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 enclosure is still up for debate. …
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 smooth away visible print layers …
ABS Alternatives: Use These 5 Alternative Filaments for Easier 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 of the usual bridging settings, …
ABS Bridging: Key Settings to Improve Bridges and Overhangs 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 where ABS comes in. Thanks …
Smoothing ABS: Get Smooth 3D Prints with Acetone Vapor, Brushing & Baths 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 the bed temperature for printing, …
PLA Bed Temperature & Settings for Perfect 3D Prints 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 filament types can take your …
PLA Filament Types Explained: Unleash Your Creativity 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 new level. In this article, we’ll …
TPU vs (Flexible) PLA Filament: Which Should You Use? 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 about to cover what PC …
Polycarbonate vs PLA Filament: Exploring the Differences 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 talked about much in …
PCL vs PLA Filament: Which is Better with a 3D Pen? 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 to learn how to paint …
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 waste and sustainability reduce their …
Is PLA Biodegradable or Not: Sorting Fact from Fiction 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 mid-print. You reload the filament and …
Brittle PLA Filament: Here’s How to Keep it From Breaking 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, you probably didn’t find one. …
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 filament is pretty easy once …
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 at the different ways to …
The 8 Best T-Shirt Printing Machines for Small Business 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 science gift ideas out there for …
If you are a 3D printing enthusiast, chances are that you will need to repair or edit STL files at some point. This is especially true of files downloaded from STL file-sharing sites like Thingiverse since they are sometimes modeled by beginners who haven’t test-printed them. Thankfully there are a number …
The 8 Best Free STL Editors to Edit and Repair STL Files Read More
Want to turn a 2D image into a 3D model for 3D printing? There are several software choices and tools out there to help you design it even if you have no experience with 3D modeling. What software you should use depends on what type of project you are trying to …
Creating a 3D Model From a 2D Image: Here’s How You Do It Read More
How long it takes for acrylic paint to dry depends on a number of factors including temperature, airflow, humidity, and the brand of paint used. However, most types of acrylic paint dry within 20-30 minutes in most environments. How long does acrylic paint take to dry? If you are thinking of …
PLA is one of the easiest 3D printing materials to work with. It has a low printing temperature, practically no shrinkage, and little to no fumes while printing. However, even with its superior printability, many users have trouble with PLA not sticking to the bed at one point or another. If …
If you want to make your own custom painted shoes, you might be wondering which paints can be used on shoes and which can’t. When picking out paint for shoes, it’s important to choose one that works with the material of the shoes you want to decorate, but that isn’t always …
The 9 Best Shoe Paints for Long-Lasting Decorations Read More
Painting 3D prints allows you to add an amazing amount of detail to them. It also adds some protection to your prints from moisture, dirt, and even some chemicals. But before you can pick up a paintbrush (or airbrush if you’re feeling brave), there is a lot you need to know. …
How to Paint 3D Your Prints (Any Material or Color!) Read More
One of the best things about owning a 3D printer is having the ability to make a seemingly endless supply of unique and personalized items whenever you want. This is especially useful during special occasions when you can skip the stores by making your own 3D printed gifts for your loved …
If you ever shopped for models or model kits, you’ve probably heard the term model scale tossed around a few times in reference to the model’s size. You may be wondering what exactly scale sizes mean and how they work. If you’re new to the concept of model scale or just …
Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) filament is a 3D printing material that has risen in popularity thanks to its UV stability and high heat tolerances. However, it can be a difficult material to work with if you aren’t familiar with it and its properties can vary from brand to brand. We’re going …
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is one of the most common 3D printing materials thanks to its easy post-processing and high heat resistance. Since it’s such a popular material, there are countless options to choose from when buying a spool for your 3D printer. In this article, we’ll dive into the best …
To 3D print well with PETG filament, you need a nozzle temperature between 210°C and 250°C, a heated bed temperature between 70°C and 80°C, and a print speed of 60mm/s or less. Set the cooling fan speed at 0% for the first few layers and then on for the rest of …
3D Printing PETG Filament: Ideal Bed Temp & Print Settings Read More
For adult science lovers looking for fun ways to experiment and learn at home, a complete chemistry set is a great way to get started. One of the most difficult things about trying to perform chemistry projects at home is getting the chemicals and tools needed for basic lab work. It’s …
Assembling wooden model kits is a fun and rewarding way to spend a free evening or weekend. They’re great for teaching or strengthening skills like reasoning, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and many other important competencies. Wood model kits for adults are especially good at building up those skills, but they can …
Looking for a fun weekend project to challenge your skills? Robotics kits for adults are a great way to learn or strengthen your STEM competencies in a fun and engaging way. Not all robot kits are created with older users in mind, however, so it’s important to know what to look …
Stringing is an issue that happens often in 3D printing when a 3D printer has to travel over empty space to get from one part of a print to another. Thin strings of filament sometimes form between the two sections during this process. This can impact the print quality and surface …
Are you interested in 3D printing with PETG filament but you don’t know what to look for? This is an understandable concern since there are so many brands and varieties of PETG on the market to choose from. But don’t worry! We can help you find the best PETG filament to …
Gluing 3D printed parts together is something you will most likely have to do when you are starting to get into 3D printing. Maybe your printer’s build plate wasn’t large enough to print a model in one piece, or your print failed partway through and you are trying to fix it. …
How to Glue 3D Prints: The Best Glue for PLA, PETG & ABS Read More
If you’ve ever wondered if you can make your own cookie cutters with a 3D printer, we’re here to tell you you’re in luck! Not only are cookie cutters easy and beginner-friendly 3D printing projects, but they are also easy to customize and design as well. With printers like the Ender …
Are you interested in smooth PLA 3D prints but aren’t sure where to start? You’re not alone! PLA smoothing is one of the most common concerns among 3D printing enthusiasts who want glossy prints without the hassle of working with ABS. While you won’t find a direct equivalent of ABS acetone …
PLA Smoothing: How to Get Perfectly Smooth PLA 3D Prints Read More
PETG and ABS are two popular materials used in 3D printing that have excellent heat resistance and durability. While PETG is an excellent choice for easier printing and strong parts, ABS is a hobbyist favorite for its easy post-processing. Once you’ve mastered using lower melting point 3D printing filaments like PLA, …
Ready to start 3D printing with ABS filament but aren’t sure where to start? You’re not alone. ABS is one of the more difficult materials to use in 3D printing and needs the right print settings and environment for the best results. In this article, we’ll cover what ABS is, when …
ABS Filament: Optimal Bed Temperature and Print Settings Read More
For how much thought we put into choosing the right filaments for 3D printing, we often don’t take very good care of them once we have them. If you’ve ever used an old roll of PLA filament or gotten a spool that just didn’t seem to print right, you likely already …
The 10 Best Filament Storage Containers and Dry Boxes Read More
3D printing with flexible filaments opens up a world of possibilities for your projects. From soft washers to shoe insoles to phone cases, you can make all sorts of strong elastic parts from flexible materials. However, with so many different types of flexible filaments available for 3D printing, it can be …
Flexible filament can be difficult to use thanks to its elasticity, but it is extremely versatile once you get the hang of it. Using the right settings is essential for getting good results and print quality when 3D printing flexible filaments like TPU. In this guide, we’ll dive into the best …
3D Printing TPU: Optimal Temperatures and Settings Read More
If you are looking to buy a 3D printer for kids, it can be challenging to find one that is both easy and safe enough for a child to use. Since 3D printing does pose some safety risks (especially for young users) and has a potentially steep learning curve, it’s important …
The Creality Ender 3 is a versatile budget 3D printer with a generously sized heated bed that makes it great for using all sorts of high-temperature and specialty printing materials that aren’t always feasible to use with cheaper 3D printers. Finding the best filament brands, however, for your Ender 3 can …
Ever wondered about turning your 3D printing hobby into a profitable business venture? We’re here to tell you that there are several ways to make money with 3D printing even as a beginner. In this guide, we’ll examine the best ways how to make money with a 3D printer, which 3D …
PLA filament is one of the most popular materials for 3D printing, thanks to its ease of use and forgiving properties. However, if you’re just starting out, it can be difficult to know which brand is the best PLA filament and what to look for while buying it. In this article, …
Thinking about starting a 3D printing business? Want to try to sell 3D printed items on the side? You may be wondering where to start. There are several ways to make money with a 3D printer, for example, you can open an online shop to sell 3D printed items, or offer …
If you’ve looked through Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory, or other STL sharing sites, you’ve probably seen several kitchen utensils and other food-contact projects to 3D print. With PLA filament being the most common 3D printing material, “Is PLA food-safe?” is a common question. In this article, we’ll explain whether or not PLA is …
PLA and ABS are two of the most commonly used filament materials in 3D printing. They have very different material properties and are each utilized in different situations depending on the project and the 3D printer being used. In this article, we’ll look at PLA vs ABS in terms of their …
As one of the most commonly used 3D printing materials, PLA is a versatile and affordable bioplastic. Its material properties make it easy to print with and compatible with even the most basic 3D printers, making it a favorite with many beginner printing enthusiasts. However, pure PLA filament has some drawbacks …
If you’re familiar with 3D printing, you’ve probably heard of the thermoplastics PLA and PETG at least once or twice. As two common materials used in the 3D printing process, both PLA and PETG have advantages and disadvantages in certain situations. Ready to find out more? In this article, we’ll take …
PETG vs PLA Filament: Which is Best for 3D Printing? Read More
If you are a passionate cosplayer (or just like to print props for decorations), 3D printing your own wearable helmet is a fun way to bring your costume to the next level. In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about finding the right helmet STL file or …
