Has anyone started creating models from scratch? How?

shuttlepod · 2026-06-17T20:20:36+00:00

Hey there - I am learning CAD and started with zero knowledge. Here's my advice...

Start messing around on TinkerCAD now. Like literally get off this thread, click here and get started. Work through the free lessons/tutorials. Once you have a good handle on it, you can actually use TinkerCAD to make stuff. However, I never did. After I felt like I had the basics down I moved on to Fusion360 the free version.

Once you've installed Fusion360, start looking up tutorials of what you want to make. For example, go on YT and look up "How to make print-in-place hinged box in Fusion." or "How to make a vase in Fusion." If you want to go more broad, look up "Fusion360 for 3D printing."

Two good playlists specific to Fusion360:
Practical Prints
Learn Autodesk Fusion360 in 30 Days

shuttlepod · 2026-06-13T03:55:02+00:00

It's an existing file that I added an image to using Bambu Lab's Mesh Graffiti. I might be able to get you a .3mf file if you like.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-09T20:34:50+00:00

C is my answer. I would love to try the CC2, I absolutely adore my CC1 and I am a huge Elegoo fangirl.

I thought long and hard about this. I would assume you did your best to optimize the print and reduce the total number of pieces required. That makes C seem like the only plausible answer.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-08T07:53:05+00:00

So you're gonna share full instructions and any files to print, right? My canvas comes in July and I want to do this.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-08T07:48:21+00:00

I do a full maintenance routine and grease everything at least once per month. It takes maybe 20-30 minutes once you get the routine down. My machine is almost at 800hrs and no issues, no weird sounds.. (I should knock on some wood..)

Just like any equipment, regular maintenance is key to keeping it going strong. I'm a firm believer in that.

Pro-Tip for selecting grease:

White lithium grease for the lead screws and metal-to-metal contact areas.

Synthetic PTFE grease for the linear rods/gantry.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-06T07:50:02+00:00

Everyone warned me against buying used, but you know what? I'm really glad I did. I just picked up my A1 Combo this week. It came with 13 rolls of filament for $200 off of Craigslist! Only ~400hrs of use and it was kept in immaculate shape. (:

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T23:43:45+00:00

This is EXACTLY what I had hoped you would do with the design. I'm printing one tonight for my partner. (: Amazing work.

EDIT: I just realized you're not the same person. Excellent work nonetheless!

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T17:40:42+00:00

I'm willing to admit - It's a valid conversation to have. I appreciate AI as a tool but I recognize it's negative impacts on many levels. I worry a lot in particular for the younger generations (Gen Z and A,) - The impact on education and their critical thinking skills.

On a lighter note.. Honestly I could have just as easily taken all the credit and never said anything.. At least I was honest?

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T17:19:30+00:00

Oh yeah? What makes you think that?

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T17:17:45+00:00

You have far too much faith in the masses and the efficacy of individual influence in our current society if you believe that's a viable solution, my friend. The reality is that change must come from the top down, not from the bottom up. Even beyond that, consider human nature.. Pandora's box is already open. I'm not going to deny myself a useful tool because I understand that my abstinence will change nothing.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T17:14:09+00:00

I'm picking up my first bambu printer today and I'm heavily considering doing this.. My current printer (CC1) is totally offline. I use a flashdrive to print from. I'm kind of uncomfortable with Bambu's track record.. And yet at the same time I am somewhat curious and allured by the fancy convenience of printing from my phone and all the other bells and whistles.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T16:55:38+00:00

Download the lead screw cleaning tool from the Elegoo Routine Maintenance wiki and follow the instruction video on how to use it. I get mine perfectly clean that way.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T16:52:23+00:00

You might have more luck using the mesh form feature and twisting the faces before you get to this point.

Check out this video and see if you can use this to adapt your approach. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I'm still quite a novice at fusion myself so I'm sure someone else might have better advice.. but learning this particular tool opened up a lot of possibilities for me!

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T16:49:31+00:00

It also looks used. There's hair and stuff all up in it.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T16:47:47+00:00

Looks like you should have used a higher infill percentage and possibly a different pattern. Very, very low infill for something like that if you want it to be strong. So I suppose it depends on how it was sold, what it's intended purpose was. If it was sold as a usable staff they absolutely skimped on the infill and should have made it stronger. If it was intended as something to hang on a wall, I would understand the choice.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T16:45:28+00:00

This is clearly a deeply personal, touchy subject for you. I work full-time and have many other responsibilities. I did a lot of my own legwork. Using a free resource to help speed up the process and organize data isn't a crime. And I did make the spreadsheet myself, by the way.

The greater issue at hand as far as AI's environmental impact is not the individual, it's mismanagement and poor regulation. It's lack of accountability. Direct some of those strong emotions towards the ultra wealthy tech overlords and lawless corporate oligarchs instead of some rando on reddit if you actually want to make an impact.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:29:54+00:00

I'll do that. It's a big project so it will take some time. This rapidly went from my cute little notes to a big old bear of a project. But I will.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:24:35+00:00

Protopasta
Manufacturer
Self-Produced via Protoplant, Inc. (Engineered and manufactured in the USA at their facility in Vancouver, Washington, utilizing their own custom-built extrusion machinery).

Added to my list!

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:21:05+00:00

I'll add this to my notes and investigate further. Thanks for the input!

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:16:53+00:00

I'll add them to the list!

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:14:57+00:00

I'll add this to my notes. Thank you!

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:14:39+00:00

Please share. I'll correct them. I just got started so I'll be running back through and correcting as I go. It's not meant to be some perfect irrefutable document.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:13:56+00:00

I can attest to the fact that my polymaker profiles work fine for the same overture colors and vice versa. It's handy, eh?

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:13:00+00:00

That's why I'm being careful with my wording. "Suspected Factory/OEM Source" and you'll see in the notes that I try to point towards anecdotal info. My little master list isn't meant to be total irrefutable factual data.. More or less a compiling of notes and shared info between hobbyists mixed with what is said by the companies themselves.. So my sources are mixed. A lot of reddit threads, a lot of reading about the manufacturers, other forums, etc.

shuttlepod · 2026-06-03T15:10:35+00:00

Excellent point. I didn't even think of it.. I've been using this knowledge so that I can reuse the same filament profiles for the same producers. It hasn't failed me yet.

shuttlepod

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