 3D model and reproducing it?

thanks

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I think these are separate questions. To make a 2D image into a 3D model, you can use something like google sketch up or Photoshop. If you are looking into learning designing from scratch, Blender or AutoCAD are the way to go for more sophisticated designs, and TinkerCAD is good for the simple stuff. As for 3d scanners, you would have to ask someone else.

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Hi Carl - where is your school based?

martin

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Hi @slowstepper to be honest, 3D scanning is one of the more difficult disciplines in this “profession” and while there are plenty of people out there who are very good at it, it’s still quite a long way from being something that works “out of the box” down at the reasonable price level. Perhaps more importantly, to produce good 3D models from 3D scans requires not only good scanning gear, but also experience with 3D modelling in general (which you may have, if you’ve got an AutoCad license), and also 3D printing itself. Half the trick of good printing is knowing how to build and orient your models, which materials to use, and so on.

2D to 3D depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re after simple lithographs there are free programs and sites out there to help produce printable files (just Google “3d print lithograph”). If you want to produce a model of a building from photos, Autodesk Remake might be good, especially as it’s free for educators, though I’ve never used it in anger so can’t comment on quality or ease of use.

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For software for mightboard based machines you basically have 2 options: Makerbot Desktop or Simplify3D. Simplify3D is by and far the best solution, but it’s an additional $150 and that puts some people off but I say I’ve spent more for upgrades to my printer that did less. You could potentially run cura or slic3r through the same post processing that Simplify3D does to turn their gcode into the required X3g, but that solution is very DIY.

As for scanners, there’s nothing that I know of on the market less than $1000 that does the job, and believe me I’ve tried. The Afinia ES360 is the only scanner I know that’s accurate and actually works. https://store.afinia.com/Afinia-ES360-3D-Scanner-with-Turntable\_p\_93.html?\_ga=1.113212484.1916170062.1473857770

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my process for taking a 2D image and turning it into 3D is to scan the drawing (which can be done with a camera), then load it into inkscape, trace the image to get a line, isolate a single trace, delete the rest. save the SVG and import it into Blender to extrude it and do other modeling.

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For a slicing software I recommend simplify 3d hands down, this slicer let’s you tweak settings and add supports in ways that makerbot desktop just cannot do. However dont get me wrong makerobot desktop is a good place to start. For design software there are a few choices. 123d from autodesk is extremely simplistic and easy to learn, but you can’t do as may things with the model. Autodesk inventor pro, or the new onemail from autodesk “fusion 360” are pretty good. I have been using fusion 360 lately to see what it is like. It will be a little harder to learn if you are a beginner however they have plenty of tutorials on their website to help. The best part about this software is that it is FREE for students and educators so you and you students may be able to get it for free. It’s worth noting that Fusion 360 is cloud based so a student can start a project in school and finish it at home, or they can share the project with others for help.

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Hi @slowstepper, I have a Makerbot scanner that works well for scanning small objects and has very durable construction. I’d be willing to sell it for very cheap if you’re interested in having one in your classroom. Let me know!

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Make sure you understand that the machine needs file format (stl.) to be able to slice your files and prepare them for printing. You can use any number of free software program (tikercad, Cad123, etc) to convert you 2D drawings into 3D models. You say you currently have a AutoCAD license, so you can go to Autodesk.com and down load a 3 year license for autodesk Inventor for free (because you are a school).

This software has the functions to export and prepare your stl. file easier and will help speed up the slow Makerbot software.

If you are accepting files from other location via the web, you can use software like 3DPrinterOS to prep those files and help speed up the process.

I teach and have a 3D print lab at a local college and have found these to be a few of the problem you will need to solve to effectively use your new machine.

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Also Autodesk Fusion 360 has the same deal for school, hobbyist. I use this software and if you have recent AutoCAD experience you will probably find it fairly easy to get going with.

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If you have enough time to do so. Autodesk’s 123 catch is an option as well. It’s photogammetry (sp?). If you follow the tutorial - a fairly short learning curve - you get some good results; best for stationary objects and photos can be taken at reasonable distances.

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The first thing to realize is that the workflow for 3D depends very much on what you’re working on, and the tools will need to be selected based on that.

In “2D printing”, you could be working on (for example) art, engineering drawings, photography, spreadsheets, or text documents – they are quite different in nature and require different software. Scanning for 2D differs here, too - scanning for photography has very different needs from scanning for text documents.

Similarly, for 3D, you need to decide what it is you are trying to accomplish, and then let that dictate what tools and techniques you will use. Scanning for reproducing sculpted works will differ from scanning for reverse-engineering.

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