Economizing when 3D printing
In making the sword, we were introduced to the importance of making an object thick enough so it doesn't break. But that is not all that we need to be concerned with. The thicker the object is, the more material it requires. If the printer is charging by the material used, this can be a major consideration. I submitted the dragon to a 3D printing service several times during the building process. The initial dragon model was solid and it would have cost 224 percent as much to print as the final version where the body was hollowed out using Solidify and a well for the pen cup was created.
It also pays to shop around. Some local printers may charge you only 20 percent of what a national printer might. But they might not have the temperature controlled printer rooms and paid maintenance engineers. So, you need to see what works for you.
Blender has some tools to help you calculate the cost in the 3D Print toolbox:
Look at the top of the 3D Print toolbox. Look at the...
