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Custom Built 3D Printed Computer Cases For Fun and Profit
Creating state-of-the-art gaming cases using consumer-grade 3D printers like the Bambu Labs X1 and others is an exciting venture that allows for unprecedented customization and design. This article will guide you through the process, from choosing the right printer and filament to selecting the appropriate nozzle and other…
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3D Printing Projects: Beginner STEM RGB Light-Up Lantern
The Light-Up Lantern is a fantastic project for anyone looking to get their start in the Maker space. It's easy to print and easy to assemble, making it accessible for printers of all ages. Plus, it makes for a great accent feature in any room! Did you know Micro Center has a Printables page? Check it out for a wide range…
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Beyond Traditional Firmware: The Klipper Revolution in 3D Printing
In the intricate world of 3D printing, firmware plays a pivotal role, acting as the bridge between software instructions and tangible printed objects. While several firmware options have been available to enthusiasts for years, a new entrant, Klipper, has been drawing attention. This article aims to shed light on Klipper,…
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Hands-On with the Bambu Labs P1P - Affordable, Lightning Fast TPU Printing!
Written by Jacob B. Last year Bambu Lab released its flagship printer, the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, or X1C for short. The X1C showed itself to be an incredible machine for the price. Boasting groundbreaking features like micro lidar to check flow compensation, AI spaghetti detection, and breakneck printing speed, it took the…
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Creality K1 3D Printer: Enhancing Its Capabilities with an Upgraded Gearcase
The Creality K1, a recent addition to the 3D printing market, offers a range of features designed to cater to beginners and experienced users. While it provides a solid foundation for 3D printing tasks, there are several upgrades available that can further optimize its performance. This article will overview the K1's core…
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Automatic Bed Leveling with CR-Touch
When starting 3D printing, one quickly realizes that the details matter. The precision and accuracy with which a 3D printer operates significantly influence the final product's quality. A seemingly mundane yet fundamentally vital task is at the heart of ensuring this precision: bed leveling. A leveled bed ensures…
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How to Install a Direct Drive Extruder
In 3D Printing, the end product is often a culmination of precise engineering and mechanics. One of the most crucial components in this process is the extruder. The extruder is responsible for feeding the filament, the primary material for printing, into the printer in a controlled and consistent manner. Its effectiveness…
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Creality K1 3D Printer: Enhancing Its Capabilities with a Ceramic Hotend
This is part 2 in a three part series - Part 1 on Upgrading the Gearcase can be found here. Part 3 is coming soon! The Creality K1, a recent addition to the 3D printing market, offers a range of features designed to cater to beginners and experienced users. While it provides a solid foundation for 3D printing tasks, there…
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Getting Started with Octolapse
If you have a 3D Printer, I’m sure you’ve seen videos where an object is printed in 10-20 seconds. It seems as if appears out of nowhere. This is a sped-up time-lapse video of your 3D print. It is easily created using the Octolapse plugin, created by FormerLurker, in the Octoprint software. The plugin takes still images at…
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Resin 3D Printing: Unique Attributes and High-Precision Capabilities
Welcome to the technical exploration of Resin 3D printing. This article ventures beyond the well-established Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing to spotlight a technique that significantly expands the realm of additive manufacturing possibilities - Resin 3D printing. Resin 3D printing, known for its unique…
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Optimizing 3D Prints with Post-Processing Methods
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) has emerged as a preferred technology within the 3D printing sector and, unless you're using a resin printer, this is probably the technology your printer uses. This additive manufacturing process employs thermoplastics to construct intricate objects, yet the final result frequently requires…
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Exploring Multi-Color Gradient Printing: How To Use Multiple Colors in One Print!
As 3D printing continues its rapid advancement, the development of multi-color printing stands as one of its most striking progressions. This feature is readily available from a multitude of manufacturers. However, should your printer lack this function, don't despair. The creative community of 3D printing enthusiasts has…
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Unleashing the Power of 3D Printing: STL File Customization
In recent years, 3D printing technology has emerged as a transformative force across various sectors, from manufacturing and healthcare to design, education, and beyond. The ability to create complex three-dimensional objects layer by layer from digital models empowers professionals and hobbyists alike, fostering…
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3D Printing: Know your Hardware and Tools
As more and more people are learning how simple it is to 3D print, they've been picking up printers. What some of those people aren't prepared for is the construction that is needed to get 3D printers up and running. While most of us have likely put together a desk or shelf, 3D printers come with their own set of, parts,…
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Solving Nozzle Clogs on Bowden Tube Style 3D Printers: A Comprehensive Guide
Written by Kyle Wall Nozzle clogs are a common issue faced by 3D printing enthusiasts, particularly on Bowden Tube-style 3D printers. These clogs can hinder the printing process and result in subpar print quality. This comprehensive guide will delve into the causes of nozzle clogs and provide preventive measures to help…
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Mastering 3D Printer Calibration
Written by Kyle Wall Any 3D printing enthusiast knows the frustration of a failed print. More often than not, these failures signify the need for 3D printer calibration; whether a novice or a seasoned veteran, understanding how to calibrate your printer is pivotal to taking your projects to the next level. Let's delve into…
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6 Simple Tricks to Help Your 3D Print Stick to the Bed
What is one of the most frustrating things that can happen when you’re 3D printing? A failed print due to bed adhesion issues. We've got six easy tricks to help your 3D prints to stick to your build plate. 1. Clean the Bed If you’re having bed adhesion issues, the first action you should take is cleaning your build plate…
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The Anatomy of Filament-Based 3D Printers
As 3D printers continue to become more popular and more people are introducing 3D printers into their everyday life, understanding how the technology works is more important than ever. While there are a number of printers out there such as the ANKERMAKE M5 that offer reduced setup and systems, designed to limit the need…
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3D Printing Support Structures – Tree vs Standard Supports
3D printing allows users to create three-dimensional objects from a digital design. However, when it comes to 3D printing intricate structures with overhanging features, sharp angles, or bridges, your print may fail if you don’t use supports. There are many types of supports you can use, and today we will discuss the…
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3D Printing with Light: Learning to Use a Resin Printer
Written by @jbobo319 I got started 3d printing in the spring of 2020. Originally, I planned for 3D printing to be a cost-effective way to obtain respirators. Instead, I quickly found a new favorite hobby. Nearly three years and two more Ender 3 Pros later and I’m still going strong… with one exception: I had never used a…
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3D Print of the Month: Calibrate Your 3D Printer With The Overhang Test
Calibrating your 3D printer is essential for more consistency and fewer failed prints. Remember the Torture Toaster article from last month? My 3D Printer was relocated, and without recalibrating, I attempted and failed to print a working Torture Toaster. If you have just purchased your first 3D Printer, relocated your…
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What is PLA Filament? Your PLA FAQ!
Whether you're a seasoned 3D printing veteran, or just getting into the space, you've probably heard a bit about PLA filament. It's one of the most common and versatile printing materials available. But what you might not know is what it's made from, why it's so popular, or some easy-to-use tips and tricks! That's where…
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3D Print of the Month: The Torture Toaster Test
How well is your 3D printer calibrated? The Clockspring Torture Toaster is designed to test your printer tolerances, overhang, and bed adhesion. It prints with the sides lying flat, and toast inside the toaster. There is a gear printed on each side and a lever on one end that is supposed to pop the toast up. You can find…
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Speed Up Your Prints - Settings to Check in your Slicer
By Andy Leer There are a lot of things that can affect how long your print takes to print. Everything from the type of material to the style of 3D printer you’re using and, of course, all of your slicer settings. For those unfamiliar with 3D printing lingo, a "slicer" is the application you use to take your 3D printed…
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3D Printing Tip of the Month: How to Reduce Stringing
Do your 3D prints have excessive stringing issues? Even after re-leveling the bed, adjusting nozzle & bed temps, increasing and decreasing z-offset, lowering print speed, and adjusting every other parameter of your print and 3D printer? Did you try drying your filament? If you're hearing hissing or popping when you’re 3D…
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How to 3D Print: Pumpkin-Spider Transformer
What are you printing? Post your favorite recent print in the comments. If we choose yours, you will win 5 free spools of Inland Filament! This month, we printed a Pumpkin-Spider Transformer. We found the print file for the Spider on Thingiverse.com, submitted by Megawillbot. You can find the files here:…
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Learn to 3D Print: Retro Controller Raspberry Pi Case
Written by @jbobo319 Raspberry Pi is known for it’s tiny but powerful computers. You can do anything from making your own security camera to controlling your 3D printers with these little guys. I've had this one for a few years now and I’ve finally decided to give it a permanent job: retro gaming. I went ahead and…
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Getting Started 3D Modeling – For 3D Printing
By Andy Leer So you’ve purchased your first 3D printer. Now what? Many folks head straight to sites like thingiverse.com or printables.com and start downloading pre-designed files. This is a great way to get started and really get to know what your printer is capable of while learning the ins and outs of the machine…
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How To 3D Print: Rotating Spice Rack
This month’s print idea was submitted on our forum by Carogsnow, who asked us to print a rotating spice rack. Thanks Carogsnow! Submit your 3D print ideas below. If we choose yours, you will win 5 free spools of Inland Filament. We found the print file for the Spice Rack on Thingiverse.com, submitted by ILikon. You can…
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How To 3D Print: Candy Dispenser
This month’s print idea comes from Jakefromstate who asked us to print a working candy dispenser. Thanks, Jakefromstate! Submit your 3D print ideas below, if we choose yours you will win 5 free spools of Inland Filament. We found the print file for the Candy Dispenser on Thingiverse.com, submitted by HelioxLab. You can…