Finding good 3D models to print can be daunting especially when every printer manufacturer starts a user site. Thankfully, Tom and Tracy Hazzard are sorting through some of their best bets for you. Looking into Thingiverse, Yeggi, Cults3D, and NetFabb, they also share some tips for how to tell the good quality models from the bad. --- Listen to the podcast here: Where Do I Find Good 3D Models? This is the Ask Us Anything segment. Almost anything. I'm excited about this … [Read more...]
Is Cheap Filament Worth It?
Is cheap filament worth the savings? Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about some of the factors to consider when picking a source and price point for your filament. Sharing their tips on how to select the most practical filaments for your 3D print needs, they also point to some of their favorite PLA filament sources such as RioRand and Toner Plastics. Thinking about buying cheaper filaments? You don’t want to risk it without listening to this episode first. --- Listen to the podcast … [Read more...]
Where’s The Color?
It is not easy to go beyond the basics with filaments, but every day, new sources and colors are popping up. On today’s Ask Us Anything, Tom and Tracy Hazzard address a question on getting custom colored filaments. Based on experience, they talk about the availability of colors and how filament makers are providing their spools. Customizing colored filaments is a complex skill, and the production of these filaments cannot compensate to the demand, which is an issue that needs to be … [Read more...]
Makerspaces – Shop Class | Social Club | Incubator With Allen McAfee Of FabLabSD
Makerspaces are emerging in communities all over the world. They are becoming the new shop class, teaching skills locally like STEAM education to kids and new technology skills to executives and retirees alike. Makerspaces are also becoming a social club for those interested in 3D printing. Some, like FabLabSD in San Diego, California, have even been the incubators for great kickstarters and burgeoning start-ups. Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about their visit to one of their free meetups … [Read more...]
How Do I Get Crisp Fonts And Letterings
3D printing is a complex process. Producing designs and even crisp fonts and letterings are as intricate as the printing itself. Getting font letters and numbers to show clearly takes manual adjustments in the 3D Print design process. In today’s Ask Us Anything, Tom and Tracy Hazzard address a question on how to get monograms and dates to be so clear. They discuss in detail font choice, scale, and surface quality, and share their tips and tricks for getting serifs and small fine detail … [Read more...]
Pricing 3D Print Design Services to Stay in Business
Afraid of burdening the consumer by charging for your actual hours or costs when pricing 3D Print design services? We come across this all the time from designers, consultants and freelancers in all areas, not just in 3D Print design. Design value is already hard enough to quantify but mixed with new technology and a technical skill learning curve, pricing 3D Print design services seems overwhelming. It is especially difficult as you go to assess selling your designs on file services like … [Read more...]