Welcome to our Learning Hub (or our Knowledge Library as we also like to call it)! Discover a wealth of expert-written articles, each offering deep insights and practical advice on 3D printing and more. Whether you’re starting out or enhancing your maker skills, you’ll find valuable knowledge here.
Have a question or a topic suggestion? We’re all ears! Let us know, and we’ll keep enriching our hub with content that matters to you. Happy exploring!
Cura is free, and Simplify3D is paid. The former has tree supports, the latter does not. One is open-source. The other is privately owned. The differences don’t seem to end.
Cura vs Simplify3D is one of the most interesting debates in the world of 3D printing….
Cura vs Simplify3D: Is an Expensive Slicer Better? Read More
Glowforge and xTool laser cutters have both made it simple and safe for anyone to use laser cutters in their homes and garages and even start a laser cutting business. Choosing between the latest xTool P2 and Glowforge machines isn’t the easiest task, however.
The xTool…
xTool P2 vs Glowforge Laser Cutters: Which Crushes the Competition? Read More
The new xTool F1 is a portable laser engraving machine focused on high-speed engraving. With two different lasers—UV and infrared—it aims to let you engrave a wide range of materials. From paper to leather and metals, it promises to handle it for you.
At around $2000,…
xTool F1 Review: The Best Portable Laser Engraver? Read More
With its previous LP1 through LP3 models, LaserPecker established itself as a manufacturer of affordable high-speed galvanometer laser engravers. Their new LaserPecker 4 aims to improve on their previous machines by adding even more features to the mix.
For example, the new LaserPecker 4 combines both…
LaserPecker 4 Review: Is It Worth Your Money? Read More
Although ABS filament is one of the more difficult materials to 3D print with, it’s still one of the most popular filaments available. And while 3D printer features like a heated bed are a given for printing ABS, whether you can 3D print ABS without…
3D Printing ABS Without Enclosure: The Complete Guide Read More
Despite its popularity, 3D printing ABS is usually a headache and a half (quite literally, if you aren’t careful with the fumes). Its high printing temperature and shrinkage rate make it especially prone to issues with warping, layer adhesion, and dimensional accuracy.
While it’s easy to…
ABS Alternatives: Discover the 5 Best Filaments for Easy 3D Printing Read More
Bridges and overhangs are some of the most challenging 3D printing techniques you can do. Add ABS to the equation and it’s even more challenging to pull off successfully.
Why? Because ABS is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, it doesn’t work well with a lot…
ABS Bridging: 5 Settings for Flawless 3D Printed Bridges Read More
Anyone who regularly works with 3D printing materials like PLA or PETG knows what a pain (literally) it is to get smooth and shiny 3D prints from sanding. A medium-sized print can take several hours to sand smooth, which just isn’t feasible for large-scale production.
That’s…
Smoothing ABS: Get Smooth 3D Prints with Acetone Vapor, Brushing & Baths Read More
The top and bottom layers of your 3D prints often have a rough finish because of extrusion lines. These lines can give your prints an unfinished appearance and affect their overall visual appeal. Sometimes, you just need parts that look smooth and clean. Fortunately, there’s…
Cura Ironing: The 7 Best Settings for a Smooth Top Layer Read More
PLA, or Polylactic Acid, is a great material for 3D printing. The low price and high printability make it the material of choice for all newcomers to 3D printing.
Now picture this: One fine evening, you’re all set to 3D print your masterpiece. You have set…
PLA Print Settings: The Complete Guide for Perfect 3D Prints Read More
Support structures are a core element in 3D printing. They hold up the overhangs of your pieces, making it easier to print elaborate models. But one problem with these supports is that they sometimes show up in unwanted places.
What if the printer makes support even…
Cura Support Blocker: How to Block Supports in 6 Easy Steps Read More
If you’re ready to upgrade your 3D printing experience past basic PLA, we’ve got some great news for you: you don’t have to lose your sanity jumping into more advanced filaments just yet. There are plenty of types of PLA filament you can explore.
These PLA…
PLA Filament Types Explained: Master 17 Versatile Variants Read More
PLA or TPU, which filament should you use for your project? While these two materials are both popular 3D printing filaments, they have vastly different properties and uses. Understanding when to use and how to combine them can take your 3D prints to a whole…
TPU vs (Flexible) PLA Filament: 8 Key Factors to Guide Your Choice Read More
The vase mode in Cura is a pretty unique tool that is both useful and fun to use. Think of it as making a whole model with a single strand of 3D printer filament. No seams, no transitions between layers—just one continuous line 3D print.
Even…
Cura Vase Mode: How to Create Spiralized Contours in 3 Easy Steps Read More
Polycarbonate and PLA are two of the most popular 3D printing materials for good reason, but if you’re finding it hard to keep track of what they are and how to use them with so many other materials out there, that’s totally understandable!
That’s why we’re…
Polycarbonate vs PLA Filament: 4 Notable Differences Read More
Cura has an extensive library of high-quality infill patterns to choose from. Each infill pattern has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some are better for strength, while others have a superior appearance. Some patterns use less material, while others cut down on the amount of…
Cura Infill Patterns: Which of the 14 Are Best, Fastest, and Strongest? Read More
Polylactic acid (PLA) is the most commonly used material in FDM 3D printing. This plant-based plastic is well-known for its ease of printing, reasonable cost, and wide assortment. Also, it’s better for the earth than other 3D printing materials.
Every 3D printing enthusiast or professional user…
PLA Filament for 3D Printing: A No-Nonsense Guide Read More
Each of Cura’s nifty features contributes to an overall better 3D printing experience. Ranging from tried-and-true standards to novel experiments, the slicer has a lot that helps you. One of the more experimental settings we’ll examine today is Cura’s Adaptive layers.
Adaptive layers are a handy…
Cura Adaptive Layers: Use Variable Layer Heights for Insane 3D Prints Read More
If you are looking for Glowforge projects to try out, this article has you covered. Glowforge laser cutting machines have been trending in the DIY community since their introduction in 2018. Because of its flexibility and user-friendliness, it has given amateurs, experts, and everyone in…
20 Cool Glowforge Projects and Must-Try Ideas Read More
Starting a business in 3D printing is now more affordable and easier than ever. You’ve probably already seen dozens of online sellers of 3D-printed items on eBay, Etsy, and Amazon, so you know making money with a 3D printer is possible.
Aside from the fun side…
Selling 3D Printed Items Like a Pro: Essential Do’s and Don’ts Read More
Even if you have your print settings down to a science, your 3D prints might still have holes and gaps. Most of the time, it’s easy to ignore these gaps because they’re small and don’t affect the strength of the print. But sometimes, they can…
Holes and Gaps in 3D Prints: 4 Tips for Smooth Surfaces on Every Print Read More
You’ve been using your 3D pen long enough that you know all the basic plastics. PLA, ABS, PCL—
Hang on, what the heck is PCL filament?!
Well, PCL is another 3D printing material that works great with 3D pens. Don’t worry if it’s new to you—it isn’t…
PCL vs PLA: A Fast Comparison of 3D Pen Filaments Read More
Makeblock has been making waves with its xTool laser cutters. Their new xTool P2 is no exception. With a powerful 55W CO2 laser tube, curved surface engraving capability, and automatic feeding of material, it sounds like a Glowforge-killer as far as desktop laser cutters are…
xTool P2 Review: A Cut Above the Rest Read More
The new Creality K1 3D printer aims to deliver high-quality prints in a fraction of the time. With true CoreXY kinematics, powerful print cooling, and an innovative bed leveling system, the machine appears to be capable of delivering just that.
But with Creality having had several…
Creality K1 Review: A High-Speed 3D Printer With Potential Read More
Painting PLA can be a bit more challenging than painting other 3D printing materials. While it might be tempting to skip a few steps to save time, that can lead to chips, bubbles, and all sorts of other issues with your paint job.
If you want…
Painting PLA: How To and Tips for Stunning 3D Prints Read More
It’s the question heard ‘round the world in the 3D printing community: Is PLA biodegradable or not? PLA filament makers still say yes, even as their customers swear their prints won’t degrade.
So, what’s the truth about PLA plastics? And how can shoppers worried about plastic…
Is PLA Biodegradable or Not: Debunking 3D Printing Myths Read More
You have the perfect 3D printing project in mind. You think PLA is the best material for it and decide to use a roll you bought a few months ago. You have everything set and ready to go when the worst happens—your PLA filament snaps…
Brittle PLA Filament: 6 Tips to Avoid Snaps Read More
Do you have a spool or two of PLA filament that hasn’t seen the light of day in a year or two (or five)? If so, you may be asking yourself: does PLA filament go bad?
If you’ve already checked the label for an expiration date,…
Does PLA Filament Expire? 10 Truths About Its Shelf Life Read More
Did you leave a spool of 3D printing filament out in the open? Or maybe you’re trying to print with a filament that’s a bit past its prime. Either way, you’ve got a moisture problem and you need to solve it, stat.
Lucky for you, drying…
Drying 3D Printing Filament: 3 Effective Methods Read More
The 3DMakerPro Lynx is a new 3D scanner for scanning larger objects. Coming in at a price of around $400, it is another low-cost device from 3DMakerPro that is aimed towards beginners and non-professionals that want to 3D scan without spending an arm and a…
3DMakerPro Lynx Review: Large 3D Scanning for Cheap Read More
The Snapmaker J1s is a brand-new dual-extruder 3D printer that is focused on fast printing. While dual extruder 3D printers are not uncommon, the addition of fast printing speeds makes the J1s an appealing option over its competitors.
Given Snapmaker’s reputation for high build quality and…
Snapmaker J1s Review: Dual-Material 3D Printing at Its Best Read More
With its latest SV07 3D printer, Sovol is joining many other printer manufacturers by focusing on a fast 3D printing experience. Unlike other manufacturers’ machines, the Sovol SV07 has a budget approach that makes it more accessible for beginners.
The 3D printer has quite a few…
Sovol SV07 Review: A Fast But Rushed 3D Printer Read More
Supports are weird! Often you want them in your 3D prints, but nobody really likes them. Standard support structures don’t always work well and are known for being hard to take off the model. You can always “fine-tune” your support settings, but let’s be honest:…
Cura Tree Support: A No-Nonsense Guide With 4 Critical Settings Read More
Cura has loads of features tuned toward adjusting the retraction in your 3D prints. There’s coasting, sweeping, Z-hop, and the topic of today: combing. Combing in Cura is meant to reduce stringing and improve the surface quality of your prints.
In this article, we’ll look at…
Cura Combing Mode: 5 Optimized Settings to Reduce Stringing Read More
Splitting a 3D model for printing is something that solves many problems. You can print big parts with a smaller 3D printer, your parts won’t experience as much warping, and the parts are easier to handle during cleaning and post-processing.
Of course, you’ll need to glue…
How to Split a 3D Model for Printing: A Step-by-Step Guide Read More
There’s no way around it. If you want to regularly print large objects, you’ll need a large 3D printer. While you can split 3D models, print them, and glue them together afterward, this is a time-consuming and challenging process. That’s where the Creality CR-M4 3D…
Creality CR-M4 Review: Unmatched Large-Scale 3D Printing Read More
By lifting the nozzle during retractions, Z-Hop helps to reduce the chances of your prints getting knocked over from the bed and scarring on your prints. With a Z-hop height of 0.2 mm, you can get smoother 3D prints and reduce print failure.
Z-Hop is one…
Z Hop: The Best Cura Settings for Flawless 3D Prints Read More
How long it will take to 3D print depends on multiple parameters. For example, the print speed, size of the 3D model, and printing technology. Typically, 3D prints can take anywhere between a couple of hours to several days.
On average, a 3D Benchy takes about…
How Long Does It Take to 3D Print? The True Answer Read More
Laser cutting machines are more accessible now than ever. If you are running a small business, it’s a great idea to invest in one. Laser cutters and engravers offer precision, accuracy, and repeatability that hand-crafted tools can’t match.
If you think a laser cutter’s cost will…
The Best 8 Laser Cutters for Small Business Read More
The QIDI X-Plus 3 is the newest machine in QIDI’s line of enclosed 3D printers. With features like a heated chamber, a high-temperature extruder, CoreXY mechanics, and stock Klipper firmware, it promises a high-speed and versatile printing experience.
In this QIDI X-Plus 3 review, we’ll test its…
QIDI X-Plus 3 Review: Easy Warpless 3D Printing Read More
SuperSlicer is an extensive slicing software that’s based on Prusa Slicer. It provides you with numerous additional settings to fine-tune your slicing process. You get better control over perimeters, thin walls, and also benefit from an excellent community that’s ready to help you out with…
SuperSlicer: More Than Just Another Slic3r Software Read More
Laser engraving on metal is now more accessible than ever, owing to the variety of powerful and relatively affordable CO2 and fiber laser machines. You can engrave keychains, jewelry, watches, barcodes, and labels with a small setup, right within your garage or small shop.
In this…
The 6 Best Laser Engravers for Metal Read More
Fast 3D printing is focused on more and more nowadays. From the increasing popularity of CoreXY and Delta 3D printers to the release of standalone Klipper pads like the Sonic Pad, there’s a clear interest in shortening 3D print times.
The Creality Ender 5 S1 is…
Creality Ender 5 S1 Review: Fast 3D Printing with Limitations Read More
Laser engraving is an easy and exciting way to customize personal items and make unique gifts. But once you’ve picked out the best laser engraver for you, where do you go next?
In this article, we’ve listed some of the best laser engraving ideas you can…
22 Amazing Laser Engraving Ideas and Projects Read More
Despite their low price, there are plenty of 3D printers under $200 that offer a good mix of features and printing quality. Long gone are the times where 3D printing was exclusively a domain of expert engineers or hobbyists spending thousands of dollars on high-end…
The 9 Best 3D Printers Under $200 Read More
The Mole is the newest 3D scanner release from 3DMakerPro. Promising accurate NIR structured light 3D scanning at a sub-$1000 price point, the Mole sounds like a great handheld scanner on a budget.
In this 3DMakerPro Mole review, we will put the device through its paces….
3DMakerPro Mole Review: A New Contender in the 3D Scanning Arena? Read More
Starting a T-shirt printing business can be a fun and lucrative venture. Even so, there are so many different kinds of T-shirt printing machines and materials available. It can be challenging to figure out which one fits your needs.
Today, we’re going to take a look…
The 8 Best T-Shirt Printing Machines for Small Business Read More
The first laser cutting machines were invented in the 1960s. Since then, the technology and the hardware have improved vastly. But, even if you have all the best hardware components put together in a laser machine, they’re only going to be as good as the…
The Top 9 Laser Cutting Software for Any Project Read More
Need some fresh gift ideas for the scientist, doctor, teacher, engineer, or other science lovers in your life? It can be hard to find good science gifts for adults, especially since science is such a broad term. But don’t worry! There are tons of great…
The 31 Best Science Gifts for Adults Read More
Klipper is an open-source 3D printer firmware that’s developed for high-speed 3D printing. It utilizes an additional single-board computer for extra features and improved print quality at fast print speeds.
Klipper firmware is swiftly gaining popularity in the 3D printing community because of its improved feature…
Klipper Firmware: 6 Key Reasons to Use It for Your 3D Printer Read More
