So You Just Bought A MakerBot

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While we'd all love to have infinite budget to buy all the best toys, the fact of the matter is most of us enthusiasts are either students, parents, or employed in fields that don't need the tools. With that in mind, here are the free and mostly open source (SketchUp is free of cost but not open source) tools I use: While we'd all love to have infinite budget to buy all the best toys, the fact of the matter is most of us enthusiasts are either students, parents, or employed in fields that don't need the tools. With that in mind, here are the free and mostly open source (SketchUp is free of cost but not open source) tools I use:
-* ReplicatorG 0014: http://replicat.org/download+=== ReplicatorG 0014 ===
-** Installation instructions: http://replicat.org/installation-mac+Get It: http://replicat.org/download
-** If you haven't done any arduino stuff, be sure to explicitly install the included FTDI USB2TTL drivers.+* Installation instructions: http://replicat.org/installation-mac
 +* If you haven't done any arduino stuff, be sure to explicitly install the included FTDI USB2TTL drivers.
-* Python (preferably v2.6) if it's not there already.+=== Python ===
-** I use MacPorts (http://www.macports.org/) for my CLI tools.+* preferably v2.6
 +* I use MacPorts (http://www.macports.org/) for my Command-Line Interface (CLI) tools.
-* SkeinFox, v1.5: http://wiki.github.com/jmil/SkeinFox/+=== SkeinFox v1.5 (Mac only) ===
 +Get It: http://wiki.github.com/jmil/SkeinFox/
** A more friendly UI for skeinforge slicing models. ** A more friendly UI for skeinforge slicing models.
** Install git-1.6.5.1 for OS X: http://code.google.com/p/git-osx-installer/downloads/list?can=3 ** Install git-1.6.5.1 for OS X: http://code.google.com/p/git-osx-installer/downloads/list?can=3
** Download & Install SkeinFox: http://github.com/jmil/SkeinFox/downloads ** Download & Install SkeinFox: http://github.com/jmil/SkeinFox/downloads
-* Pleasant3D: http://www.pleasantsoftware.com/developer/pleasant3d/index.shtml+=== Pleasant3D ===
-** For visualizing STL models before slicing and the resulting GCode after slicing.+Get It: http://www.pleasantsoftware.com/developer/pleasant3d/index.shtml
-** Very useful for centring and repositioning STL models for optimal build platform printing.+* For visualizing STL models before slicing and the resulting GCode after slicing.
 +* Very useful for centring and repositioning STL models for optimal build platform printing.
-* MeshLab: http://www.meshlab.org/+=== MeshLab ===
-** Useful for troubleshooting 3D model issues, converting between formats, scaling from imperial to metric units, etc.+Get It: http://www.meshlab.org/
 +* Useful for troubleshooting 3D model issues, converting between formats, scaling from imperial to metric units, etc.
-* Blender 2.49b: http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/+=== Blender 2.49b ===
 +Get It: http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/
-* OpenSCAD: http://openscad.org/+=== OpenSCAD ===
 +Get It: http://openscad.org/
** Use the "openscad-latest.dmg" version: http://www.kintel.net/public/openscad-latest.dmg ** Use the "openscad-latest.dmg" version: http://www.kintel.net/public/openscad-latest.dmg
-* Google SketchUp 7 (not Pro): http://sketchup.google.com/download/gsu.html+=== Google SketchUp 7 (not Pro) ===
 +Get It: http://sketchup.google.com/download/gsu.html
-* Arduino 0018+=== Arduino 0018 ===
-** http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software+Get It: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
== Start Building! == == Start Building! ==

Revision as of 19:22, 4 May 2010

Contents

So You Just Bought a MakerBot

You raised the funds, placed the pre-order, waited a few weeks, then suddenly received the shipment notification e-mail. Now What?

Well, the first thing you (or your group) need to do is tool-up for the build.

Tooling Up

  • For Everything
    • Empty egg carton(s) to manage all the little nuts, bolts and washers.
    • Metric wrench set or a couple of small adjustable wrenches
    • Needle nose pliers
  • For the Plastruder
    • Soldering iron
      • If you haven't already, invest in at least one good Weller-type iron with settable temperature.
    • Electronics solder
    • Hook-up wire

Optional But Useful

  • Multimeter
  • 3mm or 1/8" drill bit
  • Painters tape
  • Thermocouple-based temperature probe
  • Metric hex key set
    • If not at your local hardware store, check out sports and cycling shops for sets.
  • Magnifier lamp
  • Dremel with cutting wheel
    • Useful when bolts and threaded rods turn out to be longer than desired
  • Protective eyewear
    • Use when cutting and/or drilling
  • Fan/ventilation
    • Use when soldering.

Soft(ware) Skillz

While we'd all love to have infinite budget to buy all the best toys, the fact of the matter is most of us enthusiasts are either students, parents, or employed in fields that don't need the tools. With that in mind, here are the free and mostly open source (SketchUp is free of cost but not open source) tools I use:

ReplicatorG 0014

Get It: http://replicat.org/download

Python

SkeinFox v1.5 (Mac only)

Get It: http://wiki.github.com/jmil/SkeinFox/

Pleasant3D

Get It: http://www.pleasantsoftware.com/developer/pleasant3d/index.shtml

  • For visualizing STL models before slicing and the resulting GCode after slicing.
  • Very useful for centring and repositioning STL models for optimal build platform printing.

MeshLab

Get It: http://www.meshlab.org/

  • Useful for troubleshooting 3D model issues, converting between formats, scaling from imperial to metric units, etc.

Blender 2.49b

Get It: http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/

OpenSCAD

Get It: http://openscad.org/

Google SketchUp 7 (not Pro)

Get It: http://sketchup.google.com/download/gsu.html

Arduino 0018

Get It: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

Start Building!

It's Built! Now What?

Before you dive head-first into your first print, run through the following sanity checks.

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