3D Printing
Additive construction at desktop scale. Builds with layers and supports.
Overview
3D printing — specifically FDM desktop printing — is, in this wiki's view, simply construction at a smaller scale, with hotter material, fewer trades, and dramatically more chances to restart the print because the first layer didn't adhere.
Builder Parallels
| HOUSE BUILDING | 3D PRINTING |
|---|---|
| Site prep | Bed leveling |
| Foundation pour | First layer |
| Framing | Infill + walls |
| Weather | Ambient temperature, drafts |
| Material delivery | Filament quality |
| Finishing trades | Post-processing (sanding, supports) |
Principles
- The first layer is the foundation. See: Foundation. Same rules apply.
- Supports are not shameful. They are scaffolding. Clean them up after.
- Orient for strength. Layers have grain. Load across the layers and you'll find out.
- Calibrate once, then respect the calibration. Do not "quickly adjust" mid-print.
- First print of the day is a test print. This is a universal principle.
What Burbridge Prints
Practical things, mostly: jigs for carpentry, replacement parts for things that wore out, custom brackets the hardware store doesn't carry, and the occasional pixel-art memento. Decorative-only prints are rare. Burbridge has stated: "If I can't use it, I won't print it."