General

We have one and it's pretty cheap but not always easy. You also only typically end up with something one color unless you have multiple excruders. We have one that has 2 (so up to 2 colors.)

You need a 3D rendering of one, usually an STL file. You can see if you can find one, or get someone on reddit ot maybe make/model one for you. I actually had someone do that for me for a statue I wanted to print.

If we could get the file we could do it for a few bucks depending on how big you wanted it. I think we can do up to 17" tall or something with ours, printing could take hours or days depending on details/size too.

Looks like there is an STL for $4 here: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/art/alex-porter. You could always paint the model

@sinnie Thank you very much!

Is the following compatible?

https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/art/alex-porter

SwiftJAB wrote:
Awesome! Thanks! Much appreciated.

nonamesleft wrote:

Yeah I think so. It does say STL file. The last image it shows there has what looks like a 3d rendering of it being 3d printed (so it would look like that, one color.) I can let you know what colors I have. White might be easiest if you want to paint it.

sinnie wrote:
Let me find out what my relative would prefer, either colored or painted. I'll get back to you on that.

sinnie wrote:


This, the non-color picture is what the print will look like in whatever color they print with. Painting these to look good takes some skill as many paints bleed on 3d prints. 3d Printers print in layers which provide channels for paint to run.

That model looks like it needs supports which will impact quality a bit. What printer do you have that's dual filament? Curious to hear your positives and negatives on it.

Edit: I don't think she offered to paint it.

3D printers that print in more than 2 colors aren't common?

@Sinnie @KCPenguins

nonamesleft wrote:


Not at a budget price, or they typically have issues. The tech is growing fast. Bambu is claiming to have a reliable 4 color printer for under $500 soon, which can be upgraded to up to 16 color for $250/4 colors. They have a completely enclosed and filtered version which is supposed to be "foolproof" for $1500 that will print carbon fiber infused filament.

Every 3 months there are new models coming out either evolving abilities or reducing the costs of past improvements. So many options it's puzzling when to jump in and where. My work spent well over $5k on two printers and I'd much rather use my well south of $200 printer than both. I'm looking to upgrade in the next year or so, and would like at least 4 colors, more reliability and a filtered enclosure.

Yeah not painting it.

We have a Sovol SV04 which has 2 extruders. Some people love it or hate it, we actually really like it and have printed some pretty intricate things. It can be a bit tempermental. We are dealing with some stringing issues currently, but could be the filament or a temperature setting issue. A lot of it is trial and error and some prints work out better than others. Ours also is not in an enclosure.

I remember by husband considering some other one that could print up to 5 colors at once a while back.

Oh and yeah almost anything figurine like will need supports. The good thing about having one that has dual extruders... we got a filament that disolves in water. So if you use that part for the supports only it actually comes out pretty smooth. Otherwise you might have little bits leftover you have to sand away to get to perfection.

For stringing get a filament dryer if you suspect at all it's absorbing moisture. Cook the roll for 5-6 hours then feed it directly if you can. I got the cheaper Sun-Lu one for $40, and while it doesn't quite make the temps they claim it did wonders for stringing.

I was wondering about water soluable filament. In a past job many years ago the stuff was worthless as it didn't really dissolve well and was harder to pick clean than just regular supports. Maybe it's gotten better over the years.

Been eyeballing that Bambu Carbon X1. 4 Filaments is enough for 99% of my prints, and the ability to upgrade to 8 in the future is appealing. Not a fan of black box software and being locked to 1 supplier for parts though, nor cloud based interface. $1500 Is a lot of $ though. I know someone who has one though and hope to pick his brain soon.

Yeah we got a filament dryer so not that unfortunately.

Yeah the water soluable filament is decent. You gotta leave it soak for a while (warm water is best) and pick it all off. Still easier than dealing with regular filament for supports!

Have you checked with your local library? Two of our local libraries have 3D printers and they only charge by the weight of the object.

One of them has a large room with specialty printers and designated computers. They offer services as well as classes on how to use the devices. They can etch on materials like glass, stone, and metal. They will print banners. They have a Crikut or similar device. They have devices set up to record from VHS, vinyl, or cassette into a computer.

That's cool. Our library has a 3d printer, but I've never seen anyone use it or anything printing. I've wanted to try a laser engraver.

Tony wrote:
Interesting. I had no idea that libraries had this sort of thing. Wouldn't have thought to check.

They call it Makerspace.

https://jefflibrary.org/makerspace/

Tony wrote:
Very cool.

Nice that a local library offers things like this.

Have a friend of mine that does this locally. his stuff comes out fantastic if you need a person on this still happy to connect ya on this.

HEHEHATE wrote:
I already contacted someone here who has experience with this sort of thing, but thank you for offering, I appreciate it.

On a separate note - Alex is the WORST. Maybe consider a talk with your relative's kid that no one makes Alex figures because he literally ruins everything around Adventure Bay?

lol savage

SublimeFan wrote:
😂 Made me laugh. That's great.

I'll tell my relative that because it's hilarious, but I really can't tell that to his kid.

What does Alex do that ruins things?

nonamesleft wrote:


Literally everything. He's not a character on every episode, but if he ever does show up, it's guaranteed he is the trigger to potential disaster (which is remediated by the Paw Patrol).

EDIT: I should explain a bit more, he doesn't MEAN to do these things, but without fail he is always doing something that would cause apocalyptic doom for the citizens of Adventure Bay.

SublimeFan wrote:
Is Alex a troublemaker? I'm not saying my relative's kid is a troublemaker, but maybe there's some sort of kinship there? 😅

Sounds more like an innocent doofus, like Goofy rather than a troublemaker.

SwiftJAB wrote:

This is exactly it - he's not a purposeful troublemaker, but every decision he makes is awful and leads to danger.