Oldest newbee could use some advice!

[oldpops]

Hello! I'm a disabled senior stuck at home who decided to get a QIDI Tech Q1 PRO 3D printer. I wanted to do something to keep from going crazy (I've already binged watched every TV show, and surfed to the end of the internet) so I was hoping to learn something new, and who knows, maybe learn a way to make a few extra bucks to help out at home. Anyway, I used all my Amazon gift cards (given to me over the years) and got the 3D printer. Unfortunately for me, before the printer arrived, I went into the hospital and almost died from septic shock. After a few weeks in the hospital, and then some more in a rehab, I finally got home. There was the printer, still in it's box (my kids brought it inside). Heck, I don't even know if the thing works, and it's past the 30 day window to send it back to Amazon if it doesn'tAnyway, I'm still using a walker so lifting the thing out of the box hasn't happened, although I'm going to ask our kids to take the printer out of the box (when they come up to visit for Christmas). My question for the folks on this forum is what to do next? I had watched tons of videos about 3d printing before ever deciding on getting one. I though I had a good idea of what to do. Now, as a result of my 'adventure' with the septic shock, I have no real memory of the last 6 months or so, much less what I learned about 3d printing. Everything I thought I knew, and all my plans having to do with 3d printing seem to have vanished. Hoping folks here can help me catch up. I'm not even sure how to take an idea from the design stage to the finished 3D print. I know there must be some computer programs that help design something (don't know which is easy to learn or use), and There must be a way to get the design into the 3d printer to be printed - but I'm drawing a blank. Hoping I can come here with all my dumb questions for answers. So, any and all help, advice, suggestions, and even 'hand-holding' would be greatly appreciated!

[Roberts_Clif]

As far as learning, I hear you Purchased my 1st 3D printer years ago, it was so interesting, I watched it 3D Print entire models in fascination.

Now retired 5 years just purchased two Anycubic Kobra 3 combo Color 3D Printers, Hear that doing any like this is great for cognitive functions.
The longer you can, do because it can happen to everyone and as an active person could not stand being glued to a TV for the rest of my life.

I use my 3D Printers to make Halloween treats, repair broker no longer available parts ect.
I use it to keep my mind going, use it to help spread my knowledge to all the forums, like Fix Ya to keep my memory of how to fix things

Need help I'am Here

However this is a 3D Printer forum want to keep it this way, other forums other subjects.

[oldpops]

Thanks! I wasn't too mobile before the septic shock, but since that happened I've really been slowed down (I keep moving though). I sure didn't want to spend the last years of my life watching TV or reading books (sedentary), so I got the printer to keep my (little) mind working. I've got lots of ideas on little things I would like to make/print, but getting them from an idea in my head into a completed print is stumping me.

I know that some people use programs (like 360) to draw things, and then somehow get that into their 3D printer - but I have no idea on how to do all that, and I don't know all the steps in-between.

Any guidance or advice (step-by-step) would be greatly appreciated!

[Roberts_Clif]

I have written a post about just that subject.

Fusion 360 is free for Hobbyist link below.
https://3dprintboard.com/showthread....+free+hobbyist

[VidJunky]

Fusion is my go to for sure. I print mostly for work, not as work but for my place of employment. Anyway, a friend of mine suggested this course on Fusion, Learn Fusion 360 in 30 days. It's super simple step by step. I will recommend a dual monitor set-up or playing the lesson on a device separate from the one you have Fusion on so that you can work along with the instruction and pause or whatever you need to along the way.

There are also several download sites where you can get ready to print STL files, like Thingaverse, if you're just looking fun stuff to print.

I tried a few slicers, the program that transforms your drawing into a printable file for the printer, and I personally think Prusa Slicer is the easiest and most intuitive. It has a huge library of printers that it has some default settings for, and there are several places where you can find support and how-tos to help you use it.

Good luck, and welcome to the world of 3D printing.

[airscapes]

I would suggest using google to search on topics. 3D printing as a hobby is like all hobbies, there are many facets to it and you need to learn them all to some extent and understand how they work.

Unfortunately 3d printing is still not like desktop printing from your computer :-(

Thing to buy https://www.amazon.com/iGaging-Elect...435177858&th=1

Topics to search and read about and as you find terms you do not know, search them, take notes, stay away from Youtube videos until you have exhausted the printing material, anyone to make a video..

General
How a 3d printer works
What is a slicer
What is an STL file
What are the different types of 3d printer filament
Why don't my prints stick to the bed

Printer specific
QIDI Tech Q1 PRO 3D
What is Z offset
How to set Z offset

Slicer
What is a slicer
what is Extrusion multiplier
How do I calibrate the extrusion mutiplier
What slicer should I use
What is Gcode

3d Modeling
What do I want to make is it engineering or art
Which 3d Modeling software is best for the above


So the work flow goes like this.
You need either a 3d Model that you made and has been converted to and STL file or you need an STL file someone else made
That file gets loaded into software called a Slicer, it slices the model into layers starting a the bottom and working to the top. The sliced data is then exported to a file with a .gcode extension which is just a text file that the physical printer can read. It tell the printer line by line what to do.
Once the gcode file is loaded into the printer either over a network or by putting it on an SD card, the printer will read that file one line at a time executing what it says to do.

Have fun and try not to get frustrate, it takes time to understand how it all should work. Do you need to know everything, not as long as stuff is working.. However, if you know how it work and how it should work, when it doesn't you know where to look for the root cause of your problem and fix it.

[oldpops]

Thanks everybody! There's a lot of good help and suggestions here. I am planning on taking all of your advice and digging into this stuff. Hopefully I can get up to speed pretty quick and start making things (It's a terrible thing to feel like you don't contribute anything and are not needed!)

I would suggest using google to search on topics. 3D printing as a hobby is like all hobbies, there are many facets to it and you need to learn them all to some extent and understand how they work.Unfortunately 3d printing is still not like desktop printing from your computer :-(Thing to buy https://www.amazon.com/iGaging-Elect...435177858&th=1Topics to search and read about and as you find terms you do not know, search them, take notes, stay away from Youtube videos until you have exhausted the printing material, anyone to make a video..General How a 3d printer worksWhat is a slicerWhat is an STL fileWhat are the different types of 3d printer filamentWhy don't my prints stick to the bedPrinter specificQIDI Tech Q1 PRO 3DWhat is Z offsetHow to set Z offsetSlicerWhat is a slicerwhat is Extrusion multiplierHow do I calibrate the extrusion mutiplierWhat slicer should I use What is Gcode 3d Modeling What do I want to make is it engineering or artWhich 3d Modeling software is best for the aboveSo the work flow goes like this.You need either a 3d Model that you made and has been converted to and STL file or you need an STL file someone else madeThat file gets loaded into software called a Slicer, it slices the model into layers starting a the bottom and working to the top. The sliced data is then exported to a file with a .gcode extension which is just a text file that the physical printer can read. It tell the printer line by line what to do.Once the gcode file is loaded into the printer either over a network or by putting it on an SD card, the printer will read that file one line at a time executing what it says to do.Have fun and try not to get frustrate, it takes time to understand how it all should work. Do you need to know everything, not as long as stuff is working.. However, if you know how it work and how it should work, when it doesn't you know where to look for the root cause of your problem and fix it.

[airscapes]

Know the feeling.. after 23 years at the same company getting outsourced (me and the entire IT infrastructure team to India).. will be back in the IT job market at 60 years of age .. not looking forward to this year at all!
Don't diver yourself nuts trying to get up to speed fast, there is a lot to absorb and learn. Keep it fun, once it isn't, you will quickly loose interest.

[Roberts_Clif]

I have never worked with a QIDI Tech Q1 PRO 3D printer before though, most problems with 3D Printers have very similar solutions.
So we should be able to assist you with your questions, please be patent with us we will be learning the printer along with you.

It will be easier for us though we have been 3D Printing for almost 9 years now, and helping on the forum for 7 years 7 months.

[3DPHW]

I love my Qidi printer, an XCF-pro, it's awesome! It is the older version of the one you have but it is still working great. I got my first printer in 2018 which was a CR10 bed slinger, which means the bed goes back and forth for the Y axis and the print head goes up for the Z axis, unlike your Qidi which has the print head do the X and Y axis and the bed goes down for the Z axis (which is much nicer because it keeps the part your printing perfectly still). I designed and printed things with my CR10 for a couple months but with the constant nozzle clogging, failed prints and the need to level the bed every week I lost interest in 3d printing for a couple years.

I did get back into 3d printing a few yeas ago when I had more ideas on things to print. I read up on the Qidi XCF pro and it had auto bed leveling plus a much more robust print head so I decided to give it a try and it was a world of difference compared to the CR10. It was basically ready to print right out of the box, I did have to level the bed initially but over the last 2 years I never had to re level the bed and never had a nozzle clog up on me. These improvements over my bed slinger made 3d printing much more enjoyable which is how I eventually started a 3d printing related business.

I guess the moral of the story is that it has become much easier for consumers to get into 3d printing over last couple of years compared to 7 years ago, especially in regards to current, user friendly, 3d printers. I actually just finished writing a 3 page, 3d printing 101 guide, a couple weeks ago that should help you with supplying all the info needed to get started in 3d printing. If you're interested, you can check out The Complete Guide to Consumer 3D Printing and feel free to ask me any specific questions you might have about 3d printing.

Good luck and welcome to the 3d printing world!