WTFFF!? 3D PRINTING PODCAST VOL. 2

  How to Know If Digital Manufacturing Is Right for Your Application Wondering if 3D printing could help your business grow and be more profitable?3D design and printing has changed product design, development, manufacturing, and retail distribution. It is now considered an important integral part of a sustainable supply chain and business operation. But before […]

  With fast industry growth of 3D print products and expansion in the 3D manufacturing sector, 3D printers are moving from makers to business owners. 3D printers are putting us back in a mindset to manufacture and make, causing a shift that reaches out to the need for more personalization and mass customization. In this […]

  3D design demands continuous learning, which is best acquired through experience. For Tom Hazzard and Tracy Hazzard, the thousands of hours they spent on designing 3D prints have led to more than a few lessons learned about how to best create 3D printed products. The order of the design process is essential for the […]

  As we transition to distance learning around the world, teachers are struggling with how to teach innovatively every day in their classroom and in their school district. With the COVID-19 pandemic going on, this is becoming an even more important issue to tackle because of the technology challenges to consider. On today’s show, Cindi […]

  Despite the fact that girls are enrolling in engineering and industrial design courses in greater numbers, the gender gap in these professions is still a palpable reality. Girls STEAM education aims to add excitement to STEM learning by adding the element of creativity to encourage more girls to see engineering and industrial design as […]

Humanitarian Makers at Field Ready volunteer their time and expertise to solve real world problems faced by those in war torn or natural disaster affected areas such as Haiti, the Sudan, and Nepal. Dr. Eric James shares how 3D printing speeds up the traditional emergency relief supply chain and details some of the unique challenges […]

Celebrating our 400th WTFFF?! episode with a few 3D print predictions for 2017 and some resolutions the industry should make and actually try to keep. Tom and Tracy Hazzard share their own 3D print design resolutions for the next year and what’s to come in the next year on 3D Start Point. What companies are going […]

It is Tech Tuesday and it’s time to do a Tinkercad 3D print software review. We have been doing a lot more reviews lately of different things just like the Battle of the Minis with the mini 3D printer reviews, and we have been doing those mostly on Wednesday more than Tuesdays. We then decided that […]

Additive manufacturing is turned on its head with adaptive manufacturing in the case of 3D printed insoles by Wiivv Wearables. CEO and Co-founder, Shamil Hargovan, explains the mind blowing process that brings these custom fit orthotics to life through 3D printing with unique materials and marrying adaptive manufacturing techniques with traditional ones. We dive into […]

The Inside 3D Printing Conference and Expo in San Diego this year featured many companies and speakers that were focusing on real world applications of 3D print technology. We got the inside scoop from many different companies how they are leveraging digital fabrication and actually making profits from 3D printed products – not just talking […]

Switching from our series of CAD software reviews to a few slicing software reviews, and kicking it off with Slic3r. Slic3r’s slicing software is one of the original slicing softwares out there, but it has kept up with 3D printing’s advances and remains an on-going open source project. As the baseline standard for 3D print […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print Prototype for Business Success with Ring Cam Ring Cam uses 3D printed parts to capture that moment when she says, “yes.” Scott Brandonisio shared with us how he used 3D print prototypes to get the Ring Cam box just right, and making new iterations of it on the […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print Netflix with Hector Berrebi of 3DShook With more time to kill during these long winter and holiday months, there’s more time to 3D print some fun and clever items from 3DShook’s Netflix-like catalog of 3D print decor pieces. We have been fans of their curated designs for quite […]

New cases that have gone up to the Supreme Court are going to have an impact on the 3D printing industry, and patent attorney Chris Higgins takes us through what everyone needs to know about protecting 3D printer files. He identifies common misconceptions about 3D print intellectual property from patents, to business models, to design […]

3D Print musical instruments not only provide great sound, but provide a more affordable alternative to schools trying to keep expensive music programs in place. In a practical way, creating 3D print musical instruments provides students with the opportunity to be involved with the creation and building (through a kit) of their very own recorder, […]

3D print figurines have inherent stability issues because they are made of different materials that are often moveable such as the arms and head of a doll. Disney research has come out with a white paper that provides a stability solution to these 3D prints through inserting weights to the product as it is being […]

<img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-10948″ src=”https://3dstartpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WTFFF-389-banner.jpg” alt=”WTFFF 389 | 3D Printing Barbie Armor REPLAY” width=”940″ height=”492″ srcset=”https://3dstartpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WTFFF-389-banner.jpg 940w, https://3dstartpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WTFFF-389-banner-300×157.jpg 300w, https://3dstartpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WTFFF-389-banner-768×402.jpg 768w, https://3dstartpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WTFFF-389-banner-400×209.jpg 400w, https://3dstartpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WTFFF-389-banner-150×79.jpg 150w, https://3dstartpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WTFFF-389-banner-500×262 lipitor weight loss.jpg 500w” sizes=”(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px” /> Listen to the podcast here: 3D Printing Barbie Armor Project on Kickstarter – REPLAY Looking back at a successful model […]

 Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print Jewelry – REPLAY The accessories world gets a make over with the introduction and arrival of 3D print jewelry. We highlight LACE, a 3D print avant garde jewelry line by designer Jenny Woo, as a model for marketing not only a well designed product, but also one that […]

Brick and mortar stores are missing opportunities for 3D print retail because of a lack of internal infrastructure. John Hauer of Get3DSmart shares why major retail stores are not adopting this technology despite having been initially intrigued and excited about 3D printing. Looking at how major brick and mortar retailers can stay ahead of the tech […]

Geek and tech chic is having it’s moment in the wake of Silicon Valley Fashion Week 2016, and its no surprise to see wearable 3D prints up and down the runway. However, it is a surprise to still being seeing wearable 3D prints thrown into the mix more as a gimmick than as an actual […]

A 3D print design career is not limited to entrepreneurs as outside consultants, but includes intrapreneurs inside a company as well. Tom and Tracy Hazzard identify the 3D print design and designer gap of professional individuals who are lacking the skills companies desire. The 5 skills needed to fill that gap are not as hard […]

  Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print Project Kits – REPLAY 3D Print project kits are ideal entry points into the world of additive manufacturing, especially for those looking to customize products that are already on the market. By blending non-3D printed parts with the pieces from a 3D print project kit, users can […]

  Part 3D printing meets music class and part 3D printing meets art class, Olaf Diegel’s 3D printed guitar collection is, without a doubt, amazing. Showing your target audience something 3D printing can achieve that will excite or inspire them is the best use of your marketing and product development dollars. Tom and Tracy Hazzard invite you […]

  Get a sneak peek at how a product or design consultation goes with an on-air 3D design consultation of the puzzle toys created by Fleet Hower. He takes us step by step through his design and business process and we take him step by step through how his products and designs fit into the […]

SoCal MakerCon 2016 is under new management from our friends at Vocademy, and this years experience was far different from previous years. The noticeable differences between the shows of 2015 and 2016 are a tell tale sign of the state of 3D printing and gives away who may be the forerunners of the industry. Many […]

Poland is a hot bed of high tech FFF 3D printers, so it is no surprise that ZMorph has introduced a multicolor image mapping tool to create mixed or blended filaments with their line of 3D printers. There are very few 3D printer and software combinations out there that are able to attain such fantastic […]

Listen to the podcast here: Quality 3D Printables – REPLAY Rees Calder of MyMiniFactory shared how they are incentivizing 3D print designers to create quality 3D print files that the 3D converted and non-3D converted will want, need, like, and ultimately purchase. With their unique advertisement revenue share system and strategic targeting of key consumer […]

Listen to the podcast here: Essentials When Picking a 3D Printer – Consider the WHAT We obviously have a MakerBot, and once you get your coffee sleeve you can see the quality of what we expect our printers to be able to do, but the picking a 3D printer question is interesting because it’s really […]

Just as 3D printers range from hobbyist level, to professional, to commercial, so does the world of 3D scanners. Lisa Federici of Scansite, a company that has been doing professional 3D data scans since 1994, shares her enthusiasm for the growing 3D scanner market and why the different types all have their place in the […]

Part software, part web plug in, the Digital Forming customization tool is the app that 3D printing for consumer products has been missing. We tested it out on our 3D print angel ornament to see how the entire process works from setting up customization limits and allowances to it generating a new STL file for […]

  Listen to the podcast here: Design by Coding is Not Art First I want to clarify the fact that there is no reason not to edit code. Using that as a tool, I have no problem with that. Designing via code is limiting. It’s severely limiting, but people do it. I get it. But […]

Listen to the podcast here:   Maintenance Tips for Consistent Material Flow One of the most basic things that I learned early on—because I change colors a lot for different parts, I don’t just put one spool of filament up there and let it go—if you are a new user, you want to pay attention […]

Heading into the world of 3D print aerospace with Donald Godfrey of Honeywell. There are so many lessons any 3D printing business can take from look at the model of success in this additive manufacturing industry segment. Donald showcases how rapid prototyping provides astonishing cost and time savings that produces safer and more reliable parts, […]

The numerous benefits of 3D printing bones found by researchers are Northwestern University are astounding. We’ve seen medical 3D printing before, but the way these 3D printed bones are being produced is very FFF like in nature. Looking at all the benefits hospitals, doctors, surgeons, and patients could see from 3D printing bones when it’s […]

The declining state of many factories does not lead us to think that we are on the verge of a 3D printing manufacturing revolution, as TED Talk speaker Olivier Scalabre has presented. Some aspects of the 3D print industry are seeing an evolution, while other segments are not. An area that needs the most evolution, revolution, […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3DP Market Needs Gap Identification – REPLAY Identifying where the 3D print market has a needs gap, and in the case it’s huge cavernous one. Looking at other market areas, it can be hard to pin point if the gap is there for a reason or if it’s an opportunity […]

 Listen to the podcast here: Making 3D Printing More Accessible – REPLAY Lars Brubaker of MatterHackers shared in-depth information on how the MatterControl platform operates to streamline many of the different software processes out there for 3D printing. Along with the creation of an image converter and text creator, they are working with schools to […]

Talking 3D print design with 3D toy artist Christina Douk who fell in love with how 3D printing brings to life her computer models. The next generation of designers will have a new view of design and how to conceptualize and bring to life their creative ideas because of 3D printers. Fascinating to find out […]

Helping to plan our daughters upcoming wedding has drawn us into 3D print wedding planning for favors and decorations. 3D printing opens up the door to customized gifts and accessories and the wedding industry is ripe to take advantage of this technology. A 3D print wedding is the perfect time to create unique to you […]

Attending the FutureX Live Conference hosted by Moxie showed us how brands can look at the future of advertising and marketing, to include a combo of virtual reality and 3D printing. Recapping some of the ideas the keynote speakers had on how the 3D print industry can take notes from the early days of virtual reality […]

 Listen to the podcast here: Battle of the Minis Part 3: MakerBot Mini 3D Printer Review – REPLAY Our Battle of the Mini 3D Printers continued with the MakerBot Mini 3D printer, a smaller and more desktop sized version of the MakerBot Replicator 2. See how this 3D printer moved to the top bracket of […]

  Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print Filament Recycling – REPLAY Looking back at how 3D printing drastically reduces waste compared to traditional plastic manufacturing methods, despite the sudden onslaught of 3D print filament recycling machines. Should you consider making your own filament from recycled bits and pieces of 3D prints that didn’t work […]

Desktop 3D printing in metal may not be coming to an at home desktop in the near future, but it is making big waves in the rapid manufacturing world. Tuan TranPham of Desktop Metal explains three major benefits to 3D printing end use parts in metal and how Desktop Metal is looking to democratize enterprise […]

3D printed prosthetics was one of the first things that the media latched onto in covering what 3D printing can do, but since then 3D printing prosthetics has expanded into so many more different areas than just limb recreation. Highlighting different companies within the 3D print industry that have a veteran minded focus to provide technical […]

Our series of CAD software reviews continues with Mudbox, an artistic and sculptural type of program that is a simple program to pick up and use as an intermediate level program once you’ve outgrown the beginner and basic CAD softwares out there. Although it’s not a free program, it’s small monthly fee for the features […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print Cosplay – REPLAY 3D printing your own costume for Halloween parties or cosplay events can inexpensively take your outfit to the next level. There are many entry points into 3D printing and creating your own special costume props is one of our favorite ideas to bring more people […]

Listen to the podcast here: The 3D Printing Store with Debra Wilcox – REPLAY Located in the greater Denver, Colorado area, The 3D Printing store does far more than your average service bureau. From printing and design to birthday parties and educational training, they offer so many ways to get started in 3D printing and […]

Dispelling the myth that consumer level 3D printed products are cheaply made and cheaply designed with Chris Campbell of FormURLife. The opportunities that 3D printing provides to the end user market are far beyond just creating prototypes and design iterations. Looking at all the things and little details that need to come together to create […]

Crafting your own 3D print buttons is an excellent beginner 3D print project for any age user inside or outside of the classroom. We’ve looked through the design libraries for 3D print buttons and were a little disappointed about what was out there, there’s a big opportunity here that is being missed in terms of […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print Furniture – REPLAY It took awhile for us to come around to the idea of 3D printing furniture, but we knew it had a future when we saw what Russell Singer had done to make a hybrid coffee table by combining 3D printed parts with off the shelf […]

Listen to the podcast here: Intellectual Property 3D Printing – REPLAY Desktop 3D printing is where it is today because of the corporate asset value of intellectual property laws and regulations. Looking back at how a dislike of patents came about due to the open-source RepRap movement and why this ideology needs to take a […]

Initially created to solve a military problem, the founders of Sightline Maps are expanding their downloadable 3D printing topography map files to school classrooms. Tom and Tracy Hazzard speak with Jason Ray about how teachers are integrating 3D printing into their curriculum and fostering better understanding of more than just geography concepts with their students. […]

Very out of the box thinking has lead to a very FFF like 3D print glass printer due to the research and efforts at the MIT Glass Lab. We are blown away by the beautiful 3D print glass creations and excited about how this will impact other areas of the 3D printing industry when you […]

Open sourcing the brain is possible with 3D print headsets to create better fitting, and therefore, better reading brain scan helmets for more accurate data results. Today we are discussing how an ambitious 3D printing project could be combined with concussion screening for a better insight and understanding to what happens to the brain after […]

Listen to the podcast here: Algae 3D Printing Filament with Barbara Zeller of Algix 3D – REPLAY Algix 3D’s line of algae based filament has ushered in a new color wheel of earthy choices for 3D printed products. As the movement to transition away from petroleum based plastics and back to plant based plastics gains […]

Listen to the podcast here: Good 3D Design is Hard to Find – REPLAY Looking for a good 3D design to print is a pretty daunting task. Find out what Tom and Tracy Hazzard think the 3D print design file sites out there are missing and why designers aren’t making the emotional purchasing connection with […]

London software house, Digital Forming, has really dialed in the digital supply chain process. We first heard of them as part of the Lowe’s Innovation Lab Bespoke project and could not wait to have them on the podcast to talk about their online preview and customization tool in relation to 3D printing. They provide more […]

3D Printing has already changed the world of sports, most notably at this year’s past Super Bowl. Making customized 3D printed objects is something we’ve touched on many times, but 3D printing has also changed design and they way things are created. From head to toe, there’s virtually not a body part that 3D printing […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3D Printed Bird Nest Designs – REPLAY In an effort to bring birds back into urban areas The Printed Nest has created a large network featuring 3D printed birds nests and their downloadable designs. They were our Earth Week design inspiration and we remain impressed with the many different nest iterations […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3DP with Flexible Materials – REPLAY Softer 3D print support materials often prove to be problem causers when using the machine as they tend to jam up in the extruder or in the Bowden tubes. Tom had to be the lead investigator for several late nights and cross-continental Skype calls […]

3D food printing is still in it’s infancy but after this interview with Luis Rodriguez and Jason Mosbruker, we can’t wait to taste test some of the 3D food items that are already out there. The combination of tech meets food is an industry gap that any company can swoop into and find success, especially […]

Transitions Hair Solutions is creating custom 3D printed wigs for patients who have lost their hair due to disease or as a side affect of cancer treatments. By taking a 3D scan of a patients head, they are able to create a more secure fitting and more realistic looking wig that provides a greater sense […]

Examining what Blender CAD software has to offer for beginners, students, artists, or those with a more engineering mindset because “What” you want to create can eliminate what CAD 3D modeling software you use. We’ve gotten several listeners who have written in over recent months as we’ve done other software reviews who have been saying, “How […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print STEAM Building with Victor Ciccarelli from STEAM Maker Workshop – REPLAY Filling a needs gap is a great business building process and Victor Ciccarelli of STEAM Maker Workshop knows by personal experience. His mission isn’t solely focused on teaching how to use a 3D printer, but rather it’s […]

Listen to the podcast here: You Don’t Get Exceptional Customer Service Without Exceptions – REPLAY What every 3D printer company and manufacturer needs to hear on providing exceptional customer service. Despite how fast the technology is moving forward, some customer service practices are stuck in the past on a rigid script with no employee empowerment to fix […]

Deviating from our regular FFF discussion to take a dive into the SLA world with an interview with Dávid Lakatos of Formlabs. He shares about the history of 3D printing and the professional design economy era that he sees 3D printers moving towards. As the industry moves past the disillusionment period into the Age of Design […]

Very cool and very inspiring 3D print puzzle toys from Locknesters that will keep you, as a learning 3D print user, excited and interested in continuing to learn and use your 3D printer. Far better than the generic CAD test print models your printer may or may not come with, these 3D print puzzle toys […]

The 3D print wish list features we want are largely different than the 3D print wish list that YouMagine put out. Looking at some “complaints” a little more in-depth on supposed issues such as filament, build plate size, lack of models, and other 3D print concerns. Our 3D print wish list focuses on the 3D print industry as […]

Listen to the podcast here: 3D Print Product Development – REPLAY Head of Experience Design at MakerBot, Mark Palmer, gives insights into how nearly any business can integrate 3D print product development into their in-house design and prototype process. He goes into how 3D printing and having a 3D printer right on your desktop or […]

Taking a look back at the major way Canadian retailers are creating massive 3D print awareness to the general consumer public through an innovative marketing technique. 3D print advocate, former Pinshape adviser, and author, John Biehler gives the inside scoop on the unique way Canadian 3D print designers and artists are reaching the masses at […]

3D print documentary film maker and previous WTFFF?! Podcast guest, Brian Federal, shares what he has found over the past year of the evolution of the 3D print classroom. He identifies the obstacles and issues that are hindering students ability to know about, to learn, and to use 3D printers and what this means for […]

  Create something personal and unique for your next corporate event, family reunion, or trade show with 3D print promotional products. The union of 3D printing and promotional products has always seems obvious to us, but the promotional product industry hasn’t seemed to take notice. We look at what this industry is lacking in terms […]

A professional package intended for commercial application, Solidworks CAD software is definitely geared towards designers in engineering. Tom Hazzard goes through the ins and outs of what makes this software program different than other parametric modeling programs and what type of designers it was created to be used by to make certain types of 3D models for 3D printing. […]

  Listen to the podcast here: 3D Printed Marble Machines – REPLAY Classic Rube Goldberg machines get a tech twist with 3D printed marble machines. From the very basic with hand turned cranks to the more complex with motors and lights, any one of these are an ideal lesson plan in the making for a […]

As you know, we are no stranger to 3D printed cosplay, and the fact that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Star Trek got us thinking of Star Trek 3D prints to step up our cosplay game. Some of these designs would make for great Halloween costumes this year or as part of a cosplay […]

Hear the backstory of how 3D printing food came into the pizza making relam with Jordan French of BeeHex. Hint: it’s out of this world! Developing a 3D printer specifically for what you want looks like it is the way to go instead of making a 3D printer that can make anything. 3D food printing […]

A new way to set your brand and product apart with an attention grabbing new form of photography for websites and social media by Plotagraph Pro. More than a .gif and more than an average high quality photo, these Plotagraphs combine the power of a photograph with a video. We met this couple at CEO […]

  Project kits are fun and functional. Put some 3D print goodness to it and your project idea becomes upscale and interesting. Today, Tom and Tracy Hazzard introduce 3D printing for your kit projects, using clocks as perfect examples. With a plain clock face, you can have the numbers customized to your liking and then […]

There is nothing that excites us more than product design, but there are more than a few myths about what it means to be a successful 3D print product designers. The first of them being, are there even any successful 3D print product designers? In a world where product is everything, are 3D print designers […]

It’s still debatable that 3D printing is rocking the world but when it comes to 3D print IP it is definitely shaking things up a bit. Author John Hornick shares examples of how the two sides of the 3D print industry is disrupting the status quo. The 3D print IP world is still the wild […]

Kids don’t have to be the only ones headed back to school this fall! Now that the kids are back in school, it may be time for you to take some classes and improve your 3D Printing skills. Tom and Tracy Hazzard take a peek into how 3D printing is revolutionizing the classroom in every […]

  Doing a ZBrush software review and it is a very different CAD program from anything else we have reviewed on WTFFF?! before. It’s a very different kind of a CAD program in general. This is really going to be really interesting for those of you that have been listening to our different reviews in […]

A really exciting development in the retail 3D print world is a Lowes project called Bespoke Designs. It is a proof of concept kind of test run coming out of the Lowe’s Innovation Labs which is right at their Charlotte offices and a partnership between a bunch of 3D printing companies, 3DShook, Voodoo Manufacturing, and […]

3D printing takes a twist on a childhood classic with new and fun 3D print shapes for bubble wands. A fun project involving 3D print play things like bubble wands and bubble machines that makes for a good school project or a fun Labor Day Weekend project before the kids all head back to school. Beat […]

Creating 3D print prototypes comes with a whole different set of considerations than typical run-of-the-mill 3D printed objects. How to manage the aesthetic side of creating functional 3D print prototypes for use as an end-use part. Listen to the podcast here: Special Design Considerations for 3D Print Prototypes   Today we have a tech subject […]

Tom and Tracy discuss the need for a revolutionary or evolutionary business plan based on the book, Originals. What you need to do to prep the wider audience for your new business plan and assess if it’s a hot topic versus really revolutionary. Listen to the podcast here: Talking about whether or not we need a revolutionary […]

3D Printing meets concrete to create beautiful walls, space dividers, and art in a form of 3D architectural. This goes far above and beyond 3D printed concrete walls that we have seen and really inspires us to think about what 3D printers can build to create talking pieces in your business, trade show booth, or […]

An interview on something everyone in the 3D printing industry should take note of: How to have a successful 3D print trade show booth with guest Jessica Larimore. So much of what we have seen at trade shows makes us cringe, avoid a flop at a major event with her tips on how to represent […]

  3D Printing at the Olympics 2016 It’s only been a few days since the closing ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Olympics and I’m going through a bit of withdrawal so I thought it’d be fun to take a look at two of my favorite things: 3D printing and the Olympics. 3D printing at the […]

In the world of 3D printed shoes, a strategic announcement from Feetz and DSW came out this summer. Bringing custom fit 3D printed shoes to retail is a high goal and it will be interesting to see how they define it as a sustainable product. Also in the world of 3D print shoes, there’s a new type of life […]

Major announcements on an Uber for 3D printing were announced in May that completely disrupt the additive manufacturing world. The reality of zero inventory and complete on demand manufacturing has arrived and it has CEOs in all industries, especially the supply chain industry talking about 3D printing. Listen to the podcast here: Uber for 3D Printing […]

With the 3D Print industry being so new, it can be hard to find a 3D print business model to follow. How do you decide if you need to take things slow, or jump in with both feet and completely commit? Listen to the podcast here: Diving into Your 3D Print Business Feet First Talking […]

Our top 3D prints for college back to school season 2016! These 3D printables are fun, creative, and useful for any college student preparing for the upcoming fall semester – especially those students that will be living in the dorms this year. You can download these prints as is by following the link, or let […]

Anyone considering buying 3D print stocks needs to tune into this reality check by The Motley Fool, Steve Heller. Today’s  guest is Steve Heller from the Motley Fool on 3D print stocks and investments. I am excited to get hooked up with him. We’ve want to talk with authority on the state of the 3D […]

  What 3D print power users are doing to create 3D CAD designs that sell and equally as important: are printable. Stand out as a 3D print designer by taking into consideration what many 3D print users don’t, your “what.” Listen to the podcast here: How to Be a 3D Print Power User   What […]

Stratasys material and filament list for an extensive amount of 3D printers is influencing the industry from a commercial and consumer standpoint despite not being in the consumer market. From functional to stylistic, Stratasys materials and filament completely hits the mark, except for one key thing in terms of what users are looking for. Understanding and taking a look […]

While many people involved in the RepRap movement and the modern desktop 3D printing industry think that Intellectual Property has been holding the industry back from growing to its full potential, Tom & Tracy discuss how Intellectual Property plays an important role in corporate asset value and is actually responsible for making desktop 3D printing […]

The ability to 3D print eye wear is disrupting an industry that has not changed in quite sometime and is held by a very small subset of people. Exploring the ways 3D print eyewear can really take off in terms of customization of size, color, and even lens type. Listen to the podcast here: Seeing Through […]

Today we are going to speak with Isaac Budmen who is an artist, designer, and an author. He is an overall businessman. He wrote a book on 3D printing which is really the core of this interview today. It is actually called The Book on 3D Printing. It is for enthusiasts and trend watchers. It […]

Sharing our design principles for 3D printing and creating 3D printing products. Understanding the basic principles of design leads to better products on the market. 3D print designers should study elements of design in order to make items that people actually want, need, and will buy if the industry is to move forward. Listen to […]

Tech Tuesday meets IP with a patent announced recently by a Polish 3D printer manufacturer about a self leveling 3D print bed. The patent they have filed is combination of software and hardware that sounds very similar to what another company, MatterHackers, has done with their software. Leveling a 3D print bed can be a tedious task, […]

Taking a look at the current state of 3D print Vertical Markets, and if we can trust the numbers being reported. How many different industry areas is 3D printing being found in? Listen to the podcast here: Current State of 3D Print Vertical Markets   The 3D print industry may have changed or not changed so much […]

  A timeless classic gets a modern twist by One Save Solutions who created a typographical 3D print chess set. A great entry point for anyone into 3D printing, as well as being an ideal art and design project for students. Listen to the podcast here: Checkmate! 3D Print Chess Set We decided to highlight […]

3D printing is blazing a new trail for marketing and product design by being such a disruptive technology. John Rich, VP of Future Experiences at Moxie, tells how he investigates new technologies and presents them to big time clients like Coke-a-Cola and Nike to change their business platform and get them ahead of the tech […]

A new round of upcoming expiring 3D print patents is on the forefront. We are excited about what this means for the advancement of desktop 3D printing in terms of metal and laser sintering processes. Also breaking down what types of royalties to expect as inventors of any type of patent. Listen to the podcast […]

We love the idea of full color 3D printing, and have been seeking a full color 3D printer that can print more than one color well since the inception of the WTFFF?! podcast. A new contender has entered the arena claiming “unlimited” color capability in an FFF 3D printer. The advances and effort are to be […]

  If you want your events or simple occasions to be memorable, 3D giveaways can seal the deal. Today, Tom and Tracy Hazzard discuss the benefits of 3D print giveaways for promoting your business. Most gifts are mostly junk, that is why giving away something exceptional and unique is necessary when you are in the […]

  Who says 3D printing can’t be high fashion? In this episode, Tom Hazzard and Tracy Hazzard rave about a cool, high-end couture 3D printed fashion product designed by Michael Schmidt and Francis Bitonti of Studio Bitonti. Worn by Dita Von Teese in a 2013 event, they take a deeper look into its intricate design, which reveals so much more […]

  Achieving good 3D print photographs is not an easy task. You need to have the right tools to produce photos with the finest details. Today, Tom and Tracy Hazzard is joined by Aaron Johnson, the Founder of Shotbox and co-inventor of the Cricut, who shares some tips for taking 3D print photographs. Introducing his creation […]

  When you want to do something new, don’t wait for the stars to align to do it. You should simply do it, and if the need for improvement arise, then upgrade or improve. Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about the 3D print experience – why you need to start using 3D printing and practicing […]

  Anything that puts “easy” in its intro always attracts everyone, especially AutoCAD users. Rhino 3D or Rhino CAD Software is somewhere in the middle of the parametric engineering intensive and free-form artistic modeling programs available. Its open architecture for 3rd Party Plugins makes it adaptable to many different specialties. In this episode, Tom and […]

  Business events are crucial for networking. Here, you meet a number of people from your industry who could be keys to your growth. As such, it is then very important that you make not only good but also lasting impression. In a 3D print event, 3D print wearables hold business power that could make […]

  Are you doing 3D printing lamp shades? Tom Hazzard and Tracy Hazzard give you insights about the process in this episode. They talk about the interesting designs that are out there and how they are doing one of their own. From the design to the actual production and manufacturing process, Tom and Tracy offer […]

  Not your average files to 3D print or do 3D printer testing with, Natalie Mathis and Quincy Robinson of 3DKitbash have created amazing sculptural 3D printable toys off the back of their many successful Kickstarter projects. They have also created a unique set of tools to download to really test the capabilities of your 3D printer. Today, […]

  3D designs are ultimate tools for educating kids and developing their creativity and approach towards technology. Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about how 3D Digital design joinery is helping us understand how these traditional construction methods apply to modern 3D printing technology in more ways than one. Such tools and process teach grade school […]

  Tons of information are being processed every day in the 3D printing industry, paving the way for information overload. Managing an inbox, managing group projects, and managing countless articles and podcasts can be overwhelming. Today, Tom and Tracy Hazzard share several tools and have come up with their rules on keeping on top of […]

  Wearable 3D printed clothes have long been in the works, and many creators are now captivating a widely interested audience. One of the first 3D prints seen is an interactive 3D printed vest by artist Behnaz Farahi. Showcasing an incredible blend of technology and fashion, these interactive 3D prints change shape based on eye movement across […]

  3D printing is, without a doubt, interesting, especially for children. The process of materializing an idea right in front of your eyes is fascinating. Today, Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk to Chad McAllister, the host of The Everyday Innovator. He has created a 3D print club for kids to learn about bridging the digital and physical […]

  In the near future, 3D printed drugs will be sold in your local market. In this episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about this innovation and share their thoughts about how it can impact society along with its pros and cons. The breakthrough of drugs printed through 3D would be monumental, paving the way […]

  Autodesk 123D software has many similar features of other CAD software, and while the company is one of the oldest in the CAD game, there are things that we are left wanting. In this episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard review this beginner software. They believe that it is only ideal for those who want […]

  If you are considering starting a business in the 3D printing industry and need to raise money, equity crowdfunding can be a feasible strategy. Today, Tom and Tracy Hazzard define what this means and how you can use it to your advantage. They also offer some advice on whether Kickstarter is the way to […]

  One of the draws of 3D print products, unlike items purchased off the shelf, is that there’s a certain level of customization. Now, certain companies are capitalizing on this particular service to fill a gap that hasn’t quite been filled. Swirly Celebrations is now using 3D printing to create customized cake toppers for celebrations. […]

  There are many fields where the interaction between art and technology is essential. 3D printing is one such field. Because of the limitless possibilities of 3D printing, different people in different fields have found their own unique ways to utilize the technology. Tom and Tracy Hazzard interview artist Kate Blacklock. Kate has been using […]

  At this point, the future of 3D printing feels infinite and not quite concrete just yet, which is why new designers have to figure out where they want to take the field. The industry is still fresh, so it’s the perfect time to jump in. In this episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard show you […]

  Being that 3D printed designs are made on computers, there are so many different kinds of specialized software with different features available on the internet marketplace. One of these competitive software options is Onshape Cloud-Based CAD. Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about the pros and cons of this software. Onshape touts an affinity for team-based work, […]

Our top patriotic 3D prints picks for 4th of July, 2016. These prints are sure to get everyone in a festive, red white and blue mood to help celebrate America’s 240th birthday. You can download these prints as is by following the link, or let them inspire you to create your own patriotic 3D prints for your […]

  The question of whether or not technology would advance far enough to actually create living things is one that’s existed for a very long time. Today, people are working to make such a thing possible with the 3D printing technology available. Tom and Tracy Hazzard sit down with Danny Cabrera, the founder and CEO […]

  Because 3D printing is a relatively new technology, companies and designers are, for the most part, still figuring out how to integrate it into their workflow. Far from making the design process harder, 3D printing has created so many new possibilities in design and fabrication. Mark Palmer is the Head of Experience Design at […]

  “Congratulations, you’ve printed your first 3D product design,” is such a lovely thing to hear, but it can’t end there. The testing phase, by all means, is just as important as the design and printing phases, especially if your product is meant to have any practical usage. Tom and Tracy Hazzard discuss product testing […]

  Anyone is liable to be mesmerized by their own ideas, and that’s absolutely understandable. But everyone also has off days, and not every idea is a masterpiece that emerges fully formed. Tom and Tracy Hazzard chat about what is commonly known as “shiny object syndrome.” You can’t be enamored by every single one of […]

  3D printing has created so many new boulevards of possibility in so many different fields. One of those fields is fine art. So many new artists have begun the transition into 3D printed pieces, and it’s infinitely exciting. Tom and Tracy Hazzard take a look at the body of work of one such artist, […]

  On some level, the mass conception of the tech industry is run almost exclusively by men, which wouldn’t be wrong, but that also completely takes women out of the equation. In the 3D printing industry, in particular, more and more women are finding success, and now, they’re coming together, too. Nora Toure is the Sales Manager […]

  The battle of the mini 3D printers rages on, and it’s really heating up! The MakerBot Replicator Mini 3D Printer is not the most “mini” of the mini printers, but does it make up for the fact? Tom and Tracy Hazzard inspect all the functionality of this 3D printer. For all it lacks (or […]

  To introduce a new series of Tech Tuesdays, Tom Hazzard reviews some CAD software, starting with the free ones. In this episode, he looks into Trimble SketchUp. The app may have initially collected bad reviews, but it’s actually one of the easiest to use for those who are starting it – especially when sending […]

  Freelance work is a growing market especially with Freelancer and Upwork, and the 3D printing freelance market is no exception. In this Business Monday episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about 3D print freelance work and the availability of these gigs out there. Learn about diversifying your 3D printing freelance work, and why getting […]

  Gift-giving can be a bit of an anxiety-inducing exercise, but with 3D printing on your side, it really doesn’t have to be. For Father’s Day, make sure you get Dad something made from the comfort of your own 3D printer. Tom and Tracy Hazzard take a look at some popular printable gift designs from […]

Our top picks for 3D print Father’s Day Gifts that will be sure to make your dad feel appreciated and bring a smile to his face. Some are personalized, some are funny, and some are unique. Father’s Day is a great time to show your dad what 3D printing can do. A few of these […]

  As new technologies get embraced by the mainstream little-by-little, the demand for programs teaching the necessary skills to utilize these technologies rises. This is the case for 3D printing now. Tom and Tracy Hazzard speak to Mack Fixler and John Gomm of EduCraft, a summer camp program. This program, in particular, is specifically targeting a younger crowd because, of […]

  People with strong, healthy bodies tend to take for granted how much harder differently-abled people have it. As a result, these people with disabilities often have a hard time adapting to the world around them. But some minds are using new technologies to serve the good of these people, so they too can properly […]

  One thing that’s a common factor for everyone who wants to start in any industry is the availability of resources to fill in the learning curves. This is where the review of a product or service becomes critical, and 3D printing software is not exempted. Tom and Tracy Hazzard go all the way to […]

    The world is so intimidated by the 3D printing industry to the point that numerous myths about it are circulating over the global market. In today’s Back to Business Monday episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard debunk some myths, specifically that of the 3D print IP loss hype. It has been said that there […]

  Giving something unique like a 3D printed tape measure during special events like Father’s day can be memorable. In today’s Design Inspiration Friday, Tom and Tracy Hazzard break down this new 3D printed creation. They believe that the tape measure is not that accurate and cannot serve its purpose well. Although it can serve […]

Today, Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about quality 3D printables with Rees Calder, the CMO of My Mini Factory. Rees explains what and who they cater to. Targeting people who haven’t heard about 3D printing, Rees and his team want to adapt to those who don’t know anything about 3D printers and deliver them high-quality content. He […]

  XYZ Printing showed what appeared to be a real mini 3D printer at CES in January. We requested that new 3D printer for our Battle of the Minis 3D printer review. The new mini 3D printer is not available for review yet, so the display at CES was a very early preview of a […]

We are going to take a bit of a deeper dive into 3D print power consumption. We have been wondering about this for a while. We talked about it in passing but we did not have a lot of data. We also considered talking about this during Earth Week but it ended up getting bumped for another […]

  Today we are going to talk about how to get press for your business or how to get press for your projects or your designs. Do it yourself exposure. I’ve seen many people spending a lot of money on PR firms because they think that’s how to get press for your business the best way. The reality […]

This is Design Inspiration Friday, and I am super excited about this 3D printed kayak. I have a thing for kayaks and water sports. We are going to talk about a 3D printed kayak which is one of the coolest projects as it is ambitiously big, but it makes so much sense. Listen to the […]

  We are not far from the future, and pretty soon, regular classrooms will have 3D printers. In this episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard interview Kiki Prottsman, Curriculum Development Manager at Code.org. They talk about 3D printing at home support and how the education aspects relate to what is happening to the 3D printing industry. Kiki explains […]

    Engaging kids in 3D printing can be educational and will open their eyes to modern creativity. In this Wild Card Wednesday episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about a project that is allowing kids to interact with 3D printing. A guy that goes by Zheng 3 did a Kickstarter project in 2014 called the Kickstarter Faire Play. […]

                  3D printing continues to amaze us with regular developments happening in start ups and bigger organizations. In this Tech Tuesday episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard explain the process of 3D printing with pellets.  They talk about WASP’s designs, specifically their 3D printed chair. Using pellets instead […]

  Who do you talk to when you are three feet from gold? This is one of Tom and Tracy Hazzard’s favorite topic, and today, they are going to get more intensive with this question. For starters, you should not talk to family and friends about your 3D printing products. Chances are, they will only […]

  Part 3D printing meets music class and part 3D printing meets art class, Olaf Diegel’s 3D printed guitar collection is, without a doubt, amazing. Showing your target audience something 3D printing can achieve that will excite or inspire them is the best use of your marketing and product development dollars. Tom and Tracy Hazzard invite you […]

              Sculpteo is an online 3D printing service that is making global waves because of its end results. Here with Tom and Tracy Hazzard is the company’s Community Manager, Jessica Hedstrom. Besides sharing about their innovation, Jessica talks about the wonders of the new materials that most 3D print […]

  In the first of a series of episodes of mini 3D printer reviews, Tom and Tracy Hazzard start off with the M3D printer. The M3D printer started as one of the most successful 3D printer Kickstarter campaigns, which raised between $3 million to $3.5 million. In its’ post reward production, the 3D printers were […]

    Color is, without a doubt, important in 3D printing. After being sent new filament colors from Toner Plastics, hosts Tom and Tracy Hazzard share their experience printing their newest tones. They have four new colors – Rose Tan, Black Raspberry, Red Delicious, and Teal. These colors are available in PLA and ABS, which you […]

    Attorney-client communication is crucial in the 3D printing industry, mainly because such business may involve patenting. Regardless, intellectual property is core to how the business world functions. In this episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about the importance of proper communication between a lawyer and client in getting a patent quickly. They give […]

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have seen 3D printing in pop culture. Whether it’s been on the big screen or small screen, 3D printing has been used in growing numbers of movies especially in the sci-fi and action realm as well as been referenced to in many television shows. Much of […]

  If you want to gift yourself something unique, a 3D printed jewelry might inspire you. In today’s Design Inspiration Friday, Tom and Tracy Hazzard shine a light on Jenny Wu’s LACE jewelry line. Jenny is an architect, and her avant-garde structural design showcases her skills taking jewelry making to a whole new level. Tom and Tracy […]

          3D printing trademark and copyright still have a lot to develop with regards to scope. Advocates like Michael Weinberg is doing his part in helping shift these laws, paving the way to a more financially viable 3D printing industry. He is here with Tom and Tracy Hazzard as he explains the importance […]

      We’ve got a project that we want to talk about that we have just become aware of that uses 3D print marketing. It is about two years old, but this is a really cool project. People keep asking us for examples of zero inventory, because we talk about it all the time, […]

  OLO – The First Smartphone 3D Printer is this tiny resin printer that uses your phone as the light source, and it is pretty to use. Nonetheless, there is still much room for scrutiny since it is the first of its kind. In this episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard share their personal accounts using the […]

  Without a doubt, LinkedIn has evolved to become one of the most powerful business tools online. You, too, can use it for your advantage if you equip yourself with the understanding of how it works. In this Back-to-Business Monday episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard share some tips and tricks for using LinkedIn as the […]

The market is quickly becoming saturated with different 3D print pens, 3Doodler, Lix 3D Pen, AtmosFlare, Genesis, and on and on. In a way the 3D printing pen  companies are all acting like 3D printer companies – constantly trying to one up another with no true innovation. So what’s the big deal with all these doodling […]

    Tracy is geeking out over today’s Design Inspiration Friday about 3D print cosplay, which does not happen a lot. We are talking about the Dorne Dagger from Game of Thrones. Evidently, it was 3D printed in its original form before it was painted and finished and all the other things they did to it […]

  Through the years, 3D printing has been growing and moving into CAD. Along with its evolution comes its power to allow almost anyone to make their ideas come true through 3D printing machines. Here to entice us with the power of these tools is Ron Hollis, president and CEO at MFG and former president and CEO at Quickparts. […]

    When we were researching yesterday’s topic, another really good topic presented itself of is there really one 3D printer to fit all or do you need to have singular focus in 3D printing? It got us really thinking. Yesterday we were talking about Autodesks’ Project Escher and we were really looking at it […]

  The build plate is by far the most crucial part of any 3D printing machine. Creating something outside of it, something bigger that can be handled by the machine, makes its job more vital and, at the same time, remarkable. In this Tech Tuesday episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard share something amazing that can […]

  Overthinking is a huge culprit in taking your ventures to the wrong path and ending up jeopardizing them. Some make decisions and then easily change them, just like how some change their business name a couple of times in a cycle. In this episode, Tom and Tracy Hazzard discuss what their newly coined concept […]

  Picking a present for the special ones in your life can be such a stressful task, but 3D printing can change the game. With Mother’s Day specifically coming up, there are opportunities to use 3D printing to impress Mom. Tom and Tracy Hazzard take a look at some of their top 3D-printed Mother’s Day […]

  As with any technology you bring into your life, a 3D printer is a huge investment. Thus, picking one requires a healthy amount of consideration before commitment. If you’re new to the whole concept of 3D printing, it can be confusing to look through specs and not really know what you’re looking for. Nevertheless, […]

  Society has long held a fear of their newfangled technologies spying on them and reporting back on everything they do. While in most cases these fears are unfounded, a researcher from the University of California at Irvine, Mohammad Al Faruque, has found that your 3D printer may violate your intellectual property. Tom and Tracy Hazzard […]

  The principle at the core of the business is to fill a gap of need in society. Without this driving need, potentially all companies will be out there doing the exact same thing—which seems to be precisely where the 3D printing industry is at the moment. Tom and Tracy Hazzard take a look at […]

    One of the most unfortunate side effects of urban advancement has to be the continued disappearance of animal life from most of these spaces. But the 3D printing community is finding ways to bring the ecosystem back into balance by bringing animal life back into urban developments. Tom and Tracy Hazzard take a […]

  With any form of plastic processing, 3D printing included, it’s fair for concern about the continued use of such a potentially harmful inorganic material to come up. But there are companies out there looking to make a 180 away from plastic and are finding viable alternatives that the market can pick up soon. Tom […]

  Often, we think of competition as a disadvantage for us. But what if instead of thinking about it as a roadblock to success, you consider it as the path that could actually take you there? Tom Hazzard and Tracy Hazzard redefine competition as something good, telling us how that very competition indicates that there […]

    While the idea that 3D printing produces significantly more waste than other kinds of plastic processing has been debunked—it’s actually the other way around—that doesn’t mean people should be complacent about the amount of waste they produce. Waste production paired with the rising costs of raw 3D print filament should be enough to […]

  Customer service: it’s not an issue that’s unique to companies in the 3D printing game, but it certainly is widespread. Too many companies today are run inflexibly, meaning the people working there aren’t allowed to place even one toe out of line at risk of breaking company policy and attracting the ire of their […]

  The standard for 3D print filaments at present is hard, inflexible, processed plastic, but imagine the possibilities with more textures and feels going forward. Flexible material filaments are now beginning to hit the market, and there’s so much work to be done. Tom and Tracy Hazzard discuss the Italian company that’s making waves with […]

Where is the good 3D design? Tom and Tracy discuss what’s lacking in the 3D print market and don’t want to settle for the least worst design to meet a need. In this episode they discuss can one create a “wow” product and what it means to have a significant product. Listen to the podcast […]

We have an interview today in the STEAM education realm. Victor Ciccarelli has this business called STEAM Maker Workshop in San Diego. We got hooked up with him because of Cindi Schulz, the Teacher of the Year who we interviewed on a previous episode. It is the workshop through which she was hired to develop her […]

  Would you agree that critical thinking comes more from the arts than it does from science? That’s what Tom and Tracy Hazzard tackle in this episode. They discuss how the STEM program needs to include the “A” for arts, making it STEAM. This is a way to develop critical thinking in students, aside from […]

Consistent material flow is one of the most common issues with getting consistent 3D prints, and we have some real practical suggestions and an overview of several things that can affect your print quality. What can you do to maintain that? It’s tough because there are so many variables that it is sometimes hard to identify […]

  I thought maybe today’s topic would be activity versus achievement because it’s Monday and Monday is usually a crazy day in terms of all the email onslaught and the busy work we end up with—and I know we’re not alone. Everybody is like that on a Monday. I even have talked to people who […]

  Recycling is a major issue in every industry there is all over the world. In 3D printing, reusing materials such as filament spools for a project is not only eco-friendly but innovative as well. Tom and Tracy Hazzard talk about the different projects where you can use spools and transform it into something modern […]

Today we have an interview with Debra Wilcox of the 3D Printing Store. We met Debra at CES this past January, and we bumped into her walking around the show. She is such an interesting person with such an interesting business. When we met her, we invited her to come to your Women in 3D […]

  We have something rather unusual to bring to you today. We have some sad news. This is a seismic event in the 3D Printing industry. We have some really sad news about Pinshape. Pinshape is dying. March 31, their service is being terminated. They have decided they are not going to continue and they are […]

Take a look into how it’s possible to  3D print your own braces with different kind of take on Tech Tuesday. Today we are not just giving you advice and tips on how to use your 3D printer, but we are highlighting a case study of a project that a college student did, which is highly technical within […]

Today’s topic is non-disclosure agreement templates. I’m excited about this topic because this topic comes out at every meeting I go to with a group of inventors and entrepreneurs. Everybody always asks, “What do you use for a non-disclosure agreement?” It amazes me how many people are thinking they have to have it. To be […]

  It’s Design Inspiration Friday and we are really inspired this week by Bernat Cuni from Barcelona, Spain (we think based on his website). I’m either inspired by a lot of espresso, or am just inspired to design some more. He did a 30 day challenge, we think just for himself because it doesn’t look […]

We have an interview today with someone from Pinshape. I want to give some background as to why we decided to interview this person; Tracy wrote a blog post that was put up on Pinshape last fall, about six months ago. They included an excerpt from her blog in this new design guide they have […]

Recently published 3D print patents is today’s topic for Wild Card Wednesday – until we have a better idea of what to call it. Some of these are from major companies like Hasbro and Disney. Their PTO has published them from their applications. There is a caveat to this, because these are not patents, they […]

For Tech Tuesday this week we are going to follow up on our announcement back in January about the new MakerBot Smart Extruder+. It was billed as being a major improvement over the previous Smart Extruder, but is it really? Well we received our order for two of them about a month ago, and have […]

It is back to business Monday again, and I thought we should talk about work-life balance. We’ve talked to a couple of people recently at some local events, and we met a couple who are looking to start a business in the 3D print industry.  I think a lot of people are in that boat, […]

Today we are going to Thingiverse to one of their curated collections on 3D Printed Marble Machines. I love these things, kids watch these, and they are fascinated by them. Logan Airport in Boston has a great installation. I don’t know if listeners know that Tom is from Boston. In one of the terminals in […]

Today we have Tom Simon of Source3, who I met because of a LinkedIn post. I don’t think people understand the power of LinkedIn in communicating with others. I have done so many cold calls via LinkedIn where I commented on somebody’s something, and the next thing you know, we are striking up a conversation […]

Top o’ the morning to you, and happy St. Patrick’s Day 2016! Wanting to celebrate, but don’t have the right accessory? We’ve gone through the extremely limited options to bring you the best 3D printables to make sure everyone is a little bit more Irish on St. Paddy’s Day. It was a little disappointing how few […]

We have a listener named Jay Kim who wrote in, asking a question about where he can find a community for teachers using 3D printing in school. Last week, we had an interview with Cindi Schulz who created that curriculum down in San Diego. She had mentioned in that interview that Robo3D has the vision […]

We have gotten a lot of positive feedback about Tech Tuesday. Yes, a lot of comments, some controversial. But mostly positive. We have been hearing from people who are highly technically capable already like Vicky Somma. I know we talk about her a lot, but the people who communicate with us the most get talked […]

The Digital Footprint Conference can really help you with your business. This is not 100% 3D printing related, but if you are running a 3D print business or are considering starting a 3D print business, this information is really critical and can help you a great deal. Let’s talk about how we heard about this. Our […]

  It’s Friday, so it’s our design/innovation issues highlight. We’re going to focus this post on a couple of email responses we got to our  podcast episode two weeks ago on the digital sundial project. We each mentioned that we both are shocked that some people actually create CAD files through using code instead of a […]

  Are you an educator or a student interested in 3D printing? If you are, this episode is for you. Tom and Tracy Hazzard have a conversation with Cindi Schulze, a teacher they met at the ROBO 3D in CES. This is a story of how one teacher went from being uninterested in the whole […]

    This Ask Us Anything event with MatterHackers was such a good event and we had so many great questions we couldn’t fit it all into one episode. This is part 2 from our MatterHackers Meet Up event where we had a panel with Lars Brubaker, the CEO of MatterHackers, and Taylor Landry who […]

It is no secret that we use 3D printing in our business, and have been printing our original product designs on our own 3D printers. As we prepare to bring some of those products to market, we have been searching for a service company to expand our printing capacity as needed. In this WTFFF?! episode […]

  Can you copy a 3D print file without violating patent or copyright law? If someone makes a slight change to your original design file, would that new file no longer be protected by the original copyright? A recent decision in the Federal Court battle between Align Technologies, makers of Invisalign 3D printed clear braces and a […]