When we started our adventure in 3D printing, ABS filament (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) was one of the most popular 3D printing materials. Later it lost its leading position to PLA and PETG. Some of ABS properties, though, may keep this filament in the top 5 for a while, despite of […]
2 commentsSince we’ve posted our ABS filament review we observed that this material was losing its popularity among 3D printing community. Despite not being the most used filament for desktop 3D printers anymore, one quality is making it special. ABS acetone smoothing allows enhancing 3D printed objects by adding the shine […]
Coronavirus or COVID-19 affects all parts of our lives on a global scale. As supply chains got disrupted, combined with a sharp increase in demand, hospitals are getting to the point when vital functional and protective equipment are not available in time. We are witnessing how 3D printing manufacturers and […]
When we first read a press release sent to us we could not believe it. The first reaction was: “What? A desktop Ultimaker used for 3D printed sports car parts?”. Then we remembered that we saw Ultimaker promoting S5 Pro Bundle and open-source material alliance at TCT Show. This combined […]
2 commentsPLA (Polylactic Acid) is one of the most commonly used 3D printing materials. You often get a spool of it when you buy a new printer. PLA is normally the first filament used by beginners to 3D printing, as it is expected to have relatively predictable results. However, the quality […]
We follow some very talented designers on social media who draft highly detailed busts for 3D printing. The ancient technique of sculpting a human without arms dates back to 2345 BC. At that time, it was difficult to sculpt the hands as the clay was susceptible to cracking, compromising the […]
Have you already mastered the time lapse recording using a mobile app, camera mount or Octolapse? If you are designer or creator in 3D printing, you will need to have one more skill under your belt – time lapsing your 3D printing in action. Here’s why: it will help to […]
There is quite the backstory behind our animated turkey 3D model. This little gobbler escaped Thanksgiving, and then no one took it home for Christmas. Since then, it has been traveling around the world, searching for its Valentine. When 3D printed, it can be used as a themed coaster for […]
In this article we will review the MK2.5S upgrade for the Original Prusa i3 MK2. We have always been happy with the old version of this preassembled 3D printer, and we used it heavily for a number of years. However, the introduction of the magnetic PEI sheets and later a […]
3D printing constantly reveals its new applications; one that we’ve discovered recently was recreating the controversial spirit of two famous sculptures. Charging Bull and Fearless Girl in the Wall Street, New York, raised a huge debate following a provocative appearance of the latter in a powerful juxtaposition. Juxtaposition is an […]
2 commentsIt’s time to learn an advanced 3D design software for 3D printing; let’s try a 4-week Blender course. Why Blender? Because it’s powerful, free, and one of the most popular 3D design tools out there. Blender has been around since the early 90’s. This software may appear hard to handle, […]
What is a lithophane? A lithophane is a special piece of art from the past. It’s usually a straight surface of thin material which contains a hidden secret. This secret will only reveal itself when light shines on the back of the material and shows its true beauty. A lithophane […]
When we bought our first printer we didn’t realize that there is a number of essential 3D printing tools to come with it. There are tools for the printing process and also for safety. Day by day we kept filling our toolbox with more essentials and now we have a […]
Functional 3D printing does not get the same publicity as printing for fun. The share of useful 3D prints in domestic 3D printing is growing but such models are not appreciated enough. And there is a wave of criticism regarding that. In our opinion, both types of modelling are needed […]
There is an interesting themed collection of 3D printed hexagons on Thingiverse. María Loureiro aka @tecnoloxia started a project named @100Hex where she shares her designs. Many hexagons represent different patterns, but some are based on pieces of art, recognisable images or events. On her Thingiverse project page, María encourages […]
There have been a lot of successful 3D design and 3D printer crowdfunding campaigns in recent years. Backers are keen to support projects that are add-ons to their beloved newly found hobby. These fundraising campaigns offer an opportunity to take part in the birth of new concepts for 3D printing […]
If you are into illusions you may find that 3D printers are very useful tools to replicate existing or create completely new combinations. A vast collection of 3D printed illusion models are available on 3D model repositories. Let’s have a look at some of them. Click on picture to zoom […]
There is something magical about 3D sculpting and even a little bit addictive once you start it. A lot of amazing 3D models made in ZBrush are shared on social media, and it became part of a New Year’s resolution to try this 3D designing software out. Luckily, makers of […]
2 comments3D printing nurtures creativity and curiosity. Some more advanced makers start to find standard printing boring. They look for a challenge and push the boundaries of this technology. They “torture test” their 3D printers to see the maximum capability. New ideas are born. Designing hairy 3D prints is one of […]
Desktop FDM 3D printers have limited capabilities in terms of printing in color. The majority of such printers have a single extruder and for these, the idea of multicolor 3D printing has been a challenge for a long time. What makes it possible, however, is an option to pause, change […]
A very rich and interesting part of 3D printing is the ability to print scanned objects. It opens an enormous potential for saving the historic heritage of the world. A significant collection of such objects already exists as MyMiniFactory supported the Scan the World initiative. They share the files for […]
There is a range of interesting toy models that are tagged as Flexi or Articulated on STL sharing websites. Making the most of desktop 3D printing at home, makers and designers are turning basic, lifeless models into wiggly, wobbly, jiggly entertaining toys. At first glance, we thought that no-one would […]
Recycling in 3D printing stays an open and sensitive subject. Many FDM desktop 3D printer users face the problem with plastic filament waste. With time they accumulate a great number of failed prints, leftover material as well as empty filament spools. There are a few initiatives from 3D printing material […]
A wide range of so-called “business card” models is available on STL sharing websites. These models are flat, and therefore they are 3D printed in no time. They also consume a very small amount of 3D printing material. Card models can be a fun extra when sent with Christmas cards […]
6 comments3D printing wood filament exists since 2012, but it could still be called experimental. It often consists of 60-70% polymers and 40-30% of recycled wood fibres of different kinds. Its qualities in reference to strength, for example, can be similar to PLA. There are no formal specifications for 3D printing […]
Spray painting 3D printed models has a big potential. It is sad to see objects not being used just because of some minor flaws or dull colours. We know that there are more sophisticated methods of post processing available, like airbrush or vapour smoothing for ABS, but spray painting is […]
Fillamentum produces a full lineup of materials whatever your 3D printing needs may be, with offerings of PLA, ABS, ASA, Timberfill, Flexfill, Nylon, PLA Crystal Clear, PLA Extrafill, HIPS and Co-Polyester. Fillamentum is a fairly new and fast rising company from Hulin in the Czech Republic. The company is headed […]
It is important to use the right 3D printer filament material for the right job. Here you can find the list of materials available together with detailed reviews and picture galleries for the most used materials in desktop 3D printing. PLA, ABS, Wood, PETG, Nylon, Support, FLEX, with more reviews […]
Disguised as a wall mounted spool holder 3D Printing Guardian watches over the whole 3D printing process. He immediately made our lives easier as now we can replace a spool in seconds. It is especially handy when changing filament for multicolor 3D printing. The idea was to design something functional […]
Customization is the main value in 3D printing. Designers and makers can apply their skills and use their imagination to create something original. One of the best models for customization is a 3D printed puzzle box. The puzzle can be unique for each model or there may be a secret […]
4 commentsDuring the festive season, there are a lot of shiny sparkly decorations around. Having a 3D printer, it is very tempting to try and make something special. As we are not much of the artists, spray painting 3D prints seemed like an easy solution. And what a variety of paints […]
3D printed Minecraft mobs are very popular among dedicated players. Any Minecraft fan would be happy to have one in their collection. On the other hand, their square-shaped look makes it easy to design and print. File sharing websites are full of free samples to download and try out. Click […]
The announcement of Guardians of the Galaxy part 2 created a wave of interest towards Groot in 3D printing community. A glimpse of Baby Groot in the movie trailer gave ideas to the designers. Makers all over the world are having fun recreating the famous character. For Groot 3D printing […]
2 commentsJoining Pokemon Go hype, we could not resist 3D printing some of the characters. We had some trouble with printing Pikachu in yellow PLA. One of his ears was burned and melted. There is always that risk when printing tall sharp or narrow object. Extruder is working on the same […]
2 commentsAfter a new 3D printer is bought, it is recommended to test it by printing something simple. Thanks to STL sharing websites there are a lot of beginner-friendly printable files available for free. Once you gain the confidence in using the printer and the slicer, it may be time to […]
11 commentsOnce your new 3D printer arrives it is good to understand its capabilities. There are many 3D printing test files to choose from on Thingeverse. The reason to use a proper test file is because it contains all hard-to-print bits. After printing such object it becomes clear what settings you need to complete tricky and detailed projects. Also these files are designed in a way that you don't use a lot of filament and printing time. Our 3D printing test is made on Delta Wasp 2040.
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