OK..... Who the heck is responsible for this 3D printer craze??????

[Runs With Scissors]

Did you go with the Atom3d software? Their licensing programs have a couple of options. Which one did you go with?

I originally did the "30 day free trial" with Atom3D.

They were having a sale at the time,(20% off I think), so at the end of the free trial, I had decided that I liked the Alibre interface, so I bought the Atom3D license. (~$200 I think)

Then I started to get a little better with Atom3d and since I am kind of "impatient", I was soon wanting/needing some of the features/shortcuts that the Alibre Pro offered.

I also reasoned that since I have a CNC Plasma cutter, and a 3D printer, there is probably not any "turning back", so I may as well get good at the "computer stuff".

So I decided to "bite the bullet" and pony up for Alibre Pro.(~$1,000)

I don't personally need the features that their "Design Expert" offers, so the Pro was a good fit for me.

I emailed my sales person about a month after I bought Atom3D and they let me upgrade for the cost difference between the two, and I did to the 10 month payment plan to help take some of the "sting" out of the price.



Something else to keep in mind is your machine that your going to use to run it.

I had to "upgrade" (aka "replace") my laptop in order to run it, because it was bringing my machine to "it's knees".

My machine was so slow, when I clicked on a command, it would take 30 seconds for it to react. I did not realize how intense the hardware requirements were/are for these types of programs..........

I ended up returning 2 other laptops before getting one with an "acceptable" Drive/Ram/Video card combo, (and it's only just "acceptable", not great..................), so it's been an expensive few months.

If your going to use a "desk top" machine, then it will be a lot cheaper/easier to get acceptable computer performance, but I need the portability of a laptop.

 

[Sidekick]

Amen to that.

The crazy part is that I only wanted on one "kind of".

But now that I am making stuff with it, it's crazy how the ideas are just "flowing".

Have you seen the new laser welders / cnc cutters that can cut super precision parts and make perfect welds for all ? The next big thing for consumers. Fun spending others money 🫣.

 

[Sidekick]

I originally did the "30 day free trial" with Atom3D.

They were having a sale at the time,(20% off I think), so at the end of the free trial, I had decided that I liked the Alibre interface, so I bought the Atom3D license. (~$200 I think)

Then I started to get a little better with Atom3d and since I am kind of "impatient", I was soon wanting/needing some of the features/shortcuts that the Alibre Pro offered.

I also reasoned that since I have a CNC Plasma cutter, and a 3D printer, there is probably not any "turning back", so I may as well get good at the "computer stuff".

So I decided to "bite the bullet" and pony up for Alibre Pro.(~$1,000)

I don't personally need the features that their "Design Expert" offers, so the Pro was a good fit for me.

I emailed my sales person about a month after I bought Atom3D and they let me upgrade for the cost difference between the two, and I did to the 10 month payment plan to help take some of the "sting" out of the price.



Something else to keep in mind is your machine that your going to use to run it.

I had to "upgrade" (aka "replace") my laptop in order to run it, because it was bringing my machine to "it's knees".

My machine was so slow, when I clicked on a command, it would take 30 seconds for it to react. I did not realize how intense the hardware requirements were/are for these types of programs..........

I ended up returning 2 other laptops before getting one with an "acceptable" Drive/Ram/Video card combo, (and it's only just "acceptable", not great..................), so it's been an expensive few months.

If your going to use a "desk top" machine, then it will be a lot cheaper/easier to get acceptable computer performance, but I need the portability of a laptop.

I bought one of the Beelink mini computers with a ryzen 7 chip, 32g ram and 1 t ssd for $300 and a small monitor for running Alibre and it's fast. 3d printed a mount to make a tiny pc that can also plug into my big monitor.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

I draw them in Alibre ( A CAD program I bought), then I hit "save as",

Then I go back in the menu and there is an option to "export as STL".

I hit that, then I get the "STL. file.

After that, I dump the STL file into my "Orca slicer" (a free program) and it produces a "G- Code file" that the printer can read, (I guess?) Then it will print.

{If I sound like I know what I am talking about???...... I don't really.....I have only been stumbling/bumbling along, and doing this computer stuff for a few months}



I hate being dependent on others so, I wanted to learn how to draw so that I could "make my own custom" stuff.

( even though it generally costs me more money to 'tool up', I can't help it....Its a personality flaw/trait)

Great INFO! Thank you!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I bought one of the Beelink mini computers with a ryzen 7 chip, 32g ram and 1 t ssd for $300 and a small monitor for running Alibre and it's fast. 3d printed a mount to make a tiny pc that can also plug into my big monitor.
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Yea, thats a nice little set up for sure.

I wish I did not need the "portability" because those laptops are expensive, but "It is, what it is".

Once I get done "working for the man", I will be able to have a "home based machine" , but until then, I just whip out the Visa, bend over, and yell

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Have you seen the new laser welders / cnc cutters that can cut super precision parts and make perfect welds for all ? The next big thing for consumers. Fun spending others money 🫣.

I have not,......and thats just pure evil sir, to even mention that to a "tool junkie"!

 

[Yooper]

Have you seen the new laser welders / cnc cutters that can cut super precision parts and make perfect welds for all ? The next big thing for consumers. Fun spending others money 🫣.

Stumbled on an ad for a 3d metal printer and got really excited. Said to myself if this thing is under 10k I’m in. Took some searching but it was 260k. Cold water on that one.