All of our content around 3D printing
PLA and PETG are two of the most popular 3D printing filaments around: so what are the differences between PLA and PETG, and which one should you be using for your prints? Let’s take a look! PLA vs PETG: Fundamental Differences and Strength PLA and PETG are both polymers and belong to the family of … Read more
One way to drastically improve the quality and consistency of your 3D prints is to make sure that your filament is very dry as you 3D print it. 3D printer filaments tend to be hygroscopic, meaning they absorb water. Unfortunately, this water can wreak havoc once the filament is in your hot end and superheated … Read more
Tired of seeing bulges and ribs on the walls of your 3D printed model? In this post, we’ll explain how to fix Z banding and Z wobbling, which is the usual culprit for these issues. Ribbing or Z banding is one of many common issues to plague 3D printers. It tends to make layer lines … Read more
One of the most basic things to underamstand about 3D printing is the relationship between layer height vs nozzle size. While the two values are related, they’re not the exact same thing! When I got my first 3D printer, I thought that a 0.4mm nozzle meant I could use a 0.4mm layer height. Boy, was … Read more
We pit the Ender 3 and Ender 5 head to head… and you see the difference.
Before the advent of the 3D printer, cosplay was a very time and energy-consuming exercise, which is why making realistic cosplay costumes was not everyone’s cup of coffee. Now it is possible to create extremely intricate and complex works of art that not just look good but are also wearable too. All of this is … Read more
Ever since it was released back in early 2017, the Wanhao Duplicator 7 (also known colloquially as Wanhao D7) series of printers has caused quite a bit of a stir in the DLP 3D printer markets of the world, so we’ve gone ahead and done this Wanhao Duplicator 7 review for you. Back when the … Read more
Before we answer this question, we have to figure out what is firmware in the first place? In a nutshell, it is the code that makes your 3D printer work and come alive. In other words it can simply be termed as “software for hardware.” Many of us consider various devices as strictly hardware but … Read more
One of the biggest challenges when printing with any filament is dialing in the correct printing and bed temperature. PLA filament is one of the most commonly and universally used 3D printing filaments out there, so what’s the ideal PLA printing temperature? This is a question that commonly comes up for many first-timers to 3D … Read more
If you’re constantly running into 3D printing issues which are not resolved no matter what you try, there are two lesser-known settings in your 3D printer that you may wish to tweak: the jerk and acceleration settings. A word of warning: jerk and acceleration tuning is an advanced tactic. We don’t recommend doing it until … Read more
The best 3D printer in the world can let you down if you don’t have the right software to back you up. There’s a ton of choice out there when it comes to the printing programs you use. Want to get to the bottom of the Simplify3D VS Slic3r debate? We’re here to help. We’ve … Read more
Cura Tree Supports are an innovative new way to generate supports. Cura has long been at the forefront of ease-of-use and advances in 3D printer technology, and the list of awesome new features is always growing. Cura’s tree supports is a notable addition to supports, something that is often a thorn in the side of … Read more
Which is better, Creality’s Ender 3 or their CR 10? Here’s our take.
There are not many Bibo 3D printer reviewers around so we decided to fill the gap. This printer is also known as Bibo 2 Touch Laser. It was initially launched on Amazon circa 2016 and has garnered a lot of respect. This has a lot to do with this Touch Laser’s apparent popularity and as … Read more
The Tronxy X5S is one of the brightest spots in an all new breed of 3D printer kits that seems to hit the proverbial sweet spot with discerning customers worldwide. As a matter of fact, the Tronxy X5S is the larger version of the Tronxy X3S 3D printer and as of now, it has overtaken … Read more
When it comes to 3D printing safety, many, if not most people tend to think that 3D printers catch fire and burn up. However, that is not the truth as such. On the contrary, 3D printers are far more likely to generate various kinds of particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ok so what can these VOCs and … Read more
When you first buy your 3D printer, you probably thought: wow, I can make my own free stuff! Well not quite, right? There’s the cost of the printer, maintaining it, and of course, the cost of filament. However, there’s one more cost that you need to factor in: electricity. So how much electricity does a … Read more
There are a wide variety of materials that you can 3D print, and you may have heard or read about 3D printed wood. So is this actually wood, or something else? Let’s dive in and see the exciting possibilities and challenges of 3D printed wood! What is 3D printed wood, anyway? If you’re thinking about … Read more
Brittle PLA is a very common problem in 3D printing and can be fixed quite easily. In this post, we’ll look at why PLA goes brittle and what are the ways you can solve this issue. Why does PLA become brittle? PLA can become brittle due to one or a combination of three causes: moisture, … Read more
The strength, flexibility, and versatility of PETG plastic make it a popular material for 3D printing projects in workshops around the world. For many newbies, however, one question crops up once they’ve printed their models – is PETG dishwasher-safe? Spoiler alert – the answer is that it’s safe in terms of toxicity, but it’s not … Read more
Creality’s Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro printers have been designed to deliver absolutely awesome print quality right out of the box. However, this does not mean that one can’t improve on perfection. This holds particularly true as far as 3D printers are concerned where there is always plenty of room for improvement. As of … Read more
The Qidi Technology X One 2 is one of QIDI Technologies’ better offerings. It is a pretty reasonable printer that is affordable at a much better price than the bulk of its competition. The Qidi technology X machine holds its own in terms of both print qualities as well as various cutting edge capabilities against other models … Read more
Generally speaking, Delta 3D printers are quite different from the regular run of the mill Cartesian and other 3D printer types such as the Creality Ender 3 or Prusa i3 MK3S+. In fact, most Delta model 3D printers are typically inspired by various open-source Kossel and Rostock models. While the average Delta printer can be … Read more
3D Printing any sort of flexible filament on a common desktop 3D printer can turn out to be a bit tricky. Apart from the fact that many 3D printers don’t support such filaments, there are slicer software settings and 3D printer hardware limitations to take into consideration too. All of these factors come into play when you want … Read more
A 3D printer’s “magic numbers” are the layer heights that are a multiple of the minimum height your Z axis can move. By choosing one of the magic numbers when slicing your STL model you’ll get much better-looking prints. This is because the mechanical movement and slicer heights will be aligned. What are the Ender … Read more
Folks that are newer to 3D printing often wonder how much you can print with 1kg of filament. If you ask this question on forums, you’ll probably get snarky answers like “2.2 lbs of stuff”. That’s not really useful! I can understand why you may wish to get an idea of how far a 1 … Read more
When you have low quality filament or a misaligned PTFE tube, it’s possible that filament may break and get stuck inside the PTFE tube. Getting the filament out is pretty straightforward, so let’s dive in. How to remove filament stuck in the PTFE tube The easiest way to remove filament stuck in your 3D printer’s … Read more
3D printing is a phenomenal hobby, but it’s not without its headaches. The amount of trial and error involved can be pretty time consuming. This is especially true when it comes to curing your resin prints. How long should you cure resin prints for anyway? The reality is that most prints should be fully cured … Read more
3D printers are a really great learning tool for kids. Back in my day (queue the “old guy music”), your creativity tools were pens, paper, paint, or popsicle sticks. But now? A child could have an idea and be holding it in their hand by the end of the day. 🤯🤯🤯 The invention of the … Read more
The 3D printing process doesn’t just require hardware support alone in the form of a good 3D printer and filaments etc. Yes, these things are very important, but they can only work at their optimum capacity when they are further complemented by a whole range of highly innovative software tools that can utilize the hardware … Read more
The Longer Orange 10 is a budget resin 3D machine that has been developed for the beginners’ market. Today’s variety of budget printers in the resin printing world is now part of a new class of consumer 3D printing machines. They present a whole new world of really exciting opportunities in the 3D printing world … Read more
There was a time when 3D printing was the sole domain of science fiction and few people could have imagined that it would become a mainstream trend. Of course, the very thought of printing anything that you like and have designed into practical into CAD files is really enthralling. This is why it is not … Read more
With the power of 3D printing, it’s tempting to try and turn it into a side hustle. If you’ve got the technology to make things on demand, you can find people who are willing to pay for a service or product that you provide. However, you can’t just buy a 3D printer, download free STL … Read more
One of the most basic settings you need to get right in your 3D printer is the shell thickness. This is crucial for the stability and strength of your 3D print, so how many shells does your 3D print really need and how do you calculate it? Learn more here. As a general rule, your … Read more
Wondering if you should buy a 3D printer? Here are 9 reasons that you can use to convince yourself (or your significant other) that a 3D printer is totally worth pulling the trigger on. 3D printing is an amazing and rewarding hobby. Just 10 years ago you could barely print plastic on your desktop – … Read more
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no – it’s a 3d printed bird-plane. See (and get access to) some of the coolest 3D printed RC planes around.
The Anet A8 is arguably one of the most well-known unassembled printers available to professionals and hobbyists alike. It’s extremely flexibility is one of the main reasons due to which this printer has such a huge fan following and community behind it. In case of a problem, you have simply to tap into this extended … Read more
Incorrect retraction settings cause stringing. Here’s what to do about it.
PLA is without question the single most common as well as most popular and best material out there that is used in the world of FDM 3D printing. This is because it is quite easy to use, affordable and it also comes with some truly outstanding material properties. As a matter of fact, you can … Read more
The Ender 3 is arguably the number one 3D printer to come out of the Creality stable. It is one of the single most popular 3D printers in the world and its popularity is unmatched to this very day. Both the Ender 3 pro and the stock Ender 3 3D printers are extremely capable machines … Read more
Your 3D printer’s bed is the most crucial component to get consistently successful prints. Properly maintaining your 3D printer bed and cleaning it is essential to keep your 3D printer running in good shape. Read on to learn how to clean the various types of 3D printer beds and get some tips and tricks. How … Read more
One of the best ways to get really familiar with 3D printing and get yourself on a really strong start is to build your own 3D printer. It may seem intimidating at first, but it will be a lot of fun and most importantly, it will be a great learning experience. If you’re wondering how … Read more
Can you really 3D print a 3D printer, and how do you do it? In this article, we’ll answer just that. The answer may surprise you, so get ready to enter the world of self-replicating machines! Can you 3D print a 3D printer? Yes, you can 3D print a 3D printer. There are a few … Read more
CAD software is incredible. For decades, it’s made some of the most amazing products, designs, and projects possible. If you have an idea, the right computer program can help you make it a reality. Thing is, which program should you choose for your work? If you’ve been pondering the Onshape VS Fusion 360 debate, we’re … Read more
Learn our favorite Octoprint plugins to make remote 3D printing even more fantastic.
Learn about flow rates of 3d printing, why they’re important, and how to diagnose common errors that might be caused by a poor 3D printing flow.
Learn about the Re-ARM 32 Bit Controller Board
Learn about stepper driver, why they’re important, and what the difference is between a $2 stepper driver and a $40 one.
Learn about Octoprint, how to use it to control your 3D printer, and how it makes my life 1MM times easier.
Learn the basics about 3D printer microcontrollers and how to best use them.
Turning ideas into empires.
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