Save Heat Energy Printing PLA During Summer Months
I designed a coffee table but I dreaded printing parts for it as I didn’t want to create a heat source in my living space during the early dog days of summer. The parts were to be printed on my Prusa MK3s+. The power supply unit (PSU) was on the outside of the enclosure I … Continue reading Save Heat Energy Printing PLA During Summer Months
Mahogany Striped Hamper
3D printing gives you the ability to create what you desire and imagine. When I was unable to find a hamper that suited my needs after searching in stores and online for over a year, I designed one. The design went through a few iterations before I settled on making one using Mahogany edge bands … Continue reading Mahogany Striped Hamper
Simple Spring Hat
The arrival of Midges in Chicago this year gave me the idea of making hats to wear for the spring. The midges are no longer swarming, but my idea has taken flight. In designing the hat, I wanted something that was light in weight and colorful. I decided to keep it simple with a model … Continue reading Simple Spring Hat
FDM 3D Printers Under $1,000 By Build Volume
3D printers that build objects by fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF), currently selling under $1000, are listed in the chart below.
Chair Design Series, Part 4
It has been a little over 2 years and the chair design I was close to printing has not been printed. I was having difficulty trying to figure out how to prevent the chair from collapsing in the middle. My goal was to have an entirely 3d printed chair that could be printed on a … Continue reading Chair Design Series, Part 4
Solution to Resume after Pause Problem
After installing a Microswiss Direct Drive extruder, I had one issue – the print end would not return to its last position after pressing pause. Since I did not use the pause feature often, I was not in a hurry to find a solution. However, I started to really miss being able to make multicolor … Continue reading Solution to Resume after Pause Problem
Living Hinges
Living Hinges aren’t just for CNC work, they can be 3d printed as well. Stereolithography files of models designed with hinges have popped up on various online printing communities.
Free Software & Slicers for Desktop FFF* Printers
*Fused filament fabrication Modeling Software Slicers Combination Slicer/ Printer Mgmt 3D Crafter Cura 3D Builder Klipper/fluidd Blender KISSlicer IceSL Klipper/Mainsail FreeCAD Repetier Host Idea Maker OctoPrint MeshLab Slic3r MatterControl Printrun OpenSCAD Meshmixer SolveSpace PrusaSlicer Tinkercad Wings 3D
Spool House
Sometimes, you end up doing something you didn’t know you had an interest in doing and you become obsessed with it. Such is my now near addiction to empty filament spools. I’m not at the point where I want to buy filament just to print models for empty spools, but I feel myself drawing close.
Empty Filament Spool Ideas
What to do with empty filament spools? That question has been asked for some years now. I have seen it asked more frequently in Facebook printer groups during the past few months. The answer has not changed much over the years.
Is A Chair Cushion Possible With colorFabb LW-PLA?
Upon seeing an announcement about colorFabb’s LW-PLA, my first thought was cushions. The filament was on back order at the time and I waited a few months for it to arrive. I waited again before I tried printing with the filament as I learned a direct drive extruder was best. Finally, in February I was … Continue reading Is A Chair Cushion Possible With colorFabb LW-PLA?
Installation Notes – CR10 Mini – 2nd Z-Axis
There are two reasons I installed a second z-axis; one reason was to balance the weight of a direct drive extruder I planned to install. The other reason was to balance the weight of the x-axis in general. I noticed in December that the axis was lower on the right side of the machine by … Continue reading Installation Notes – CR10 Mini – 2nd Z-Axis
Installation Notes – CR10 Mini – Direct Drive Extruder
I installed a Micro Swiss Direct Drive Extruder a few days ago. Since I watched a video before buying the extruder, I knew the extruder motor would be stationed on the x-axis. I decided then that a second lead screw was needed and installed it the day before installing the extruder. There will be a … Continue reading Installation Notes – CR10 Mini – Direct Drive Extruder
Sage Advice for Makers Wanting to Start a 3D Printing Business
Michael, of YouTube channel Teaching Tech, posted a video yesterday that is chock full of advice for Makers who desire income from Desktop Additive Manufacturing (AM). In the video, Michael interviews Maker Myles, the proprietor of a successful, unnamed, auto parts business. When asked about the secret to his success (10:37), Maker Myles utters words … Continue reading Sage Advice for Makers Wanting to Start a 3D Printing Business
What’s Special About Ender 3?
Occasionally, when I am cruising through a Facebook 3D printing group to find answers to questions or wanting to help others looking for answers, I get the feeling that Creality Enders are all the rage. I see what seems to be endless announcements of new Ender 3 purchases. I own a different Creality printer and … Continue reading What’s Special About Ender 3?
Cura’s Triangles Infill
Just in case you missed news about Cura’s triangles infill, the photos above and below are examples printed with Push Plastic’s Translucent Green. Both examples were printed with one perimeter, 30 % infill, and 0.2 layer height. I have tried using Cura’s gyroid infill without perimeters, hoping to get results similar to Stefan of CNC … Continue reading Cura’s Triangles Infill
3D Printer Enclosure Fan Assembly
This is fan assembly iteration 2. The first iteration can be seen in a prior post. I have been working on this assembly for months, trying to find a 120 mm fan that works (literally), is powerful enough to blow air through a HEPA filter, and has a connection for a power outlet. Most 120 … Continue reading 3D Printer Enclosure Fan Assembly
Orbelisk
Orbelisk is another design emanating from the raft created when I printed a table bracket. It was inspired by a glass object I saw in a home decor magazine I read while sitting in a doctor’s waiting room. To obtain size variations, I simply scaled the model in Cura slicing software. It was printed with … Continue reading Orbelisk
Sterilizing PLA for Medical Use – How PLA Survived Autoclaving
3DPrint.com published an article a few days ago concerning research on using PLA filament for objects in the “sterile surgical field.” I can barely contain my excitement!
Umbrella Stand
I thought of designing this Umbrella Stand Divider while trying to think of an attractive and convenient place to store my compact umbrella until it dried. There is enough space for putting a sopping wet purse or bag should that become necessary as well. I really appreciated having this during the last summer and fall … Continue reading Umbrella Stand
DIY 3D Printer Enclosure Guide
Building Your Own Enclosure Essential elements of an enclosure are filter assembly box and light. It is best to place the control box on the outside of the enclosure due to its propensity for overheating. An automatic fire stop device is useful if one tends to leave their printer unattended for long periods of time. … Continue reading DIY 3D Printer Enclosure Guide
Contemporary Lamp
The inspiration for this lamp emerged from the raft generated during printing of table brackets. I know it’s odd, but that’s what happened. When I peeled the raft from the print I thought it looked like a double-sided spade. It reminded me of home decor I saw in a magazine while waiting in a doctor’s … Continue reading Contemporary Lamp
Chair Design Series, Part 2
In this part, I will be making adjustments to the chair following recommendations from a Wood Magazine article, Must Have Measurements For Comfortable Seating; Pallozorodcarlocom; and measurements from sitting in chairs. The adjustments I make will be specific for me. If you are following along, alter dimensions for your personal comfort. Must Have Measurements for … Continue reading Chair Design Series, Part 2
3D Printer Enclosure & Indoor Air Quality Guide
With reports of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ultra fine particles (UFPs) emissions from 3D printers, you may have wondered if you need an enclosure with ventilation. Expert reports recommend ventilation if you are operating your printer in a poorly ventilated space.
3D Printed Parts to the Rescue!
This cabinet marks my first attempt at building a cabinet with pine wood. I made many mistakes; however, I was determined to complete the cabinet. With a little imagination, I put wood pieces together with dowels and 3D printed parts to make an attractive piece of furniture for my bathroom.
Chair Design Series, Part 1
This is the first of an undetermined number of posts in a chair design series. My goal is to make a completely 3D printed, functional chair based on Enzo Mari’s chair from his book, Enzo Mari – autoprogettazione? My plan is to spend a fair amount of time designing the chair before I begin printing. … Continue reading Chair Design Series, Part 1
3DBenchy & Me
I have seen photographs of Benchys for years and I did not understand why so many people printed one. It was not until I found a benchmark tool created by Kickstarter and Autodesk last month that I bothered to find an answer. I did not realize that it is an actual bench-marking tool. After owning … Continue reading 3DBenchy & Me
Fascinating Finials
I designed this finial and hook for my bedroom windows and along the way I fell in love with the color magenta. Somehow, during my life, I missed the fact that this color is between red and blue. I always thought of it as a pink and it isn’t. Pink is a whitened red. This … Continue reading Fascinating Finials
Digital Craftsperson
“…we’re getting to a point where people understand that 3D printing doesn’t exist for the sake of 3D printing. It’s a tool that unleashes creativity. It’s an instrument that enables all of us to become digital craftsmen.” Avi Reichental (cited by Davies, Leaders of the New School…, March 29, 2019: TCT MAG) 3D printing has … Continue reading Digital Craftsperson
DESKTOP AM 