{"id":221,"date":"2018-02-11T13:32:29","date_gmt":"2018-02-11T13:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/copyexpressold\/?p=221"},"modified":"2019-08-10T17:17:57","modified_gmt":"2019-08-10T17:17:57","slug":"finding-and-creating-models-for-3d-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.copyexpress.co.nz\/blog\/finding-and-creating-models-for-3d-printing\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding and creating models for 3D printing"},"content":{"rendered":"

3D is a great technology for rapid prototyping and creating personalised items. All you need is a model file and<\/p>\n

Copy Express can do the rest. The question is where to find these models to print, or how create your own. We will tell you the where and how.<\/p>\n
All 3D printed objects start of as nothing more than a mathematical model stored on a computer. These STL (STereoLithography or Standard Tessellation Language) files describe the object\u2019s surfaces as points in 3D space. We would take that file and run it through software that converts in to the instructions for the printer on how to create every slice that makes up the finished object.  Now how do you get these STL files for us to print from?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Downloading already created files<\/span><\/div>\n
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Sometimes there is no point in reinventing the wheel. For a lot of what people want to print, some one else has already created the STL file for printing. These can be found in online model libraries, many of which are run by makers of 3D printers or 3D software.  Depending on the creator (or website), you can download the files for free,  for other creators you have to buy the file. Some files are allowed to be altered to however you like, others you have to pay the creator to have changes made. Here\u2019s are a few good starting places:<\/p>\n