How Much Does a 3D Printer Cost? (Price & Maintenance)
3D printers cost less than they ever have. Just six years ago you would struggle to find a good 3D printer under $1,000, whereas now there are usable 3D printers starting at ... Read more
3D Printing Skirt vs Raft vs Brim – Which is Best?
Rafts, brims, and skirts are key tools for ensuring firm first layers and preventing warping for your 3D prints. In this guide, I’ll explain all the key differences so you can decide ... Read more
3D Print Not Sticking To Bed? How to Fix First Layer
Your 3D print not sticking to the heated bed is one of the most common issues with many 3D printers. Most failures of filament not sticking to the bed stem from a ... Read more
Clogged 3D Printer Nozzle? – How to Prevent, Clean & Fix
A clogged nozzle in 3D printing will prevent your filament from being extruded properly. A total nozzle blockage will halt your print entirely, causing a clicking or knocking sound as your extruder motor struggle ... Read more
How to 3D Print Overhangs & Bridges Over 45 Degree Rule
The difference? Bridges on the left, and the right is an increasingly proportionate overhang An overhang is a part of a 3D print that extends unsupported beyond the layer beneath it, creating ... Read more
Using Lattice Structures in 3D Printing for Strength and Lightweighting
This article was written by Chloe Vollaro, 3D Printing Applications Engineer at Protolabs Lattice structures, or mesh structures, are unique to 3D printing. These lattices are a versatile tool for engineers that ... Read more
3D Prints Warping or Curling Up? Here’s How to Prevent It
Warping is one of the most common problems encountered in 3D printing. It causes the corners of your prints to curl up, making them look worse, and can even cause your print ... Read more
Sanding PLA: 5 Steps To Get A Mirror Finish
Sanding PLA is my personal favorite technique for smoothing PLA prints to a professional grade. But, it has to be done the right way. By sanding your PLA, you get: With my ... Read more
All 11 Fixes For Ender 3 Saying No TF Card
Nothing quite saps the excitement out of loading a perfectly-sliced model onto an SD Card only to see a deflating ‘No TF Card’ message on the Ender 3’s display. It’s far more ... Read more
Smoothing 3D Prints: How To Smooth PLA to a Mirror Finish
5 common ways of smoothing 3D prints include: Layer smoothing refers to a set of different post-processing techniques that help smooth out layer lines on 3D prints. You can use many layer ... Read more
3D Print Finishing Explained – How to Fill, Paint & More
Whether you’re delving into 3D printing as a business venture or striving for a smooth surface on your hobbyist prints, this guide will walk you through the optimal 3D print finishing techniques ... Read more
The Complete History of 3D Printing: From 1980 to 2023
Despite its appearance as a new, innovative technology, 3D printing has been around since the mid-1980s. What used to be just industrial 3D printers the size of small cranes transformed into potentially ... Read more
