3D Printed Dice Dump Day - Giving it away

What a morning. It wasn't easy making these dice, and it wasn't easy uploading them either. Well, it wasn't hard, just tedious. But now it's done, and you can purchase and download any of the varieties on Pinshape:

• https://pinshape.com/items/31204-3d-printed-spacedice-variation-1-prototype
• https://pinshape.com/items/31205-3d-printed-spacedice-variation-2-spacedice
• https://pinshape.com/items/31206-3d-printed-spacedice-variation-3-space-dice-plus
• https://pinshape.com/items/31207-3d-printed-space-dice-variation-4-diamond-joe
• https://pinshape.com/items/31208-3d-printed-space-dice-variation-5-corners
• https://pinshape.com/items/31209-3d-printed-spacedice-variation-6-gears
• https://pinshape.com/items/31197-3d-printed-earthdice-variation-1-prototype
• https://pinshape.com/items/31198-3d-printed-earthdice-variation-2-space-body
• https://pinshape.com/items/31199-3d-printed-earthdice-variation-3-space-plus
• https://pinshape.com/items/31201-3d-printed-earthdice-variation-4-diamond-joe
• https://pinshape.com/items/31202-3d-printed-earthdice-variation-5-corners
• https://pinshape.com/items/31203-3d-printed-earthdice-variation-6-gears

Giving it away

I want to talk for a second about giving it away. I've come out in the past unapologetically insisting that 3D models should cost money. I still feel that way. However, there's also the side of things where I really just want people to have and use these things. There's enough cost associated with running a 3D printer, in terms of time and to a lesser extend material, that when there's also a cost of the model that people tend to count things up, and the final tally usually comes to "not worth it". I understand that. 

It's one thing when you can download a model for free and leave it sit in my downloads directory until I'm ready to use it or not. I think we all do that. but when I have to put forth actual money, to commit to printing that model, and then I see that bursting downloads directory, that causes me to go "well, maybe I'll hold off until I print a few more of these". Yeah, I get it. If it's in their downloads directory, maybe eventually it will be printed. It would be great if you could pay after printing, but that also just never happens.

Amanda F'n Palmer gave a great Ted talk about how she's had success giving away her work, and I'd like to be like that too.  But I don't have the active audience that she does surrounding her, ready to descend and shoot a music video on a whim. Yet.

This led me to do 3 things:

First, if you're on my pateron you can expect to receive these files right now.

Second, I when I have a series like this I'll give away the best of the series. I figure if I give away less than the best people won't even look at the rest, so I'll be giving away my favorites. Maybe this is just good business, but I don't know anything about that.

Third, if you still want a file I'm selling, all you have to do is ask. I'd love if you'd share the file on Facebook, Twitter, or wherever, but even if you don't, and you contact me and make that personal connection, then I'll hook you up, with rare exception.

I still just want people to enjoy the work I do. Well, not "just". I also want my work to be recognized as worth something and I'd like to be successful if possible. But at this point it feels like I'm putting a price on them out of principal. I don't think I'm going to pay the bills with 3D models, at least not any time soon. So for now if you want them l, and you let me know you want them, I'll get them to you. Contact form is in the side bar.

Looking forward to connecting with you.

December's Pateron reward is 3D modeling-complete

If you're a pateron backer this month you get a doozy of a project. 6 tree segments, 5 test ornaments, 23 scripture ornaments, and a star to put on top. You can read more about it on Pateron.

For those chomping at the bit to get the write-ups for the last video, hang on just a little while longer. Just need to have my editor make sure they're the best they can be before they go live.

Busy week, big news, no video

It's not that I didn't want to make a video this week. I tried, I really did. This video was ambitious, both in topic, editing, and what's it may end up meaning. Lost a whole day editing it. Even reshot some stuff, which I never do. But the final result was... icky poo to the ears. I'm going to have to either reshoot the whole thing or figure out how I can re-record all the audio, trying to match my lips. As if this video wasn't ambitious enough already.

But, alright, the video is a bust. I'll see if I can fix it for next week.


Meanwhile, big news!

• 3D Printing Designs: Octopus Pencil Holder
• 3D Printing Designs: SD Card Holder Ring
• and 3D Printing Designs: The Sun Puzzle 

are available now on Amazon. The first two are only available on Kindle right now, only print copies of the Sun Puzzle are available, which is okay because that is, by far, the most impressive project of the 3. I love them all, but honestly the sun puzzle is the one that I'd pick if I could only pick one.

Each of these books include basic information about 3D printing and setting up and using Blender, followed by a unique project, each featuring a different aspect of Blender's 3D editing capabilities. So check them out and buy one, or all 3, today.

My Patreon has received it's first reward. It's a 3D printed Decoder Ring, similar to the kind I've made before, but with a scrambled alphabet so that only people with this ring will be able to decode messages made by it, and only if they have one themselves. And since this is an exclusive to my Patreon supporters, I guess we've got the makings of a secret society now.

Because of my current situation I haven't printed this one, so I'm kinda breaking my own rule about uploading tested prints, but I'm 100% confident it will print. And I really wanted to start putting secret messages in my videos, so I decided to go with it.

So that's it. No video, but 3 new books, and a reward to my Patreon supporters.

3D Printing Professor on Patreon

Welp, I've gone and done it now.

The post really says it all. This isn't the right time to do this sort of thing. With the sale of our house taking way longer than anticipated it's getting harder and hard to maker videos. So is it a good idea to pull the trigger on a Patreon when I can't work on the promised of the same?

Is it ever the right time?

I know if I wait I'll never do it. I'll finish getting Wood Wars 3D ready, but I'll have to work on the Caesar Cipher ring. I'll finish the ring, but I'll have to work on the first project. But there'll be no pressure, so I'll finish a project after the house sells and we move. And I'll upt it off till after I've built the garage, then after the kids all graduate college.

NO. Now is the time.

I've got high hope and I hope you'll put the pressure on me to deliver. The worst thing for my stress level right now would be a successful Patreon. So stress me out.