3D Printing and Wargaming
3D Printing and Wargaming
cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/3884192
For the purpose of miniature wargaming, I’m considering getting into 3D printing because there are tons of amazing sculpts I’d love to get my hands on.
A couple of questions, though
I’ll admit I know next to nothing about 3D printing, but I could spend up to 300 eurodollars (or a bit more) on a 3D printer. Are there any key things to consider when picking up a printer? I don’t need the cheapest model, as price isn’t the main reason I’m getting into 3D printing. I care quite a bit about the quality of the finished models.
I live in an apartment, so does this even work logistically? I’m aware there are some health hazards with resin/3D printing—how serious should my concerns be about that? (That’s why I’m asking here and not in a 3D printing subreddit, where folks might be biased.)
Are there any recommended communities or YouTube channels for 3D printing? As I mentioned, I’ll be using this primarily for gaming miniatures and possibly wargaming terrain, not for other 3D-printable items.
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FDM is basically fine except for a few types of plastic like ABS. There might be some risk of microplastics but you're already getting plenty of those just by existing in currentyear.
Resin does need to be air filtered or ventilated, plus you'd need an extra machine for washing/curing, but it is a lot better at the kinds of fine details and overhangs miniatures need.
Creality makes cheap, decent machines you will have to tinker with. Prusa makes nice and reliable but expensive machines. Bambu makes shiny traps with proprietary firmware and chips on the spools that they pinkie swear they won't use to lock you in to their "ecosystem".
Pretty much, also I'm pretty sure prusa are still all open hardware so you can do your own thing if you enjoy suffering.
I will say you should probably not run a fdm machine in the same room as you without filtration. I would recommend enclosing them for myriad reasons, and in the enclosure run a fan that forces air through a filter and activated carbon. No reason to increase exposure to VOCs and microplastics.
If you get a fdm that can dual material fiddly prints become a lot easier as you can use a support material you can dissolve off. That starts getting expensive.
Also consider material running cost. Resin is expensive (but minis don't use much), plastic is cheaper but not that much cheaper buying quality, adding in supports, and dealing with failed prints.
Pretty much the entire FDM printer industry is built on the back of Prusa's open hardware.
You're probably not wrong about the microplastics, but worrying about microplastics from FDM in a world filled with cars kinda feels to me like using a paper straw when there are private jets.