| There is a reason why 3D simulation games like | | | | your own 3D printer if you have the patience for |
| The Sims are so popular. In case of The Sims, it | | | | it. To do this, you simply need to download |
| is not really about being able to play god and run | | | | instructions from a fabber website, buy the parts |
| the lives of computer-generated people. For many | | | | and materials you will need, and then start building. |
| players of this game, it is more about the ability | | | | Or you can buy a commercially made 3D printer; |
| to build a house from scratch, design it however | | | | they go for anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. |
| the way you like it and then furnish it to your | | | | A 3D printer is certainly quite a costly toy to play |
| heart's content. The most recent version of the | | | | with, but eventually you can get a lot of returns |
| game even has a sophisticated item customization | | | | from it. The simple reason is that you can build |
| system that allows you to personalize your house | | | | almost anything with a 3D printer, including a |
| fully. | | | | model house. |
| If building imaginary houses using 3D software is a | | | | Building a Model House |
| passion of yours, you can actually go a step | | | | So, how do you build a scale of your dream |
| further than just dragging your mouse to build | | | | house with a 3D printer? The process is simple. |
| walls in games like The Sims. You can get | | | | First, you come up with a drawing of your house. |
| yourself a 3D printer, draw your house using | | | | If you play The Sims, you would already be an |
| simple CAD software and then print it out. You | | | | adept at this. But there are other simple CAD |
| can have an actual 3D model of a house of your | | | | software that can easily learn how to use. |
| own creation. | | | | Once you are done with your drawing, you can |
| How Does It Work? | | | | feed the file to the 3D printer. The software that |
| If you have heard of 3D printing before, your | | | | the printer comes with will slice your drawing into |
| idea of the 3D printer may be that it is a big | | | | layers along the cross-section before processing it. |
| machine that engineers and architects use for to | | | | If your house is too big for the printer, you can |
| create scale models. You may have also heard | | | | build it in parts and then glue the parts together. |
| that these machines are very expensive. These | | | | Designing a house and then building a scale model |
| notions about 3D printing are certainly true. | | | | using a 3D printer helps a lot in visualizing your |
| But there are now cheaper and handier | | | | dream house. As they say, visualizing your dream |
| alternatives to the 3D printing machines that | | | | will make it turn into reality someday. |
| engineers and architects use. You can actually build | | | | |