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The Personal Manufacturing site didn't have enough activity during the beta, and has been closed. You can download the data dump of all questions here.

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Personal Manufacturing

Q&A site for operators of 3D printers, hackerspace communities, and others interested in making physical things with computers.

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All you people into the maker movement with overlap into digital logic, please commit for area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/20632/… – Prof. Falken May 31 '12 at 14:58

45 Example Questions (8 closed)

active newest votes
up vote 21 down vote
Where is subtractive rapid prototyping more appropriate than additive rapid prototyping?
added by Joseph Flaherty, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 9:39
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up vote 19 down vote
What kinds of shapes are difficult to print on a MakerBot/RepRap and how can you hack machine performance to achieve them?
added by Joseph Flaherty Oct 8 '10 at 0:46
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up vote 19 down vote
What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of 3D printers made by Stratasys, 3D Systems, Z Corporation, and Objet Geometries?
added by Joseph Flaherty, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 9:41
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up vote 15 down vote
My school wants to set up a "Fab Lab" what are the key pieces of equipment we should get and where should we buy them? [closed]
added by Joseph Flaherty Oct 8 '10 at 0:47
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closed as not constructive by Mark Booth, Dori Oct 3 '11 at 2:09

This question is not a good fit to our Q&A format. We expect answers to generally involve facts, references, or specific expertise; this question will likely solicit opinion, debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion.

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The question conflates two questions, what and where. I would vote what as being on-topic, but where as being off-topic. Product/supplier recommendations go out of date and it's difficult to unseat an product once it's become popular, even if something better has come along. – Mark Booth Jul 18 '11 at 19:09
up vote 13 down vote
Is there a standard computer language/method for communicating with 3D printers regardless of brand? If not, what are the obstacles to creating it?
added by Kevin Nov 30 '10 at 15:48
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up vote 11 down vote
I'd like to print scale "cast-concrete" parts for modelers, including scale rebar inside. What 3D printers will print over/around frame-/lattice-work?
added by warren Nov 2 '10 at 18:23
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up vote 10 down vote
How many prototypes do I have to make before owning a 3D printer, laser cutter, or mill is more cost effective than outsourcing to a service bureau?
added by Joseph Flaherty, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 9:38
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up vote 10 down vote
What are the differences between the current models of Rep Raps?
added by leeand00 Nov 3 '10 at 1:30
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I like this question, but seems like it'd need to be updated for every new product release – warren Nov 3 '10 at 3:31
Might be able to fix that by adding "as of November 2010." Many of the potential questions on this site are ones that will have a different answer in a year or two, anyway. – oskay Jul 8 '11 at 20:52
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that's not necessarily out of line with SE's system: programming languages change, but you can still ask questions about python on StackOverflow. – Dogmatixed Oct 20 '11 at 23:56
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Well I suppose this could be asked less generally like, whAt are the merits of model x vs. model y, given that I want to use it to print z. – leeand00 Oct 22 '11 at 0:11
up vote 10 down vote
What is the cost tipping point before home-use 3D printers become commonplace, and can we reference 2D printer history to help us figure out a cost?
added by Kevin Nov 30 '10 at 15:41
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up vote 10 down vote
How do I convert file format [X] to work with my 3D printer / cutter?
added by Max Kielland, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 9:32
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up vote 10 down vote
Are the printing materials ABS and PLA used for 3D printing recyclable? And if so, is there any way to add the correct PETE stamp to a printed object?
added by leeand00, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 8:59
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up vote 8 down vote
What are some good, low-cost or (preferably) open source 3D CAD options to design parts for CNC milling?
added by oskay, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 8:54
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up vote 7 down vote
How can I convert a STEP file to an obj file?
added by leeand00 Nov 3 '10 at 14:35
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up vote 5 down vote
What are the top 5 specifications to keep in mind when comparing 3D printers?
added by Kevin Nov 30 '10 at 15:23
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up vote 5 down vote
How do we classify 3D printers and is there a standard glossary of terms to help beginners learn quickly?
added by Kevin Nov 30 '10 at 15:31
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up vote 5 down vote
What is the best approach to build a home 3D scanner with about 0.01 mm resolution and a working volume of 20 cm a side?
added by Reed Sturtevant, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 9:33
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up vote 2 down vote
What innovations are needed to create a real replicator? [closed]
added by Mnementh Nov 13 '10 at 21:47
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closed as off topic by Jay Kominek, asalamon74, warren, leeand00, Joshin Aug 30 '11 at 13:05

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.
up vote 2 down vote
What materials have you found to work surprisingly well in your laser cutter? Share your secrets!
added by oskay Jul 8 '11 at 20:59
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up vote 2 down vote
If you were going to build a 3D printer for your hackerspace-- from scratch --what technology would you use?
added by oskay Jul 8 '11 at 21:01
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up vote 1 down vote
What is the cheapest approach if I want to build or buy a home 2D cutter that can handle 1/8" aluminum up to 12" square?
added by Reed Sturtevant Dec 1 '10 at 5:21
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up vote 1 down vote
What is your favorite service bureau for laser cutting? [closed]
added by oskay Jul 8 '11 at 20:56
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closed as not constructive by haimg, Dori Oct 5 '11 at 7:00

This question is not a good fit to our Q&A format. We expect answers to generally involve facts, references, or specific expertise; this question will likely solicit opinion, debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion.
up vote 1 down vote
Why won't my 3D file print correctly?
added by oskay, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 8:54
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up vote 1 down vote
What are the disadvantages of stepper motors vs servo motors when used with "desktop" sized 3D machines?
added by Joshin, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 8:53
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up vote 1 down vote
What is the purpose of a "driver board" in a CNC machine?
added by Joshin Sep 5 '11 at 0:58
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up vote 1 down vote
What are the best practices for designing printed plastic parts with a minimum of shrinkage?
added by h4rrydog Sep 12 '11 at 14:10
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up vote 1 down vote
Can a laser cutter make a desktop PCI card bracket, or do I need a stamping machine?
added by billt Sep 28 '11 at 15:48
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up vote 1 down vote
Is there a technique to print multiple colors of plastic onto one part?
added by Erik Olson Nov 4 '11 at 3:56
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up vote 0 down vote
What pitfalls I have to avoid, if I combine an overhead-projector and a TFT-display to a beamer? [closed]
added by Mnementh Nov 13 '10 at 21:45
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closed as off topic by Joseph Flaherty, Maniero, user25500, StanS, clrod Nov 25 '10 at 22:29

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

As long as we're talking about Structured Light Scanning here I think the question might be on topic. – leeand00 Dec 19 '10 at 4:36
up vote 0 down vote
Can anyone here make a set of RepRap parts for me? [closed]
added by PleaseStand Nov 30 '10 at 21:06
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closed as off topic by Joseph Flaherty, Edgar, Ivo Flipse, Carlos, clrod Dec 14 '10 at 23:54

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.
up vote 0 down vote
Is there any way to make Blender display its vertices and models so that they are viewable in 3D with stereosopic red and blue glasses? [closed]
added by leeand00 Dec 19 '10 at 4:34
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closed as off topic by FP_, George Profenza, warren, eMansipater, asalamon74 May 21 '11 at 12:34

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.
up vote 0 down vote
What out-of-the-box-to-ready-to-print 3D printers are there for under $3000?
added by user40481, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 8:53
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up vote 0 down vote
My Epilog laser cutter won't fully boot, but the LEDs come on. How can I debug it?
added by Kelly Jul 23 '11 at 16:15
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up vote 0 down vote
How do you sharpen small (example .031 inches) bits accurately?
added by Joshin Aug 19 '11 at 1:48
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up vote 0 down vote
Are brushless motors used for spindles?
added by Joshin, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 7 '11 at 8:52
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up vote 0 down vote
Why is my self build reprap prusa mendel skewing layers when I print from <insert app here>?
added by Danny Staple Sep 15 '11 at 6:50
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up vote 0 down vote
What's a good technique to work with papier mache? Could a 3D printer work with some wet form of it? Or could a laser cut flat boards?
added by interstar Sep 19 '11 at 13:51
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up vote 0 down vote
Is there a standard gcode for [x]?
added by Dogmatixed Oct 21 '11 at 0:00
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up vote 0 down vote
What extra tools do I need on a desktop CNC mill to cut precisely registered, matching mold halves for an insert mold?
added by Erik Olson Nov 4 '11 at 3:38
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up vote 0 down vote
What techniques can be used to enhance surface finish in printed ABS parts?
added by Erik Olson Nov 4 '11 at 3:43
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up vote 0 down vote
How do you secure thin, flexible sheets (e.g. wood, plastic) onto a working surface without deforming the sheet?
added by Erik Olson Nov 4 '11 at 3:48
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