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How To

Step by step to success
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How To 3D Print Transparent Resin Parts
by Liqreate Engineers
Getting transparent 3D printed parts can be quite challenging, but the team of engineers at Liqcreate have developed a process that anyone can do at home.
Getting transparent 3D printed parts can be quite challenging. Clear and transparent 3D prints are ideal for creating clear prototype parts, showing internal cavities and details. Applications like LED housings, prototyping lens parts and microfluidic devices are a few examples of application 3D-printed with clear resin. Resin 3D-printing is one of the only 3D-printing technologies that can create high resolution transparent plastic parts. One of the challenges in resin 3D-printing is to produce perfect transparent parts that will not yellow over time. Often, first-time-users are surprised by the transparency of parts fresh from the printer,... (More)
How To Succeed: 3D Printing with Nylon and Nylon Composites
by Alec Richter
Nylon and nylon composites perform exceptionally well in a variety of uses, it just takes a gentler touch to print it successfully.
Nylon is one of the most common plastics you will find in consumer products, and there’s a reason for that: it’s material properties make it an excellent choice for durability. Nylon is ductile, strong, and fairly chemically resistant which is why you’ll find a lot of power tools are made of nylon or use a nylon based composite; they’re objects that need impact resistance to survive a drop,  and potential grease and grime. For these same reasons, nylon is a sought after 3D printing filament that can be challenging to print at times, but there are some helpful tips I can give you so you can be successful too. ... (More)
How To Succeed When 3D Printing With Nylon
3D Printing 101: How to Succeed with a Perfect First Layer for Every 3D Print
How To: Use a Vacuum Former to Rapidly Create Unique Products
Tech Breakdown: Pulse SNAP Toolheads
How To: Mayku FormBox Desktop Vacuum Former
How To: Anneal Tough PLA for Stronger 3D Printed Parts
How to Succeed When 3D Printing with Polypropylene
How To: Setup a Desktop Fabrication Station for 3D Printing

Tech Breakdown

Dig beneath the surface
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Tech Breakdown: Creality Ender 3 V2 Bundle 3D Printer Review
by Alec Richter
From the creators of the CR-10 and the ubiquitous Ender 3, the Ender 3 V2 improves on its predecessor in every way.
Since their outrageously successful introduction of the CR-10, Creality has developed and released new exciting printers year after year; they’re no one-hit-wonder! Following the CR-10 was the Ender 3: a smaller machine built off the lessons learned from the CR-10 and reassembled into a compact and affordable package. With such a low cost of entry, the Ender 3 V2 is a fantastic way to dip your toe into the 3D printing waters and start yourself off right. Creality has done it again with their latest Ender 3 V2, with several new quality of life upgrades and some major improvements as well. Let's break it down- ... (More)
Tech Breakdown: Makerbot LABS Experimental Extruder
With this unique upgrade, you can turn your Makerbot Method or MethodX into an open-filament powerhouse with partnered materials to lead the way.
Tech Breakdown: Craftbot FLOW 3D Printer Review
The latest line of 3D printers from the company known for their robust machines has a lot going on under the hood, read more to find out.

Projects

Surprising and unique use-cases
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How To: Build a Mini OpenRC F1
by Alec Richter
Sourcing all the parts for Daniel Noree's OpenRC F1 Car can be tedious or expensive; enter Skissografen and his ingenious solution.
If you've ever looked into printing and assembling Daniel Noree's OpenRC F1 car, you may be familiar with its size, Bill of Materials, and overall cost. Each of which can be potentially prohibitive; the large car means long print time to assemble the first time and even longer after it crashes, the bill of materials consists of a variety of screws, bearings, and electronics that are hard to get in the exact quantity (one of this screw, four of this bearing), or the cost of just getting everything is discouraging. Enter Skissografen and his ingenious idea: rather than sourcing all the individual parts that are needed, why not gut a cheap RC ca... (More)
Ten 3D Prints that would look great in your bathroom.
by Alec Richter
Whether it's a toothpaste squeezer or a tooth shaped toothbrush holder, 3D printing has some fun opportunities to decorate your bathroom.
The longer I've had my 3D printer, the more often I have friends and family ask what do I do with it. The easiest thing to do is show a functional print in my home that I use daily, rather than something that sits on my desk and looks pretty. There's many different rooms, purposes, and specific functional prints that you could have in your home of your design or something you've downloaded off the many 3D model repositories, but here are 10 of my favorite 3D prints tailored for the bathroom.... (More)
Top Ten 3D Prints For Your Workbench
by Alec Richter
Get your workbench organized with these awesome 3D printed tools!
Keeping your desktop and workbench clean and tidy can be a challenge if you don't already have an organizational mindset. Set yourself up for success by assembling tools and caddies to give every tool at your workbench a home to return to. With this collection of workbench and pegboard related 3D models, hopefully your desktop spends just a little more time mess-free.... (More)
How To: Make a 3D Printed Wooden Lamp from Evan and Katelyn
by Rhonda Grandy - Courtesy of Evan and Katelyn
Evan and Katelyn, an awesome husband-and-wife-maker-team created a 3D printed walnut and copper lamp. They are so cool, that they are letting us post the project for a weekend build!
Evan and Katelyn are the ultimate DIYers! They have created a wide range of projects that include all kinds of making, like woodworking, welding, and of course - 3D printing! Recently, they created a modern lamp that had a 3D printed frame, walnut wood, and copper tape. Check out their video!  ... (More)
How To: 3D Print and Build an F1 RC Car
by Alec Richter
Participate in the Open RC Project and learn how to 3D print and build your own F1 RC car.
If you're an active member of the 3D printing community, you've probably heard of Daniel Norée. If you haven't heard of him, you may have heard about one of his many Open-Source projects, like the OpenRC F1 Car, the OpenRC drone, the print-in-place adjustable wrench, or everyone's favorite: Benchy. We are going to 3D print and build the F1 car. ... (More)
How To: 3D Print and Build a Custom Succulent Wall Hang
by Rhonda Grandy
Add some greenery to your home or workplace by creating a customized 3D printed succulent wall hang. Follow the steps below!
I recently moved into a new apartment. Over the years I’ve collected plenty of wall decor, paintings, and posters - you know, the usual. I thought that I would have enough adornments to properly decorate the walls of my humble new abode. How wrong I was - you won’t believe the amount of wall space in what can best be described as a shoe box. After several unsuccessful trips to home decor stores, I turned to 3D printing to create a custom succulent wall hang to bring a little greenery into my home. ... (More)

Hacker of the Month

People pushing the boundaries
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Creating Custom 3D Brackets for an Ocean-Going Laboratory
by Chris Morgan
Kenny Nevor uses 3D printing to create strong, weather-proof brackets for a custom, ocean-going laboratory built inside a shipping container.
For anyone that follows our Instagram page (@matterhackers in case you’re not!), you’ll recognize the work of Kenny Nevor. His custom-designed brackets fabricated with NylonX and NylonG are a welcome addition to our IG Stories page on an almost daily basis.... (More)
Using 3D Printing to Innovate the Centuries-Old Horseshoe Business
by Chris Morgan
Our October Hacker is using his knowledge of horses and 3D design to create a new industry for himself and farriers all over the world.
As we move into an age of self-reliance and innovation, 3D printing at the small and medium enterprise level is becoming increasingly important for businesses around the world. This is the case for Derek Poupard, the Lead Farrier for Godolphin, a global thoroughbred breeding and racing enterprise founded by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.... (More)
From Illustration to 3D Printing - A Hacker's Journey
From Illustration to 3D Printing - A Hacker's Journey
by Chris Morgan
Our September Hacker of the Month creates unique animatronic animals using self-taught skills to inspire a new generation of Makers.
Using Synergistic Skills and Materials to Innovate and Create
Using Synergistic Skills and Materials to Innovate and Create
by Chris Morgan
A trained metalsmith who was the first female contestant on Forged in Fire is using metal, 3D printing, and more to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art.
Hacker of the Month: The 3D Printing Community
Hacker of the Month: The 3D Printing Community
by Chris Morgan
Our May 2020 Hacker of the Month article needed to encompass an entire community of Makers who 3D printed PPE for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education & STEM

Learning in the classroom
View all Education & STEM articles » RSS
Using 3D Printing to Innovate the Centuries-Old Horseshoe Business
Our October Hacker is using his knowledge of horses and 3D design to create a new industry for himself and farriers all over the world.
From Illustration to 3D Printing - A Hacker's Journey
Our September Hacker of the Month creates unique animatronic animals using self-taught skills to inspire a new generation of Makers.
Creating Custom 3D Brackets for an Ocean-Going Laboratory
by Chris Morgan
Kenny Nevor uses 3D printing to create strong, weather-proof brackets for a custom, ocean-going laboratory built inside a shipping container.
For anyone that follows our Instagram page (@matterhackers in case you’re not!), you’ll recognize the work of Kenny Nevor. His custom-designed brackets fabricated with NylonX and NylonG are a welcome addition to our IG Stories page on an almost daily basis.... (More)
Using Synergistic Skills and Materials to Innovate and Create
Using Synergistic Skills and Materials to Innovate and Create
by Chris Morgan
A trained metalsmith who was the first female contestant on Forged in Fire is using metal, 3D printing, and more to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art.
Hacker of the Month: The 3D Printing Community
Hacker of the Month: The 3D Printing Community
by Chris Morgan
Our May 2020 Hacker of the Month article needed to encompass an entire community of Makers who 3D printed PPE for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3D Printing Prosthetics for Outdoor Adventures
Our Hackers of the Month for July 2020 are a team of industrial designers in Boonton, New Jersey, and an amputee war veteran and motivational speaker from England.
3D Printing and Sustainable Battery Recycling BatteryBlocs
Our June 2020 Hacker of the Month creates 3D printed BatteryBlocs - brackets used to construct power banks using recycled batteries for sustainable off-grid power.

MatterControl

Simple and intuitive powerful 3D Printing Software
View all MatterControl articles » RSS
Screen Control Basics | Two Minutes With MatterControl
by MatterHackers
Learn the basics of MatterControls screen controls to get the best view when creating and editing your models.
In this installment of Two Minutes with MatterControl, we show you all about the onscreen controls, and how you can navigate and edit your model easily.  Download MatterControl for free here.  View more MatterControl articles and tutorials here. ... (More)
Let Anyone Customize Your 3D Printer Design
Let Anyone Customize Your 3D Printer Design
by MatterHackers
MatterControl makes it so easy to let anyone customize something that you designed to fit their specific parametric needs. Learn how!
Are You 3D Printing At The Right Temperature?
Are You 3D Printing At The Right Temperature?
by MatterHackers
Learn how to dial in your temperature settings using a Temp Tower, a handy tool that you can only find using MatterControl - the number one choice for free and advanced 3D printing software
Is This the Easiest Way To Customize 3D Printed Parts? Parametric Modeling!
Is This the Easiest Way To Customize 3D Printed Parts? Parametric Modeling!
by MatterHackers
Learn how easy it is to completely customize 3D models by using MatterControl's parametric design features.
Beginner 3D Modeling Made Easy
Beginner 3D Modeling Made Easy
by MatterHackers
Learn how MatterControl makes it easy to create custom models in this quick and efficient tutorial from MatterHackers CEO Lars Brubaker.
Convert Any Image Into A 3D Design
Convert Any Image Into A 3D Design
by MatterHackers
With MatterControl, anything is possible! Check out this quick tutorial on how you can easily convert any image into a 3D printable design.
Improved Multi Extruder Alignment Through Visual Coherence
Improved Multi Extruder Alignment Through Visual Coherence
by Lars Brubaker
Successful multi material 3D printing starts with nozzle calibration. Improve dual extruder alignment using MatterHackers' unique calibration method.
MatterControl Tutorials: Advanced
MatterControl Tutorials: Advanced
by Alec Richter
This tutorial will go over an advanced MatterControl app: Design Tools. Using a combination of different shapes, you can customize 3D models or even create your own.
MatterControl Tutorials: Intermediate
MatterControl Tutorials: Intermediate
by Alec Richter
This intermediate MatterControl tutorial goes over some of the slice settings you will be changing most frequently to impact the strength and detail of printed parts.
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