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Jayson Wall

This course is the 2nd Course of my Blender 2.8 for 3D Printing that will get you started with your 3D Print Design future. In this course we'll be diving a little deeper into flexible design workflows and getting you more comfortable with the process.

Goal: This course is all about learning how to be a flexible designer. By teaching you three different workflows in lithophanes, 3d printed vases, and custom rings, you'll learn how to really start thinking about design structure for your prints.

Flexible Pottery Designs

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This course is the 2nd Course of my Blender 2.8 for 3D Printing that will get you started with your 3D Print Design future. In this course we'll be diving a little deeper into flexible design workflows and getting you more comfortable with the process.

Goal: This course is all about learning how to be a flexible designer. By teaching you three different workflows in lithophanes, 3d printed vases, and custom rings, you'll learn how to really start thinking about design structure for your prints.

Flexible Pottery Designs

Let's learn how to be a flexible designer. The workflow for 3D Vases will teach you the lathe tool as well as get in more modifier practice.

Rings with Custom Text

Let's learn how to measure a real-world object (your finger). We'll also learn how to plan for a product in 3D space. Adding 3D text is just the cherry on top of this ring project.

Intro to Lithophanes

Let's gain the power of the displace modifier and the bool tool. You'll also get more practice with the 3D Print Tool Box.

Watch Time: 1 hour 23 mins

Design Estimate: 3 hrs

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

  • Intro to the Displacement Modifier

  • Into to working with Curves

  • Intro to the Lathe Tool

  • Intro to Practical Measurements

  • Intro to working w/ Images & Text

  • Access to Lesson & File Downloads

  • Access to the Designer's Discord

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Theory of 3d designing for a 3d print
  • Beginner prototyping for 3d printed products
  • 3d printing tool box - blender add on
  • Basics of 3d modeling for 3d printer
  • Basics to box modeling
  • Design fundamentals for 3d printing
  • Basics to practical designing
  • Blender overview
  • Blender introduction & 3d printing workflow
  • Bool tool - blender add on
  • Basics to adaptive & flexible design
  • How to design for no rafts & no supports
  • How to build "flexible" design projects
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Syllabus

Setup Blender for 3D Print Design and Printing
Setup Blender for Your 3D Printer (Do Not Skip)
Blender UI Basics
3D Print Toolbox (FREE Blender Addon)
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Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Blender for 3D Printing - Intro to Flexible Design (102). These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Blender for 3D Printing - Intro to Flexible Design (102) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
3D Print Designer
A 3D Print Designer specializes in creating digital models specifically optimized for additive manufacturing. This course directly equips learners with the essential skills to excel as a 3D Print Designer. It provides a comprehensive introduction to Blender for 3D Print Design and specific workflows for creating adaptive and flexible designs. Mastering concepts like designing for no rafts and no supports, along with practical measurements for physical objects, are critical for efficient and successful prints. By learning how to build "Flexible" Design Projects, learners can confidently design functional and innovative objects, understanding the nuances of how digital models translate into tangible products. This course is foundational for anyone aspiring to a career in designing for additive manufacturing.
Product Designer
A Product Designer conceptualizes, develops, and delivers new products, often utilizing 3D modeling and prototyping throughout the design cycle. This course helps build a foundation in beginner prototyping for 3D printed products, a critical skill in modern product development. By learning practical measurements, planning for a product in 3D space, and mastering flexible design workflows, learners are well-prepared to create functional and innovative products, such as custom rings or pottery designs. The emphasis on design fundamentals for 3D printing directly supports the iterative process of bringing product ideas from concept to a tangible prototype. This expertise is invaluable for a Product Designer aiming to rapidly test and refine their creations.
Hobbyist Product Developer Entrepreneur
A Hobbyist Product Developer Entrepreneur identifies market needs for niche products and brings them to life, often involving rapid prototyping and small-batch manufacturing. This course directly contributes to building a strong foundation in beginner prototyping for 3D printed products, teaching flexible design workflows, and practical measurements. It empowers individuals to confidently design custom items like rings or vases, ideal for launching small-scale, innovative product lines. With knowledge of 3D Print Design fundamentals and Blender's capabilities, this course provides the tools to transform creative ideas into tangible, sellable products without extensive overhead.
Industrial Designer
An Industrial Designer combines art, engineering, and business principles to create innovative consumer products and experiences. This career path intrinsically involves 3D modeling and prototyping. The course's focus on design fundamentals for 3D printing, practical designing, and understanding how to build "Flexible" Design Projects directly supports the creation of functional and aesthetically pleasing objects. Learners gain hands-on experience with Blender tools like the lathe tool and displacement modifier, which are essential for crafting intricate and visually compelling designs. This course provides a tangible skill set in rapid prototyping that is highly valued in the industrial design profession.
Jewelry Designer
A Jewelry Designer creates original designs for personal adornment, often blending traditional craftsmanship with modern digital tools. This course is highly relevant for an aspiring Jewelry Designer, particularly with its specific project on designing custom rings with custom text. Learners practice measuring real-world objects, planning for a product in 3D space, and customizing for flexible workflows. Mastering Blender for creating intricate geometries and understanding the 3D Print Toolbox are directly applicable to prototyping both wearable and visually appealing jewelry pieces. This detailed focus on digital design for physical output provides a distinct advantage in a competitive market.
Additive Manufacturing Engineer
An Additive Manufacturing Engineer focuses on the entire lifecycle of 3D printed parts, from design optimization to production and post-processing. While this role often requires an advanced degree, this course provides core knowledge in the theory of 3D designing for a 3D print and the Blender 3D Printing Workflow. Skills acquired, such as knowing how to design for no rafts and no supports, are critical for optimizing print processes, ensuring material efficiency, and achieving high-quality results in additive manufacturing. Understanding adaptive and flexible design principles helps in creating robust and functional parts. This training is a valuable step for an aspiring engineer in this rapidly evolving field.
Prototyping Specialist
A Prototyping Specialist focuses on creating early versions or models of products, enabling testing and evaluation before full-scale production. This course directly addresses the needs of a Prototyping Specialist by covering beginner prototyping for 3D printed products. Learners engage in practical applications like designing custom rings and flexible pottery, gaining hands-on experience in bringing concepts to life. Understanding how to build "Flexible" Design Projects and optimizing for 3D printing, such as designing without rafts or supports, is fundamental for rapid and efficient prototyping workflows. This course provides actionable skills to accelerate product development cycles.
CAD Modeler
A CAD Modeler creates detailed 3D models using computer aided design software for various applications, from engineering to manufacturing. While Blender is often seen as a general 3D content creation suite, it functions as a powerful CAD tool for many applications, and this course helps build a foundation in essential modeling skills. Learners develop foundational 3D modeling expertise, including box modeling, working with curves, and using modifiers. The emphasis on practical measurements and design for physical output enhances precision and accuracy, crucial attributes for a successful CAD Modeler. This course provides practical experience in transforming design concepts into precise digital models ready for production.
Medical Device Designer
A Medical Device Designer conceptualizes and develops devices for healthcare, often requiring custom fits, complex geometries, and specialized materials. This career path frequently requires an advanced degree due to regulatory and technical complexities. The course's emphasis on practical measurements, planning for a product in 3D space, and creating "Flexible" Design Projects is highly relevant for medical devices, many of which are prototyped and manufactured using 3D printing. Understanding design structure for prints and utilizing Blender's precise modeling tools may significantly aid in developing functional and patient-specific medical solutions.
Prop Designer
A Prop Designer creates custom objects and scenic elements for film, theater, television, or events, often requiring unique and specialized items. This course may be useful by providing foundational skills in 3D modeling with Blender and specific knowledge of 3D print design, including adaptive and flexible designs. Mastering tools like the displacement modifier and Bool Tool can significantly enhance a Prop Designer's ability to fabricate custom props, such as intricate objects or replicas, through 3D printing. This expertise allows for greater design freedom and efficiency in producing tangible assets for creative productions.
Custom Art Toy Designer
A Custom Art Toy Designer conceptualizes and creates unique, often limited-edition, collectible art toys. This course directly supports the skills needed for this niche by focusing on 3D Print Design, including practical designing, and how to build "Flexible" Design Projects using Blender's tools like the displace modifier and Bool Tool. Learners explore how to build diverse forms and structures from a digital concept, which is directly applicable to modeling and then 3D printing custom art toys for production. This expertise empowers designers to bring imaginative characters and objects to life as tangible collector's items.
Dental Lab Technician Digital Designer
A Dental Lab Technician Digital Designer specializes in creating dental prosthetics like crowns, bridges, and aligners using digital tools for 3D printing or milling. This profession often requires specialized certification or an advanced degree. The course's strong emphasis on practical measurements, precision, and 3D Print Design workflows, including understanding design structure and flexible design, may be helpful for someone considering this field. Learning to plan for a product in 3D space and working with images and text in Blender provides a foundation for accurately designing custom, patient-specific dental solutions.
Footwear Designer
A Footwear Designer creates innovative designs for shoes and other foot coverings, often focusing on aesthetics, ergonomics, and material properties. This course may be useful as its focus on practical measurements, custom fitting (as demonstrated in the ring project), and flexible design workflows could be insightful for creating innovative footwear components. Understanding how to plan for a product in 3D space and prototype with 3D printing can be applied to designing custom insoles, unique outsoles, or intricate embellishments for shoes, offering a modern approach to fabrication and customization.
Architectural Model Maker
An Architectural Model Maker constructs physical scale models of buildings, landscapes, and urban designs for visualization and presentation. The course provides skills in Blender, including an overview of the user interface, basics of 3D modeling, and the Blender 3D Printing Workflow. This knowledge may be helpful for translating architectural designs into physical 3D printed models, allowing for rapid iteration and detailed representation of complex structures and forms. Understanding the fundamentals of 3D Print Design further assists in creating precise and visually compelling physical models for architects and developers.
Visual Merchandising Designer
A Visual Merchandising Designer conceptualizes and installs eye-catching displays in retail environments to enhance product appeal and drive sales. This role often requires creating custom fixtures, props, or unique signage. The course, with its emphasis on 3D Print Design and practical designing using Blender, may be helpful for conceiving and producing unique physical display elements through 3D printing, enabling tailored and eye-catching retail experiences. Learning about flexible design workflows and planning for a product in 3D space can facilitate the creation of innovative and personalized visual installations.

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Is the official manual for Blender, written by the Blender Foundation. It comprehensive resource that covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques.
Project-based guide to Blender, covering a wide range of topics from modeling to animation to rendering. It great resource for beginners who want to learn Blender by working on real-world projects.
Comprehensive guide to Blender animation, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to create amazing animations in Blender.
Project-based guide to the Blender Game Engine, covering a wide range of topics from creating game assets to scripting and gameplay. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to create games in Blender.
Comprehensive guide to Blender, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It great resource for both beginners and experienced users who want to learn more about Blender.
A classic introductory guide, this book covers the fundamentals of 3D printing in an accessible manner. It's ideal for absolute beginners looking to understand the basics of the technology, different printer types, and modeling methods. is particularly useful for high school students and those just starting out.
Offers a comprehensive overview of the major 3D printing technologies, their benefits, limitations, and applications. It provides practical advice on selecting the right technology and designing for 3D printing, making it an excellent resource for gaining a broad understanding. It is valuable as both an introductory text and a reference tool for various audiences, including designers and engineers.
Comprehensive guide to 3D printing for the home user, covering everything from choosing a printer to designing and printing your own models.
Provides a comprehensive overview of rapid prototyping, covering its principles, technologies, and applications.
Provides a comprehensive overview of additive manufacturing technologies, covering their history, principles, and applications.
Provides a comprehensive overview of 3D printing in art and design, covering its history, technologies, and applications.
Considered a foundational text in the field, this book provides a detailed overview of additive manufacturing technologies, including their fundamentals and emerging applications. It covers supporting technologies and includes technical questions for comprehensive understanding, making it suitable for undergraduate and graduate programs. commonly used textbook in academic institutions.
Focusing on the crucial aspect of designing parts specifically for additive manufacturing, this book covers design tools and methodologies. It is essential for engineers and designers seeking to leverage the full potential of 3D printing. is highly relevant for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, as well as working professionals.
Provides a technical introduction to additive manufacturing with a specific focus on metal powder bed fusion processes. It covers materials, processing methods, testing, and standards, making it highly relevant for those interested in metal 3D printing. It is suitable for graduate students and professionals in materials science and engineering.
Explores the fundamentals of 3D printing technologies and their applications in various sectors like energy, biomedicine, and sensors. It addresses current challenges and potential solutions, making it relevant for understanding contemporary uses of 3D printing. This book is useful for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers.
Provides a broader perspective on the impact of 3D printing across various industries and its potential to revolutionize manufacturing and business models. It good read for gaining a general understanding of the disruptive nature of 3D printing and its future implications. This book is accessible to a wide audience, including those in high school and undergraduate programs, as well as working professionals interested in the business aspects.
Offers an engaging introduction to 3D printing technology, its history, and potential applications. It discusses the implications of 3D printing for the future, making it a valuable read for those seeking a broad understanding and historical context. It is suitable for high school and undergraduate students, as well as a general audience.
Explores various applications and innovations in additive manufacturing, including hybrid processes and real-world case studies. It is beneficial for those looking to see how 3D printing is being used in practice and to deepen their understanding of specific applications. This book is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.
Comprehensive guide to Blender, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It great resource for both beginners and experienced users who want to learn more about Blender.

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