Can 3D Printer Print An Anime Figure?
By Yes, you can use a 3d printer to print Anime figures.
From the invention of the first 3D printer in the year 1986, the technology has evolved incredibly, reducing in size and becoming more efficient and user-friendly overall.
It has never been easier to make 3D printed Anime figures.
In this article, I will show you print your own Anime figure by 3d printer step by step.
How to 3D Print Your Own Anime Figure?
Select A 3D Printer For You First Anime print
FDM
Fused Deposition Modeling
- Melts and extrudes thermoplastic filament
- Lowest price of entry and materials
- Lowest resolution and accuracy
SLA
Stereolithography
- Laser cures photopolymer resin
- Highly versatile material selection
- Highest resolution and accuracy, fine details
DLP
Digital Light Processing
- DLP printing is faster
- Easier to finish
- More expensive and harder to maintain
FDM has the lowest resolution and accuracy when compared to SLA or DLP and is not the best option for printing complex designs or parts with intricate features.
FDM is ideal for very large prints, due to the fact that they are a lot more affordable, even the bigger ones!
SLA and DLP are a great option for highly detailed prototypes requiring tight tolerances and smooth surfaces, if your anime model is high detail and wants figure body smooth, SLA and DLP are the best options, but the printer price is not low.
If you are 3D printer beginner, you can check my previous article about 3d printer.
Relate: Top 20 best cheap 3d printer 2021 (Starting at $99!)
Acquiring and Designing Anime 3D Models
After you select printer, you’ll need something to print.
3D models are created using 3D modeling software, usually referred to as CAD (computer-aided design) software.
For Anime 3d models, most popular modeling software are Blender and ZBrush.
However, most 3D printing beginners don’t have the skills required to use such professional software.
If that’s the case, don’t worry, you can find various models online:
If you need Anime 3d print model, you can visit our Anime 3d print model store.
We are specific with Anime Female models design, all the models are printable and include split and non-split files.
You can also join our Facebook and tell me know which Anime model you like us to create.
This way, anyone can get their hands on a model without any modeling skills.
Preparing Anime Models
3D models need to be prepared for 3D printing using a special kind of software that translates the model into machine instructions.
This is done using slicing software, also referred to as slicers.
The software will give you all the information that contain important parameters required to produce a model, such as printing speed and temperature, wall thickness, infill percentage, layer height, and many others.
All the OXO3D Anime model has been tested print, make sure the 3d print model won’t have wall thickness and broken part print issue.
Another of the main functions of a slicer is to generate support material.
Support is needed for parts with severe overhangs.
Most popular slicer software include:
Preparing the Printer
There are a couple of things always need to be done on a 3D printer before it’s ready to print:
1. Loading Filament
The extruder needs to be ready to extrude filament before printing begins.
The loading process begins by heating the hot end to the filament’s molten temperature (anything above 175 °C, depending on the filament), and then loading the filament into the heated extruder.
2. Bed Leveling
In order for the printer to deposit filament and build the object successfully, the build platform must be level.
Depending on the 3D printer, leveling can be either manual or automatic.
Bed leveling is very important because, if the print bed is too far away from the nozzle, the first and the most important layer won’t stick to the bed, causing the print to automatically fail.
3D Print Materials
Plastic
Plastic products are generally made with FDM printers, in which thermoplastic filaments are melted and molded into shape, layer by layer.
The types of plastic used in this process are usually made from one of the following materials:
- Polyastic acid (PLA)
- Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
- Polyvinyl Alcohol Plastic (PVA)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
Resins
One of the more limiting and therefore less-used materials in 3D printing is resin. Use for SLA and DLP printer
Made of liquid polymer, resin reaches its end state with exposure to UV light.
- High-detail resins
- Paintable resin
- Transparent resin
Post-Processing
Post-processing is the final stage of production for a 3D Anime printed part.
We can identify 5 steps in post-processing, although not all steps are required for all projects:
- Removing support material
- Sanding
- Coloring
- Gluing
1. Removing support material
FDM:
When printing models with overhang on FDM or other material jetting technologies, support structures that hold up the overhanging features are needed.
There are two types of support material: soluble and insoluble (usually the latter is the same material the model is printed with).
- Insoluble material is relatively strong and can only be removed using tools as knives or pliers.
- soluble support material can be dissolved in water or with a chemical called Limonene. It is a lower risk of damaging the model.
SLA/DLP
Anime Parts that are printed with SLA or DLP can be easily cleaned by uses isopropyl alcohol (IPA) after printing.
2. Sanding
Layer lines or touch-points where support structure was attached to the model can be removed by carefully sanding the surface of the model, using sanding paper with varying grit: from low to high for finishing.
Layer lines are particularly visible on 3D models produced using layering techniques (like FDM).
3. Coloring
Parts that need colouring would ideally be printed using white material.
Before the Anime model is painted a layer of primer is usually applied.
Painting can be done manually using a brush or spray. There are machines that automate spraying of parts.
4. Gluing
If you print a large Anime 3D model that does not fit in your printer’s build volume, you can print the part in two or multiple parts and later stick them together.
OXO3D designs Anime and Video Game 3D Printable model STL files, you can check our Anime 3D print model work and Follow us on Facebook, you can find your favorite character 3d printable file, also let us know which character you like, we will create one for you!
