3D Printed Replacement Parts: How to Measure the Original So the New One Fits
3D printed replacement parts only work if the model fits. How to measure a broken clip or knob, allow for FDM tolerances and test the fit before…
Articles
Guides on materials, design, troubleshooting and running a 3D printing business - 48 articles, newest first.
Jigs, Fixtures and Shop-Floor Tooling: The Quiet Win in 3D Printing
Most conversations about 3D printing in a manufacturing business start with end-use parts or prototypes. Both are worth…
Running a Print Farm: Scheduling, Queues and Consistent Output
One printer is a machine you attend to. Five printers is an operation, and the problems change character…
When Injection Moulding Beats 3D Printing: Finding the Break-Even Point
Every product that succeeds eventually faces this question. Printing carried you through development and the first customers; at some volume,…
PLA, PETG, ABS, Nylon or TPU? Choosing the Right Material for Functional Parts
When a functional 3D-printed part fails, the post-mortem usually points to the same culprit. It is rarely the printer, and it is rarely the…
3D Printing or CNC Machining? Choosing for a Small Production Run
For runs of between ten and a few hundred parts, additive and subtractive manufacturing genuinely compete, and the right answer depends on factors…
3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering: Replacing Parts That No Longer Exist
A machine stops because a small plastic component has broken. The machine is fifteen years old, the manufacturer no longer supports it, and the part…
Preparing an STL for Print: The File Problems That Cause Failed Jobs
A large proportion of the delays in bureau 3D printing happen before anything reaches a…
Managing Filament and Resin Inventory in a Busy Print Bureau
Most 3D printing bureaus obsess over machine uptime and print quality, yet quietly lose money on something far less glamorous: the material sitting on…
Cyber Basics for a Small Manufacturing Business
Small manufacturing businesses often think of themselves as being outside the main cyber security…
Print-Server Notifications: Why Your Production Floor Lost Email Alerts
Production environments rely on email alerts more than most office workflows. A 3D printer farm running overnight depends on completion…
Protecting Your Design Files When You Outsource 3D Printing
When you send a part out to be 3D printed, you are also sending your intellectual…
3D Printing for Marketing: Trade Show Models and Product Mock-Ups
The trade show and marketing model is one of the most underused applications of 3D printing for Australian…
How to Quote a 3D Print Job: What Affects Price
For new customers, the price of a 3D printed part can seem arbitrary. The same part might be quoted differently by two services on the same…
Post-Processing 3D Prints: Sanding, Priming and Painting
The print itself is often the shortest step in producing a finished 3D printed…
Functional Prototypes vs Visual Models: What to Order
One of the more common conversations a 3D printing service has with a new customer is the gentle one about what they actually…
Designing for FDM: Tolerances, Overhangs and Wall Thickness
FDM 3D printing is forgiving in many ways and unforgiving in a few specific…
Why a 3D Printing Business Can’t Afford Downtime
A modern 3D printing service runs on two things being available: the website that takes orders and the equipment that fulfils…
Why Your 3D Printing Website Needs an Instant Upload-and-Quote Tool
In 3D printing, the first thing a customer wants to know is “how much will my part cost?” — and the answer depends entirely on a file they have not…
3D Printing as a Service: A Guide for Australian Businesses
Owning a 3D printer is no longer the only way to get parts made. For most Australian businesses, 3D printing as a service offers the benefits of…
Turning Architectural Renders into 3D-Printed Scale Models
Architectural visuals have come a long way, and a beautifully lit render can sell a design on…
Delivery Times for Custom 3D Prints
Learn about the factors that affect 3D print delivery times. Find out how we strive to provide efficient service for your custom…
3D Printing Architectural Models: Revolutionizing the Way We Build
Experience the future of architectural model-making with 3D printing. See how this advanced technology is revolutionizing the way architects bring the…
Revolutionizing Cosplay: The Impact of 3D Printing Technology
How 3D printing changed cosplay: accurate armour, helmets and props, what it costs in time and money, and the pitfalls. Have the files? We can print…
Understanding SLA 3D Printing: Basics and Benefits
Explore the world of SLA 3D printing. Gain insights into the fundamentals, applications, advantages, and challenges of stereolithography in various…
Digital Light Processing (DLP): Revolutionizing Visual Display Technology
Unveiling the power of DLP technology in dlp-3d-printing-digital-projector. Explore its applications, working…
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS): Revolutionizing Additive Manufacturing
Unleash the potential of (SLS) in 3D printing. Explore the versatility and cost-effectiveness of this groundbreaking…
Electron Beam Melting (EBM) 3D Printing
Learn how electron beam melting (EBM) is revolutionizing additive manufacturing by utilizing high-powered electron…
Binder jetting 3D printing
Learn about the game-changing technology of binder jetting 3D printing and its ability to produce complex objects with speed and…
Comprehensive Overview of Different Types of 3D Printing Techniques
Explore the world of 3D printing and learn about the different techniques used to create three-dimensional…
How PLA is made
How PLA filament is made, step by step: plant starch to sugar, fermentation, polymerisation, then extrusion onto spools. Need PLA parts? We can print…
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Metal 3D Printing: Revolutionizing the Fabrication Industry
Discover the world of FDM metal 3D printing and its unique advantages in the realm of additive…
Metal 3D Printing
Discover the transformative power of metal 3D printing. Explore the revolutionary technology that is shaping the manufacturing…
Resin Printing Miniatures for Warhammer Type Games: Unlocking Your Creative Potential
Discover the world of resin printing for Warhammer miniatures. Enhance your gaming experience with superior details and unmatched…
Issues with 3D printing in Nylon
Nylon prints warping, stringing or weak between layers? The common problems with nylon filament, from moisture and heat to bed adhesion, and how to fi…
Bed Adhesion Issues in ABS Plastic Prints: Understanding, Troubleshooting, and Solutions
ABS lifting, warping or not sticking to the bed? The real causes (bed heat, drafts, first layer, surface) and fixes that work, plus quick tips for PLA…
Troubleshooting Common Bed Leveling Issues in 3D Printers
First layer squashed in one corner or lifting in the middle? Fix common bed leveling problems, from mesh levelling to warped beds, or let us print the…
Exploring the Revolutionary Potential of Nylon in 3D Printing
With the advent of 3D printing, the world of manufacturing and prototyping has undergone a remarkable…
The Promising Potential of 3D Printed Tungsten as Radiation Shielding
In an era of ever-increasing technological advancements, the field of radiation shielding has also seen remarkable…
The Revolutionary Role of 3D Printing in Medicine: A Paradigm Shift in Patient Care
Advances in medical technology have the potential to revolutionize patient care, and one such innovation making waves in the healthcare industry is…
Foodsafe PLA in 3D Printing
What makes PLA food-safe, and why a printed part may still not be: nozzles, layer lines, heat and coatings. Plus how PLA really compares on…
PETG in 3D printing
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-Modified) is a popular thermoplastic filament used in 3D…
TPU in 3D printing
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a flexible and elastic material that is commonly used in 3D…
PLA in 3D printing
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a biodegradable thermoplastic material that has become very popular in 3D printing due to its ease of use, low cost,…
FDM Printing over Resin
Printing technology has come a long way over the years and with advancements in additive manufacturing, the three major technologies for 3D printing…
ABS in 3D printing
3D printing has revolutionized the manufacturing industry. It allows the creation of complex parts and prototypes in a fraction of the time it would…
3D Printing in Prototyping
How 3D printing speeds up prototyping: faster iterations, no tooling costs and real parts to test. The benefits, the limits, and when to move to…
3D Printing in Manufacturing
The world of manufacturing has seen many technological advancements in recent…