Since the last post, I already downloaded a program called Slic3r, found some skull keychain designs on Thingiverse, learned how to digitally double them up on the printing bed, and exported the STL format to gcode, so it would work on my printer.
While I printed them: I fixed the filament sizing on Slic3r; I digitally quadrupled the skull keychains on the printing bed, converted the file and saved to my new Mac desktop (old one is too outdated for Slic3r); I found three animal figurine designs I may print for my nephew someday, converted the files and saved to desktop; I found some anatomical heart keychains, quadrupled, converted, and saved them too.
I am terrified of getting everything wrong and sometimes it keeps me from doing anything, but I LOVE LEARNING OKAY.
Oh. And here are the skulls:
I bought the Monoprice Mini 3D Printer a really long time ago -- maybe a year or more -- but did as I often do with anything new that comes with instructions: got afraid, overwhelmed, and regretful and shoved it in my closet, still in box.
This winter break I have been challenging myself to "just try" a lot of things. This was one. I'm going to be honest and tell you that I almost threw it out the window at least once, but, regardless, today I learned how to: set it up, use the internal computer and mini SD card, feed the filament and troubleshoot, and print the included sample.
Granted, I still have to set up computer programs to change STL shareware files to gcode so that I can print some things I actually want. Also, I eventually want to learn my own designs.
However, today, I dipped in a toe (and it wasn't as cold as I thought).
Original goal list posted here.
