Something I've been wanting to get into for a long time and with modern consumer-grade machines getting better and much easier to setup and use, an idiot like me has a chance?

Have my eyes on a Lulzbot Taz 6 (or similar) machine when I finally have the space next year. Don't want to limit my print size right off the bat with a Mini2 or other smaller machine. Quite impressed with Lulzbot and somewhat certain that is the brand I will go with. 3D geeks and commercial users are raving about them. Being able to stick so many different filament materials into the head right out of the box is huge. Love the option to get the dual extrusion head if I want to get fancy down the road. Have only heard of Cura slicing engines being recommended but wondering about actual modeling at this point and I think that's where it gets interesting.

Save for modeling clay and a 3D scanner, what is the best way for a beginner to get started actually designing simple objects? OpenSCAD? TinkerCAD?

I know there's some of you involved in this stuff to one extent or another and would appreciate any comments anyone might want to leave. Cheers

First consider how mechanically inclined you are. Will you build the printer from parts or do you need one fully assembled. Even fully assembled you might need to do some tweaking but very much less than setting one up from scratch.
How good are you at learning something you have never done before. Building things in 3D requires a lot of thought. No matter which 3D program you use it will require a good amount of ability to imagine what you want to create then put into numbers. Accurate measurements are a must. If you have not worked with CAD before it can be a tough learning curve.
Tinkercad is one of the easiest for beginners but is also very powerful. You make objects ( squares, circles and such) and negative objects. By combining them in the right order you build things. Once an object is complete you have to do a few things.
Export your file into a STL. This is the 3D file
Slice the file. Cura is common. It uses your specific printer to convert the SLT to GCODE
Print the GCODE file on your printer. Most common is thru a SD card but can be done thru the network. It depends on your printer.

Thanks!

Have been watching tutorials and CAD is will be tough, the rest is no problem. Have been looking at Shapeways tutorials like putting a photo of a drawn object on transparent background layer in Photoshop and importing it into TinkerCAD to create simple models around that to then create an STL file, stuff like that... Hacks I know but...

Anyway, if that's all there is to it I'll concentrate on the modeling end or at least being able to import something I can use and export eventually... MatterControl looks pretty powerful too.

Building off of an existing thread. Does anyone have interest in reproducing these for a cost?

GoPro BackPack Mount Reinforced by kacymartin - Thingiverse

Beginners should try this 3D scanner to get started for actually designing simple objects. The essay writers work on a professional platform to give a unique idea for working on 3D printing setups.

You can get Ender 3s for under $200 and people are printing firearms with them.

Thank you for the information!

I’ve made parts like that before in our Stratasys uPrint. Should be able to run them off next week. Shipping will be as much or more as the parts. PM me.

3D printing is opening scope to develop product easily and innovative way but it is depend on user that how to use programming skill and technology smartly.