3D Printing - Beginner Questions Answered - Midwinter Minis 

Thanks for holding my hand through all of this Ross, you're a total gem in the community!

Gents, this was lovely. I will say, the one thing that changed the entire world of 3D printing for me was Once in a Six Side's series of videos on supports: he has a couple of intro ones and a couple of more or less iceberg videos - anyone that has had some trouble and wants to be able to do their own supports should start there. That said, until you have seen a number of failures, it will be very difficult to understand why/how to support different details of whatever you might print; this isn't a waste as apart from the experience, almost every print failure (even some supports) can be used for basing other models. It's only a failure if you fail to use it. Second to that, if you have a print failure and you don't level the plate, you're setting up for another failure.

Great video! It was really nice to see Guy over here, and he had some interesting insights as a newbie to 3D printing! I (like most people) got a printer over the holiday and with the exception of a few mishaps (spilling resin everywhere, puncturing the ACF film, trouble leveling) it's been a great addition to my wargaming experience. I am finally starting to look at cool customization things for the larger models in my armies.

Water treatment plants are well equipped to clean chemicals from water! Water is the most controlled "food" there is and it has some standards on security that are mental (chemist here)

I’ve just received my first 3D printer, the Geetech Alkaid. Honestly, it’s been much easier than I thought. Largely thanks to your videos! I was able to get really lucky with the settings provided on the usb and only had to make one slight adjustment to exposure time to get a solid 12 posts and holes on second calibration square. My first print was just some shoulder pad ultra symbols. Getting the supports off was actually the most difficult part, as everything was tiny I broke a few trying but got 7/10 finished and cured. Overall, it’s been pretty easy and fun so far. Happy I finally bit the bullet. Thank you for the videos, they really helped a lot! 😁❤️👍🏻

Great video mate. I have to say your advice and help has really worked well. I've completed my first printing commission this week with almost no issues printing. I also do auto medium support and then go back in with the smaller ones and delete where the bigger ones kill the detail. The mars 4 has been amazing. Thanks again Ross 🤘😎🔥

Zbrush doesn't require a tablet, you can sculpt in it with a mouse and keyboard. It is just a learning curve. Just like digital painting.

i love this format, thanks for the video guys.

This Q and A was absolutely 🎉FANTASTIC 🎉

It took me 5 minutes to actually realize this wasn't Ross doing some "tricksy" mirror image to talk with himself...apparently they have the same barber....lol

It was Steve. Nail art UV lights and a foil lined box.👍

I think the grow tent is a great idea as it's fairly simple to set up but awkward to erect and disect on a daily/weekly basis but great for cleanliness if you want to dedicate a print station.

I generally print buildings and terrain at .15mm on my FDM printer. I just purchased a resin printer for miniatures and furniture for my dioramas. I worked in labs my hole life so I understand the safety risk of resin printing and how to properly prepare for such activities. I purchased a tent, inline fan and hose just for the resin printer. Wash station will go in my painting hood so Im ok there. I have two dogs and three cats. I cant have them getting sick or worse.

Small apartment resin printer with two dogs living with him here. As I have no garage, or shed, I run a Creality 3D Halot Mage Pro which has an already natively mounted airduct hose connected to it. And run a small calimaero INLINE Exhaust Fan which does about 130m p/h, so plenty of power to remove all toxic air from the place where I print. These extractor vans which can be had on amazon for less then $30. I added a P3DL filter on that just for good measure for only $30. They are extremely quiet as well. I added some 100mm duct tubing onto it and led the tubing outside my small upper window in the kitchen. I could also, if need be add the duct to the indoor air vent system of our apartment complex. But don't feel that is the saver solution. I do have an air quality tester, because I am worried about my dogs. And tell you what I print almost daily and the air-quality tester never shown me anything to be concerned about. Only when I keep it extremely close to an open resin vat when opening it. I clean everything in the kitchen with wide open windows and never ran into any issues. So an air-extraction solution can be made custom for less then $100, that is the point I am trying to make. I have been doing that ever since this printer came out. So if you really wanted, you can print inside a small apartment. For anyone who wants to go out and try it. All this nonsense about making this hobby impossible to do in a small apartment is nonsense imho. I am doing it and so can you. Just make sure you wear a mask with a pathogen filter and gloves. Activated carbon which they recommended might get rid of the smell, but not the toxins. I personally use a NIOSH 42 CFR 84 (US) with face guard just to be extra sure. Don't want the stuff in my eyes either when cleaning. The mask was more expensive then my entire air extraction system. But you know what they say better safe then sorry. Hope this information helps someone, who is looking to get into the hobby, have fun and be safe. Have a wonderful day.

Love your response, I like getting into the fast car , part of the reason I want a piece of the 3d printing pie 🥧😁 i used to be a mechanic but due to physical health issues (fibromyalgia and possibly carpal tunnel in both arm/hands , i need out of the automotive trade , i don't mind a challenge and also prefer to get straight into a fast car . 😊

Loved this. Thank you

You forgot about the FEP\ACF film replacement under consumables. Awesome video!

31:05 👋 Hello to you too! Thanks for answering our many questions (and being amused by the word 'faff')

Last time I checked your resin was not available in EU, I am in Poland. Any idea when there will be an update to your availability for EU? And if it's not any time soon, what is a resin you would recommend that we can get in the EU that's comparable? Like yourself I am not a big fan of mixing chemicals, so I would like just to have a bottle, pour it in, done. Thanks for all the content and all the great answers today.

Hi Ross, I thought I would give you an update on my first go at 3d , After much deliberation I've decided that im going to keep the kobra neo 2 , Reason being it's a learning curve and ive wanted to learn about cad for some time now. Out of the 10hrs approximately that I've been playing with it ive been able to set the anycubic kobra 2 neo i have successfully completed 7 full models off the micro sd card out of the 15 times i put it to print ,im going to use it to get started on learning fdm printing machines and slicers. Im a 'scale modeller ' at the end of the day, ive got back into miniatures in the past year after 30years and enjoying getting into detail painting,i think hands down resin printing puts fdm printing to shame , thanks so much for your advice it's been solid advice,fdm has its place in printing but i agree i need a resin printer for miniatures. Great collab I've been subscribed to midwinter minis for a while now ❤

Long term exposure to uncured resin without propper ppe can lead to the development of severe allergies. Ive seen people who have had that happen and they can only work with uncured resin if they put on a full suit over their clothes sealed with tape, goggles, and a resperator.

I've wondered if my neighbors might get the wrong idea why there's UV lights, odd smells pouring out my window with the ventilation rig, and me occasionally walking out back in heavy gloves with a respirator and a five gallon bucket. Luckily that's not even notable in my neighborhood 🤷‍♂️ it's not illegal, it just looks poorly without context.

not sure what country you live in but in the States we have what's known as OSHA. Any citizen can get a pamphlet of the known ingredients and safety concerns, which includes all effects.

😂😂they are brothers I swear😂❤

Super video. Personally I'm still buying plastic. Luckily for me cos isn't a huge driver so avoiding the faff of printing is a big win for me. Between life, kids and work hobby time is precious and I don't want to spend it printing. This may change in the future but for now it's a no from me.

That was a great video, and a thoroughly enjoyable 50 odd minutes. Being a subscriber of yours Ross, the answers weren't a surprise but it was still great fun. Yeah, I too wish GW would appreciate the creators more, and of course those of us who helped make them the company they are. Unfortunately, Money for the shareholders is all they seem bothered about nowadays. Hey ho )O(

Loved your videos guys !, on the GW subject there's better model out there but it's not the point, 3D print should allow us to go freely on a model and not just "make a cheaper version" imo

Can you guys share the link with the list of the 3 d printing starter tool kit and the recommended starter printer? thanks

I had so much of a harder time getting FDM to work right. Also, question for another time, what is the actual risk of fire with fdm printers? Those nozzles get super hot, and with bigger prints taking hours on hours, I was worried about the fire potential.

Hello hammer, I just bought a 3d resin printer last week and I have a question, if a model is not washed enough and you have some blobs on the surface then when you cure the model if you drop the model and it breaks then the blobs will spill liquid resin ? (for not hollowed models)

While I understand the need to be aware and obey the safety concerns of any hobby or tool. If MM is this concerned about resin printing I imagine he is absolutely terrified of using power tools or shop tools. That said this video did have a lot of great information...Well done.

Excellent honest info and love the rapport between you guys..

No problem will Elegoo Ball join club lets gooooo. Man the branding for GW printers writes itself though. 3D printers can just called "STC Machines" or somthing. Ez.

Ive just got the kobra 2 neo , had several misprints before giving up a few hours later , i then moved it around to get it on a sturdy surface, tweaked the belts and tightened the runner wheels, i upped the temperature both nozzle and bed I've managed to get 3 finished prints, they're not as expected, do i return it and put the £180 on resin printer, i want to print miniatures but can't see them turning out to be good enough to paint with the Kobra 2 neo HELP!

Total Newbie, looking to buy my first 3d printer in July, what is the current Top choice for the best quality and easiest to use machine, for an Aging Grumpy Old Man :)

Ultimately, GW won't make the 3D printer simply because they cannot sell, the parts, and service it in their stores easily. There was a video over on the Painting Phase where it laid it out well. Their internal philosophy laid out where if they can't sell it across their market, it won't happen. So if they can't sell it to a teenager in the store and make it work, it won't sell. That's why products such as the mold line remover exists; they couldn't sell the knife to them, but could sell that. Much like the airbrush, they can't support it and compete at the markup level they need/want, so they won't do it.

Will using a screen protector cause prints to fail?

If you have an army you love and your only going to buy models for that army. Them I wouldn't get a printer, its way easier just to buy what you want. If however, you want to play a few armies and or a few different games then I would say its well worth looking into a resin printer

For supports watch Once in Six Side: A Complete Guide to Supporting Miniatures for 3D Printing. It is the best guide for getting started with supporting. His other video: Your Comprehensive Guide to 3D Printing Miniatures, is great, and will give you everything you need to start printing crisp minis.

Is it possible to get that Wargamer Resin you promoed in EU? checked the yesthats3dprinted shop and it doesn't have EU as shipping destination :(

I just got the Uniformation gktwo but I'm using elegoo abs-like grey (V1) resin but I can't get a solid print 😭

Good video, thanks for this. My only comment would be to never use Chitubox, no matter how good they might be, for the crap they pulled when Mars 2 etc were released and they had locked them down so you could only use Chitu to slice for them. Absolute bastards. See also Slice Engineering.

I hate the Elegoo ball plate, if my prints start to fail I always re level the plate, removing miniatures from the plate will cause it to move.

Whoah... clones.

Did you enjoy doing the video with your twin? 🤔😁

Twins?

ok well you two look like you are related

Are you two cousins?

Is it offensive that I can’t tell any British people apart?

My first thought was 'why is this guy going to all this effort to use a video effect to duplicate himself? what sort of narrative conceit is he pursuing?'

Few comments: Living in Colorado - I had to Google 'faff' Someone I know told me the public libraries here have provided FDM printing for a few years now.