About a month ago I purchased a M3D printer and started fooling around with Autodesk's free 123D Design software. I've wanted a TMP Tricorder for years and before I got one from Triple Fiction Designs on ebay, I started designing my own. I know my version is not screen accurate but this was a learning experience more than an attempt to make something that is as close as possible to the actual prop.
The prop was printed in M3D's own PLA black filament that came with the printer. Since the M3D printer is quite small (the print area is only about 4" square), I designed the Tricorder in two pieces which were hot-glued together. The final prop is about 5 inches tall by 3.5 inches wide. You can still see the horizontal striations which most 3D printers exhibit even though I primed and sanded the model down. The details are paper "decals" that I printed and applied with glue. I used Liquitex paint and some paint pens for additional colors.
All in all, I'm pretty happy with this first attempt to make something on my own. Even better, I've got all sorts of things I want to try and make now!
