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 […]
Some models are successfully 3D printed by their creators and files are shared for others to print. However, 3D printers, materials and slicer settings are different in every case and therefore the end results may vary. It is quite frustrating when a print fails several hours into 3D printing. Eye-catching […]
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 […]
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 […]
4 commentsThe ultimate goal of every designer is to have their unique work recognized. 3D printing competitions offer a great chance not only to showcase your design but also to improve skills. Winners get various awards including 3D Printers. In addition to prizes, the selected design is labeled as a winner […]
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Formula 1 is normally associated with skilled drivers racing against each other in state-of–the-art cars, but it is also about racing against time. F1 is not like any other car racing, here a driver can experience “g” forces of around 5g on acceleration and braking. The competition in this business […]
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 […]
2 commentsPLA – Polylactic Acid PLA is one of the most commonly used 3D printing materials. A spool of it often comes together with a new printer. PLA is normally the first filament used by beginners in 3D printing. It is expected to have relatively predictable results. However, the quality of […]
3D printing in medicine is becoming widely adopted due to the technology advancement. The ability to customize and produce test models makes 3D printing invaluable in dentistry, prosthetics, etc. There are more sophisticated applications of this technology that medical professionals are starting to explore. What used to be the work […]
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 […]
4 commentsWood Filament 3D 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 […]
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 […]
There are different types of 3D printing software: CAD, Slicer, File Repair, 3D Sculpting, Scanning Software, VR Design, etc. The table below is updated regularly. Please feel free to Contact Us if you think that a particular software or application should be added. 3D Printing Software and Applications Having to […]
3D printing services is a fast-growing area. It includes 3D design, 3D scanning services, 3D printing on demand, tutorials and training. Various 3D printing platforms share files; others allow outsourcing 3D printing. Lending in-house printing equipment is another service that gains popularity. Please feel free to Contact Us if you […]
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 […]
Choose a desktop 3D printer that is right for you. Build volume, FDM or SLA, well-known brand or a start-up – all to consider. The table below helps to compare and make a comprehensive decision. It is regularly updated and maintained. Please feel free to Contact Us if you think […]
Scroll through brands and 3D printer filament available to find the right materials for 3D printing at home. PLA, ABS, Wood, PETG, Nylon, Support, FLEX, etc. This table is updated regularly. Please feel free to Contact Us if you think that a particular brand or material should be added. 3D […]
Every Tuesday Jayson Wall aka PrintThatThing invites everyone to take part in his live 3D printing show. Designers, makers and content creators talk about their project and 3D printing related matters. In the middle of the show, there is a “3D Printing Nuggets” feature that adds some spice to the […]
If you are following 3D printing community on social media, you cannot miss occasionally heated activities. This includes a lot of talks about meetups followed by live streams, live chats, interviews, group pictures, etc. Usually, all this happens when some maker or 3D printing-related event happens. We’ve put together a […]
Recently, 3D printing community legionnaire Tessa, aka SparkyFace5, mentioned that it was so easy to take pictures on delta printers as their printing beds did not move. It reminded us that we had so many interesting time-lapse videos piled up. We feel that we have to say special thanks to […]
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 […]
We missed the fidget spinner hype while being busy with other projects. But on the bright side, we can reflect on the past and have a picture of what really happened (and still happening). Fidget spinners are especially dear to any maker as it is a rare possibility to use […]
They say that 3D Printing Guardian is the last of the ancient people that lived on earth. After receiving three magic artifacts he obtained special powers. For endless years the Guardian was in hiding waiting until people were ready to discover 3D printing. Was it a curse or was it […]
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 […]
If you are following 3D printing community on Twitter, it is hard to miss Ryan Lewis aka 3D Printed Aspie. Aspie is short for Aspergers, a form of Autism that makes Ryan see the world differently. With a University degree in game design, Ryan found a real passion in 3D […]
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 […]
We were asked to make a Tipeye 3D pen review. It was a very good timing for us as we have been planning to write a blog or two about 3D pens anyway. This device has a use in 3D printing and we added it to our tools list. In […]
4 commentsTessa aka SparkyFace5 is a well-known figure in 3D printing community. She has her own YouTube channel, acts as a moderator in a 3D printing group on Facebook, takes an active part on forums and in social media discussions. Her background as electrician helped her to understand the technology well, […]
The following article is aimed at being a tool and guidance for everyone who is involved in 3D printing. For businesses and supporters, we offer a list of Patreon members. For designers, makers or any other 3D printing content creators we provide information about Patreon. According to all possible analytical […]
When we dived into the world of comics and superheroes, we could not help noticing a talented prop and cosplay masks maker Clayton Parker. He is known in the social media as Uncle Jessy. Clayton’s YouTube videos are powerful tutorials that give a very clear understanding of what is involved […]
Jeffrey R Wright, an experienced 3D printing enthusiast and YouTuber, began an ambitious #3DP365Project on his Print 3D Channel. He pledged to make a print a day for a year, starting from the 1st of January 2017. We feel it might get him into the Guinness book of records as […]
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 […]
Joel Telling, also known as 3D Printing Nerd, was one of the first YouTubers who attracted our attention in the very beginning of our 3D printing adventure. At that time he had only 8,000 subscribers. We wanted to print a model from Thingiverse and watched Joel’s funny tutorial about him […]
When we started writing about 3D printing community members we never thought that we would write about designers of 3D printers and company founders. It is fair to admit that they are doing the biggest contribution to 3D printing. But most of them are not that socially active. This is […]
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 launched the Scan the World initiative. Scientist Geoffrey Marchal is one […]
Agustin Flowalistik is a graphic designer who accidentally got involved in 3D printing and now he plays a big part in 3D printing community. You can find his models on most of the STL sharing websites. He got famous after designing low poly Pokemon characters. Agustin had a big success […]
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 […]
Louise Driggers aka Loubie is the designer whose creations we have printed the most. Louise’s technical background helps her in a quest for designing support-free models. At the same time, her models are not lacking detail and are full of elegance. As huge fans of the Hobbit and other Tolkien […]
Before buying Original Prusa i3 MK2 we didn’t know that it would become the best 3D Printer of the year according to “Make” magazine and to “3D Hubs” community. We first saw Prusa in action in autumn 2016 at the DIGICAL Show in London organized by iMakr. Even though a […]
JWALL aka PRINT THAT THING is the most eccentric and charismatic 3D printing designer we’ve met so far and happy to follow. He can design, he can make and he can rap. Oh, camera loves this man! The truth is he is one of the first 3D printing designers and […]
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. To […]
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 […]
As we continue our journey in 3D printing world we want to give credit to a free online STL repair software that helped us out – MakePrintable. In December 2016 we found ourselves in an unpleasant situation. We wanted to print a trending model Baby Groot but could not slice […]
Joining 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 […]
Another 3D printing material that can be tested and then used in a home or office environment is PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate). PET filament is food safe and waterproof therefore it is especially good for making vases, bottles, boxes, all sort of containers. Even though a higher width nozzle diameter is […]
Louise Driggers’ 3D printed Sad Face action united 3D printing community in a protest against those who disrespect designers’ rights. This happened when an Ebay seller took more than two thousand designs and pictures from file-sharing websites, like Thingiverse, and started selling the prints. This seller has also been using […]
Flexible filament is not as frequently used in 3D printing as PLA or ABS for example. The reason may be that it is still an experimental material. Printing with it requires certain skills and good knowledge of your machine. Also slicer settings, like in Cura or Simplify3D, have to be […]
We were lucky to attend the first ever DIGICAL Show in London on Friday 30 September. The event was packed with interesting innovations. The speakers presented their projects and views of the future of 3D printing. We had an opportunity to speak to the vendors and designers, to see and […]
ABS – Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ABS filament is the second most popular 3D printing materials. Some may consider using ABS easier than PLA, although there are some qualities to watch out for. For one, it does not stick that well to the printing bed compared to PLA. This can be […]
8 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.
According to an extensive poll conducted by 3D Hubs Delta Wasp was voted as one of the best 3D printers for enthusiasts. The first place were taken by Makergear M2, with slightly higher score than Delta Wasp and LulzBot TAZ 5. The results were based on reviews of 441 printer […]
An object with overhangs over 45 degrees normally requires adding support in 3D printing. In a slicing software Cura there are options for 2 different types of support structures: Touching Buildplate and Everywhere. Everywhere may be a bit too much and requires extensive cleaning and polishing to perfect the result. […]
A year ago we have chosen a relatively unknown Italian 3D printer DeltaWasp 2040 to be our first 3D printer. It arrived in a washing machine size box and it already included a spool of filaments and a SD card with several files. This helped to us to start printing […]