Recently I found that Cura (a 3D slicer program) can support OctoPrint, only with an added plugin that I can install with the plugins tab. Before this plugin, I could not use Octoprint with Cura because it wasn’t on Cura’s supported list of network printers when using their “MONITOR” tab.
How does this plugin help with printing?
This plugin saves me a bunch of time and also a bunch of not-needed copies of multiple 3D GCODE files. Since instead of “save file” I can choose to just start printing directly to the 3D printer, and then head to the tab built into the app and preview the temperature and view the camera.
Above: Cura program with the monitor tab
For more information on the plugin visit their app on Cura’s website Here
Today I’ve decided not to make a donut but instead design something different and learn what I need to make that project work. I will continue watching the video series for helpful tips I might need in the future. Because the Donut Guru “learning blender series” is still beneficial even if I’m not creating the exact design he’s using in the videos.
I’ve learned how to find and use custom textures for different projects. I came across a website called PolyHaven. Polyhaven provides textures for free without even having to create an account on its website. As they said on their main page:
100% Free
Not just free, but CC0, meaning you can use them for absolutely any purpose without restrictions.
No paywalls or signup required. Simply download what you want and use it immediately without worry.
And their assets are also exceptionally high quality! I also found when applying textures, you don’t use the texture menu button for applying textures, but you can use a different tab for applying picture textures. I recommend watching this video:
I just started learning Blender. My goal for a blender is to create more detailed 3D models either for a 3D render or for my 3D Prints when I can’t make it in the 3D builder or other more straightforward programs.
At first, Blender is highly confusing because I’m used to other 3D programs being super easy and straightforward to learn. For example, even just moving around and viewing your model, you use the scroll wheel by pressing it down and holding it, then moving your mouse. This is different from the other 3D programs I used before because they would use the left or right-click to move around. But after an hour, I had felt like I knew the basics, and I started a tutorial where you can learn how to make a donut.
Here’s the video series if you want to watch it so far. It’s a fantastic series:
Recently I got back into 3d printing, and after I set up OctoPi with my Ender-3, the first thing I printed was keycaps for one of the specific characters from a video game called Valorant. Keycaps are the keys that you press on when you type on a mechanical keyboard (click here for a better explanation.) (Valorant is a game I play with my two brothers Nicholas and Simeon).
In valorant, a 5v5 shooter-based game with about twenty characters, each has about four unique abilities that can help them perform in the field and switch from your in-game gun to one of your abilities, you press a key that you set on your keyboard. The keycaps I made are for each one of those abilities.
I found a 3D model keycap for only one character from Valorant on Thingiverse. Still, since there are about 20 different characters and they are constantly adding more characters every couple of months, there aren’t many free keycap 3d model designs for each specific character out there. But after looking up a couple of videos and testing different ideas, I concluded that designing them in software called 3D Builder was the easiest, thanks to this video which introduced me to the program:
And after playing around with the program (which was a lot easier to learn than I thought.) I created keycaps for my brother Simeon and Nicholas, who play different characters than I usually play. For future reference, I found that the following steps were the best for making new keycaps:
STEP 1:
Find the character you want to make the keycaps for on the Valorant fandom page, which you can find here. For example, this is Chamber’s page, then click on one of the pictures of the abilities you want to use, then right-click the image and click “save image as” and call it whatever the name of the power was (tip: create a folder to add all of the files that will be used for making the keycaps just to keep it organized)
Click “Edit” on the top menu bar, then choose “Emboss.” Then click the “Pattern” dropdown button and select “Load” to find the picture of the previously saved characters’ ability that you wanted on the keycap and double click it once opened make sure that the “Bevel” button on the top menu is not selected. And move the image onto the blank top of the keycap and center it, then drag the green double arrow up as high as you want the picture to pop out. Then hit “Emboss.” If you need help, here’s a short video
STEP 4:
Now just press the hamburger menu button on the top left of the app and hit “Save as,” and save as STL, OBJ, or whatever file type you prefer. Then open the 3D model file in your slicer (I use Cura as it is the easiest for me). In Cura, there is a feature called support blocking, which, as the name implies, blocks the 3D printer from printing supports where you want it to. Click the “Support Blocking” button on the left side menu and then press everywhere on the bottom inside of the keycap except for the small cross-section where you attach the keycap to your keyboard, for example, this video:
And that’s it! If you need help in any way, write a comment below this post or contact me via email at the top of this site.
