The 3 D’s of 3D printing: Design, Digitize, and Develop

It has taken about forty years for 3D printing to be as accessible as it is today. When it was invented a few decades ago, only those who had hundreds of thousands of dollars to their name were able to purchase and use a 3D printer. Today, with print-on-demand 3D printing, you don’t even need to own a printer in order to create 3D versions of your 2D creations. 

All you need is a sketch of your project plus a few free software downloads and you’re on your way to bringing your ideas to life like never before. You can personalize your bookshelf with a pair of plastic fuschia bookends. Crafting sparkling jewelry, eye-catching keychains, and an adorable pet ID tag are just a few of the ways you can get started with 3D printing. 

Introduction to 3D Printing

If you’re scratching your head and wondering how you can have no 3D modeling experience, no related software, and no printer but still be able 3D print your creations, you’re about to be wowed by the world of 3D. 

Designing Your 2D Sketch 

As with any creative project, the first step to success is a little bit of brainstorming because it’s time to choose what you’re going to print today. You might already have a leather-bound sketchbook filled with ideas that are just waiting to be turned into 3D printer files. It’s also completely fine if you don’t consider yourself a top-notch illustrator. When it comes to 3D printing for the first time, the simpler your creation is, the better. 

Flip through a nearby magazine, head out into nature or reserve a ticket to a local museum if you’re looking for extra creative help. By getting inspired from the world around you instead of from other 3D artists, you’ll be able to create something that is more unique to you.  

Also, keep in mind the materials you want to use for your final product as each has different properties. When you 3D print, you’ll likely use filaments made of different materials in order to construct the 3D object. Nylon is slightly flexible, difficult to break and inexpensive. Wood filament has a classy, timber-like aesthetic. But there are a ton of other 3D materials including: 

• ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
• PLA (polylactic acid)
• Titanium
• Standard resins
• Stainless steel
• Aluminum  

If you already have some 3D modeling experience, you can also create your object directly in a 3D software. You might have to learn how to use Fusion 360 or watch an Autocad training, but these tools will help you optimize your 3D creation process. Plus, if you do this, you can skip through the next few steps that show how to convert your 2D sketch into a 3D file. 

Digitizing A 2D Sketch

The first step to getting your 2D sketch ready to be 3D printed is to digitize it. The easiest way to do so is just to whip out your smartphone and take a picture. If you don’t have a smartphone, a digital camera or a scanner will also work.

Now, take your image or scan and upload it to your computer. There you have it, your sketch has made its way into the digital world!

Converting A 2D Sketch into a SVG File

Have you ever zoomed so far into a picture that you can see that it’s made up of tiny different colored squares? Those are pixels and they make up every inch of the screen you’re currently looking at. While they work wonderfully in digital imaging, pixels do not translate into 3D objects so you have to convert your image from pixels into vectors. 

A vector is a mathematics and physics term that defines something with both magnitude and direction. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about the complicated mathematics that goes on behind the scenes in hardware and software. These days, you can vectorize an image with the click of a button. 

In Adobe Illustrator, you can vectorize your image by clicking on the “Image Trace” tool under the “Properties” and then “Quick Actions” panels. There are a few different image trace options, which you can explore later, but for now, choose “High Fidelity Photo.” Then, click “expand” and voilà your image is vectorized. 

Finally, export your image as SVG and it’s ready to be sent over to your 3D software. 

If you don’t have Illustrator and are looking for a free option, you can download Inkscape and try out the “Trace Bitmap” feature. It takes a little longer, but will still create a high-quality file just like Illustrator. Plus, it will automatically save as an SVG file, which is what you’ll need for the next step. 

Developing your Drawing into a 3D Object

You’re free to do a little happy dance here because you're finally getting into 3D territory. Because of this, you’ll need some sort of 3D software to continue. 

One of the best free options is Blender. Within Blender, all you have to do is upload your SVG file onto your viewport. If you’ve never used Blender before, it might feel a little overwhelming at first. Luckily, there are tons of Blender tutorials out there that can provide some guidance when it comes to navigation and 3D creation. 

Once you have a basic understanding of Blender, just enter EditMode and select all of your vertices. You can do this by simply clicking the A key. Then, by pressing E and Z at the same time, you can increase the height of your drawing and turn it into a 3D object. 

If you’re looking for something with an interface that’s a little easier to navigate, Tinkercad is a free 3D web application you can also use. No matter how you go about turning your 2D sketch into a 3D object, export your image as STL. This is the file format you’ll use if you’re sending your file to be printed by a 3D printing service. 

Slicing Your Model for 3D Printing

If you’re printing your 3D object yourself with 3D home printing or with a printer at your school or local library, you’ll need to complete one more prep step before printing. In 3D printing, slicing is processing your 3D print model and providing instruction to your printer on how to print it. 

You can easily slice your object by using a slicing software like Cura, Simplify3D or PrusaSlicer. 

Taking 3D Model to the Printer

It’s time to print your object! Each printer has different qualities, but in general you’ll just need to send your sliced file over to your printer to begin the process. Before you begin printing, you should have the correct material loaded as well as the correct nozzle size installed.

Once you begin printing, it’s finally time to sit back and relax. You’ve brainstormed, filled your sketchbook with inky drawings, and transformed a 2D sketch into a 3D file, and now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Depending on how complicated your object is, it could take hours to days to print it. So here, you can start on another project or work on perfecting your current one.  

Finalizing Your 3D Object

Depending on what you decide to make, there will be some post-processing involved once your object is done printing. This can include sanding, welding and gluing your object or pieces of your object in order to get it to its final iteration. 

If you printed a gray strawberry keychain, you can also spend time here adding some green and red paint to your creation. In other projects, you might polish, coat or smooth out your design to hide any filament lines or create a shiny finish. No matter how you decide to finish your 3D object, congratulations are in order. You’ve made it through all the steps needed to make a completely unique 3D model.  

More 3D Printing Software Options

Now that you’ve made it through all the steps to create your own 3D object, it’s time to dive into some more 3D printing resources. 

Autocad

Used to create both 2D and 3D projects, Autocad is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) software. Loved by architects, civil engineers, and designers, Autocad is a great option for professionals who need design software with 2D and 3D capabilities. 

Blender

This is easily one of the most popular 3D creation suites. Blender is completely free and accessible to experts and newcomers alike. You can use it for creating computer games, animations and for design projects. 

Fusion 360

With a user interface that is a little less cluttered than Blender, 3D printing with Fusion 360 is a great choice for those solely interested in 3D design. Fusion 360 is best for mechanical drawings or designs. 

Additional 3D Printing Ideas

With so many cool things to 3D print, it can be difficult to choose which project is best for you. Adorable animals, lifelike characters, striped vases and kaleidoscopic flowers are just a few fun options. The material you use can also influence your decision, so consider brainstorming your 3D printing ideas based on the materials you want to use.  

Filament projects

Most 3D materials are available as filaments. Wood filament can make beautiful bowls and works well for projects with natural themes like plants and animals. Nylon filament makes gorgeous geometric shapes and tough containers. 

Resin projects

One of the most popular materials among creatives, resin is used to 3D print by using light to cure the resin layer by layer. Resin can print a model with minute details, which makes it a great choice for more complicated art like characters and historical figures. 

Metal projects

Metal 3D printing uses a metal-based powder and a laser to fuse the powder together in the right places. Often used to create tools, you can create functional pieces like screws and gears as well as creative designs like a shiny, aluminum crown. 

The 3D World Awaits

You’ve done it! Hopefully, your mind is whirring with new ideas and you’re looking forward to starting on your next project. There is a huge community of 3D creators online where you can ask questions, join groups, and work together with others with similar passions.

You can even find galleries of free 3D objects that you can print or just use for inspiration. This next week, try exploring the world of 3D through social media and online discussion boards like Reddit. You’re one step closer to creating an entire collection of your 3D designs.  

Written By

Calli Zarpas

Producer & Writer by occupation. Ceramicist & Newsletter Editor by avocation.

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