Are you thinking about purchasing a 3D printer? Sue O’Brien, TSBVI’s Tactile Graphics Guru shares her thoughts and experiences with 3D printers:
We have a Makerbot 5th Generation Replicator which we purchased from Makerbot. I also have experience with a Lulzbot Mini and find it to be reliable. There are also many others on the market today. Keep in mind you will be limited in what you print by the size of your build plate. In order for objects to be useful they need to be large enough for the user to distinguish what it is and various parts of it.
It is not difficult to set up a printer and begin printing by downloading files from online storage sites like Thingiverse. People should remember that these files are made by other makers and the quality is sometimes unknown until you actually begin to print it. To create your own files one needs experience working with a CAD program and the ability to draw using in a computer software program. There are free, like TinkerCad, Vectary, and Sketchup as well as some pricey programs out there. There is a learning curve to all of them.
Filament, the spools of plastic used to print 3D files, comes in several types. We have been using PLA only at TSBVI. I am attaching the Data sheets for both PLA and ABS. Because we often have students with health issues I haven’t used ABS due to it possibly releasing “vapors which may be irritating”.
Storage of filament is another issue. We had a great deal of difficulty printing shortly after beginning and through a lot of research discovered that filaments are effected by ambient moisture. We store our filament in airtight Ziplock containers with weathershield and keep Eva-Dry renewable mini-dehumidifiers in the containers. (I am not advertising for either Walmart of Home Depot, just wanted to provide a visual of the products).
We have printed a wide variety of objects for students. Some of the most popular have been replicas of famous buildings, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, Pyramids, and the Empire State Building. We have done replicas of the Star Wars X-Wings and B-Wings; there was interest after the release of the movie in December. We printed a differential with gears that move. This was printed in 10 pieces and glued together. And we print cones, conic sections, cubes, and other shapes for mathematics. We have also printed a variety of objects as cane charms that teachers have used as incentives or awards for student excellence.
Reposted from AER’s O&M listserv with Sue’s permission.
By Diane Brauner
