Can you teach yourself

the mechanics of 3d printers/printing without actually having one in front of you? I mean yes I know of course you can
but does anyone have experience like this, using online content to teach you to 3d print before ever coming in close contact with a printer?
Has it actually helped in the long run? I don't have a track record or any kind of natural talent for the mechanics of printers of any kind.
Where I am I don't have access to workshops which I don't imagine to be that different from an online lecture anyway and I don't have access yet to
a printer without spending a great deal of cash first. If anyone knows the answer to this let me know thanks.

Reading online about 3D printing techniques and tricks helps a great. And once you've decided on a particular printer it would behove you to google it intensive to learn other owners pitfalls and tips. Ultimately though the real learning will start once you apply your knowledge.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sebastian Finke

Reading online about 3D printing techniques and tricks helps a great. And once you've decided on a particular printer it would behove you to google it intensive to learn other owners pitfalls and tips. Ultimately though the real learning will start once you apply your knowledge.

---

Yes, That was my Game-plan,
Did lots of online research before buying printer
and I thought I knew a great deal about the process
but when I got the printer and started making things,
I discovered how Much More I Needed to Learn !

yep pretty much what i did. 9 months of research and reading up.

The main thing it does is give you a much better idea what's happening when things don't go as planned.

And also means you you start a lot fewer threads along the lines of: 'bought a printer, can't be arsed to read the quick start manual - how do i load filament ?'

And i wish I'd made that up :-)

Also to visualise the printing itself.
Get GCODE simulator.
It's just a java applet/program and it runs on Windows/Linux/Mac/Android (no iOS).

You can cut the STL's and print away using this program, it's brilliant. I use an older version (18 iirc) as it has no adds.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44286