Blender for 3D Printing - Intro to Pro Techniques (103) from Udemy

This course is about teaching you more complex techniques to begin opening up your creative side. We'll be teaching subsurface modeling & extrusion tools. You'll also be learning about tolerances in your design workflow by building a toy car. We'll even go over splicing objects so you can cut up larger designs for small 3D printers.

By introducing you to longer workflows and how to use more of Blender's awesome modifiers you'll be expanding your brain to design with precision in no time.

In these courses, you will learn more complex design techniques while making assembled cars, box animals, & slice large designs into multiple parts.

Box Animals with Subsurface Modeling

Let's learn more complex techniques to begin opening up your creative side. We'll be teaching subsurface modeling & extrusion tools to create cute, yet simple box-animal toys.

What You'll Learn: This course kicks off our Beginner 103 Series by introducing you to longer workflows and how to use more of Blender's awesome modifiers you'll be expanding your brain to design with precision in no time.
Goal: This course is about teaching you more complex techniques to begin opening up your creative side. We'll be teaching subsurface modeling & extrusion tools to create cute, yet simple box-animal toys.
Watch Time: 30+ min
Design Estimate: 1 hrs
Intro to Subsurface Modeling
Practice w/ Modifiers
Practice Toy Modeling
Access to Lesson & File Download
Access to the Designer's Discord

Assembled Designs

Let's learn the concept of 3D tolerances and how to use them to create a toy car that rolls right off the print bed. This complex technique can help open your creative side.

What You'll Learn: In this Beginner 103 Series course we're going to be introducing the concept of 3D tolerances and how to use them to create a toy car that rolls right off the print bed.
Goal: This course is about teaching you more complex techniques to begin opening up your creative side.
Watch Time: 1+ hrs
Design Estimate: 2 hrs
Intro to Product Design
Intro to Tolerances
Practice with Boolean
Access to Lesson & File Download
Access to the Designer's Discord

Slicing Objects

Lets learn how to slice up designs. This technique will help you with accomodating large prints for smaller print beds, puzzels, and other uses.

What You'll Learn: In this Beginner 103 Series course you'll be learning how to slice up designs. This technique will help you with accomodating large prints for smaller print beds, puzzels, and other uses.
Goal: Understanding how to think about tolerances when sectioning off objects with the intention of piecing them together in post-processing.
Watch Time: 2.15 hrs
Design Estimate: 4 hrs
Intro to Bool Tool Slice
Practice with Tolerances
Practice Print Production Planning
Access to Lesson & File Download
Access to the Designer's Discord

Become a 3D print designer.

Print That Thing helps you learn Blender for 3D Print Design through bite-sized lessons, hands-on activities, engaged instructors, and a supportive community.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to build "flexible" design projects
How to design for no rafts & no supports
Bool tool - blender add on
Basics to adaptive & flexible design
Blender introduction & 3d printing workflow
Blender overview
Basics to practical designing

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

Before We Begin...

Setup Blender for YOUR 3D Printer (Do Not Skip)

Blender UI Basics

3D Print Toolbox (FREE Blender Addon)

Career center

Learners who complete Blender for 3D Printing - Intro to Pro Techniques (103) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Additive Manufacturing Engineer

An Additive Manufacturing Engineer specializes in designing, optimizing, and overseeing processes for creating objects layer by layer using 3D printing technologies. This role demands a deep understanding of design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) principles. This course directly addresses the core competencies required of an Additive Manufacturing Engineer by focusing on "Blender for 3D Print Design." You will learn "Blender introduction and 3D printing workflow" and gain practical experience with "3D Printing Tool Box Blender Add On." Crucially, the course teaches design for "no rafts and no supports" and "slicing objects" for smaller print beds, which are essential considerations for efficient and successful 3D print production.

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Product Designer

A Product Designer shapes the physical products we use daily, from concept to manufacturability. This critical role involves understanding user needs, translating ideas into tangible designs, and ensuring feasibility for production. This course provides a foundation for an aspiring Product Designer by emphasizing "Beginner Prototyping for 3D Printed Products" and "Design Fundamentals for 3D Printing." Learners gain hands-on experience by building "assembled cars" and understanding "tolerances in your design workflow," which are crucial skills for creating functional, multi-part products. Furthermore, the focus on "flexible design projects" and using Blender's modifiers will enhance precision and prepare you to design objects ready for physical production.

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Rapid Prototyping Specialist

A Rapid Prototyping Specialist transforms design concepts into physical models quickly, primarily using technologies like 3D printing. This role is crucial for iterating on designs and testing functionality before mass production. This course provides direct and practical skills for a Rapid Prototyping Specialist. It covers "Beginner Prototyping for 3D Printed Products" and explicitly guides learners through designing "assembled cars" that "rolls right off the print bed." The focus on "3D tolerances" and "longer workflows" for precision design ensures that prototypes are accurate and functional, mirroring the demands of real-world rapid prototyping environments.

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Toy Designer

A Toy Designer conceptualizes and develops new toys, ensuring they are engaging, safe, and manufacturable. This creative role often involves extensive prototyping and an understanding of how parts fit together. This course is particularly tailored for an aspiring Toy Designer, as "box animal toys" and "toy car" projects are central to its curriculum. You will gain direct experience with "subsurface modeling and extrusion tools" to create appealing forms and learn about "3D tolerances" to design "assembled cars" that are functional straight off the printer. This hands-on experience in designing and preparing toys for 3D printing can be a significant advantage in the toy industry.

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Industrial Designer

An Industrial Designer blends art, engineering, and business to create beautiful, functional, and user-friendly products. This role requires a keen eye for aesthetics, an understanding of materials, and proficiency in 3D modeling for prototyping. This course is exceptionally well-suited for an Industrial Designer because it cultivates the "creative side" through projects like "box animal toys" and "toy cars," while simultaneously teaching "design with precision." The emphasis on "subsurface modeling" and "extrusion tools" helps develop complex forms, while learning about "tolerances" is fundamental for designing products that are both visually appealing and physically viable for manufacturing, particularly via 3D printing.

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Consumer Product Designer

A Consumer Product Designer focuses on creating new products for everyday use, from household items to personal accessories. This role involves conceptualization, 3D modeling, prototyping, and preparing designs for manufacturing. This course may be useful for a Consumer Product Designer, as it directly teaches "design fundamentals for 3D printing" and "beginner prototyping for 3D printed products." The curriculum helps learners expand their "creative side" while also designing "with precision" using Blender's modifiers. Practical experience gained from building "assembled cars" and understanding "tolerances" is highly relevant for developing functional and marketable consumer goods that require parts to fit together accurately.

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Computer Aided Design Designer

A Computer Aided Design Designer, often called a CAD Designer, uses specialized software to create precise 2D and 3D models and technical drawings for manufacturing. This role is fundamental across many industries, including product development, engineering, and architecture. For an aspiring Computer Aided Design Designer, this course is highly relevant as it teaches "Blender introduction and 3D printing workflow," with a strong emphasis on precision modeling. You will master "subsurface modeling and extrusion tools," utilize "Blender's awesome modifiers," and learn about vital concepts like "tolerances in your design workflow," all of which are transferable skills for creating accurate digital models for various applications beyond just 3D printing.

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Medical Device Prototyper

A Medical Device Prototyper constructs physical models and preliminary versions of medical instruments and implants for testing and evaluation. This role demands extremely high precision, an understanding of functional requirements, and strict adherence to design specifications. This course may be useful for a Medical Device Prototyper due to its intense focus on "design with precision" and "tolerances in your design workflow." The skills learned in creating functionally "assembled designs" are directly transferable. While the course uses toys as examples, the underlying principles of accurate digital modeling, preparing designs for 3D printing, and ensuring parts fit together correctly are essential for prototyping critical medical components where accuracy is paramount.

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Custom Object Fabricator

A Custom Object Fabricator specializes in creating bespoke items, prototypes, or limited-run products tailored to specific client needs. This role often combines traditional craftsmanship with modern digital manufacturing tools. This course may be useful for a Custom Object Fabricator by providing comprehensive skills in "Blender for 3D Print Design." The practical lessons on "subsurface modeling and extrusion tools" allow for complex and unique forms, while the focus on "3D tolerances" ensures functional assemblies. The ability to "slice up larger designs" for production on smaller machines is also a critical skill for fabricating custom pieces of varying scales, enhancing versatility in project delivery.

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Fixtures and Jigs Designer

A Fixtures and Jigs Designer creates custom tools used in manufacturing to hold, support, or locate workpieces, ensuring accuracy and repeatability in production processes. This role requires a strong understanding of mechanical principles and precision. This course may be useful for a Fixtures and Jigs Designer because it deeply emphasizes "tolerances in your design workflow" and "design with precision." Designing "assembled cars" and understanding how parts fit together are directly transferable skills. The ability to utilize Blender's "Bool Tool" and other modifiers for accurate geometric operations helps build a foundation in creating functional fixtures and jigs that require exact dimensions and proper alignment.

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Mechanical Design Technician

A Mechanical Design Technician assists engineers in developing mechanical components and systems. This role demands precision, an understanding of how parts fit, and the ability to create detailed 3D models and technical drawings. This course may be useful for a Mechanical Design Technician as it instills fundamental principles of precision design. The curriculum's focus on "tolerances in your design workflow" and creating "assembled designs" like the toy car directly applies to mechanical assembly challenges. Learning to "design with precision" using Blender's modifiers helps build a foundation in creating geometrically accurate and functional components, which is vital in mechanical design.

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Jewelry Designer

A Jewelry Designer creates designs for rings, necklaces, earrings, and other adornments, often using 3D modeling software to develop intricate patterns and forms before physical production. Precision and aesthetic appeal are paramount in this field. This course may be useful for a Jewelry Designer by providing foundational skills in "Blender for 3D Print Design." "Subsurface modeling and extrusion tools" are excellent for crafting organic and finely detailed jewelry pieces. The practice with "Blender's awesome modifiers" allows for complex geometric construction, crucial for repetitive patterns or precise stone settings. Learning to "design with precision" can significantly aid in creating accurate models for 3D printing, which is often used for wax patterns or direct metal printing in modern jewelry production.

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Special Effects Prop Fabricator

A Special Effects Prop Fabricator designs and constructs custom props, models, and practical effects for film, television, and stage productions. This creative and technical role often involves rapid prototyping and diverse fabrication methods. This course may be helpful for a Special Effects Prop Fabricator due to its comprehensive approach to "Blender for 3D Print Design." The skills in "subsurface modeling and extrusion tools" are excellent for creating unique and complex forms required for props. Crucially, learning how to "slice up designs" to accommodate "smaller 3D printers" is invaluable for producing large or intricate props efficiently and cost-effectively, allowing for greater creative freedom.

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Exhibit Fabricator

An Exhibit Fabricator creates custom displays, installations, and models for museums, trade shows, and public spaces. This role often involves a blend of artistic vision and practical construction skills, frequently utilizing digital fabrication techniques. This course may be helpful for an Exhibit Fabricator, particularly with its focus on "slicing objects" to "cut up larger designs for small 3D printers." This technique is invaluable when creating large-scale models or intricate components that need to be produced in parts and then assembled. The course's emphasis on precision and understanding tolerances also ensures that fabricated pieces fit together seamlessly in complex exhibit structures.

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Architectural Model Maker

An Architectural Model Maker constructs detailed scale models of buildings, urban plans, and landscapes for architects, developers, and clients. These models are crucial for visualizing projects and understanding spatial relationships. This course may be helpful for an Architectural Model Maker, especially with its focused lessons on "slicing large designs into multiple parts." This technique is incredibly valuable for producing large-scale architectural models on smaller 3D printers. The foundational skills in "Blender introduction and 3D printing workflow," coupled with learning "practical designing" and achieving "precision," will enable the creation of accurate and well-prepared components for complex architectural assemblies.

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