MakePrintable announced an interesting integration with Cura that should make life much easier for many 3D printer operators. Recap: MakePrintable is a startup that offers a very powerful 3D model repair service. Their cloud-based software seems to be able to repair even the most awfully formed, but still STL-syntactically correct 3D models. I’ve tossed some…

Sponsored by So you’ve got the concept model and a 3D printer that prints buttery smooth prints. But how much time do you have to tweak it to get the right clearance when working with assemblies or sliding components? This can be a grueling process or a glorious process. But, it depends on the approach…

Despite its namesake, this has to be one of the smallest CNC machines you will ever lay your eyes on. The Goliath CNC, unlike most other CNCs, isn’t fastened to the floor or destined for a dedicated space. Quite the opposite in fact. The Goliath CNC is capable of carving, milling, and engraving difference materials,…

A new handheld 3D scanner is announced, and it sports a very attractive price. The new “peel 3d” is a simple-to-operate handheld 3D scanner that uses structured light to collect 3D point data on a subject. The associated software then quickly interprets the points into a usable 3D model and even provides very straightforward methods…

Origami, which comes from the Japanese words ori meaning “folding” and kami meaning “paper”, is a pretty niche field which requires dedication, delicate hands, and a lot of free time. While most of us can make a paper plane or boat, the more obscure origami designs require numerous steps and intricate folds to create. This…

Based on the title, you may be wondering why antiquarian horologist Brittany Cox doesn’t look centuries old. It’s because she isn’t. While her age has nothing to do with her profession, her job is ancient as it gets. Brittany is one of the few people in America with a masters in horological conservation. This means…

MatterHackers announced a new, upgraded 3D printer set-top controller, the MatterControl T7X. MatterHackers, a California-based 3D print reseller, markets a variety of different 3D printer brands and a wide set of filaments as well, but to us they are most well known for producing a very interesting set top box for typically “dumb” desktop 3D…

Remarkably resistant to water, acid, and in some cases, heat, lacquer—a natural plastic—has been used by East Asian craftsmen for centuries to create highly-detailed inlaid decorative boxes. Although it can take up to twelve months of labor to make one of the treasured boxes, the results are nothing short of stunning. It comes as little…

Who needs guns that shoot bullets when you can fire a ball of plasma? The ‘plasma popper’ is a slice of future created by Mr. Al Stahler. It’s an ingenious use of transparent plastic tubing and an ignited ball of methylacetylene-propadiene propane (MAPP gas). It isn’t a kid’s toy, but it sure does look pretty…

Next to duct tape, WD-40 is the second best solution people look to when something isn’t working properly. Squeaky door? Spray some WD-40 to make it sound as quiet as a husband who knows he’s in trouble. Stuck zipper? WD-40 will loosen it faster than a person loosens their pants after a trip to the…

Between sporadic viral social content and entire YouTube channels, the hydraulic press is certainly having a moment. While most of that content is focused on the fascinating destruction of everything from cell phones to mountain bike suspension forks, a new Kickstarter project aims to take an entirely new angle: creating unique tableware from clay scraps.…

3DAGOGO, the startup company behind 3D print cloud service provider Astroprint, is attempting to raise funds through crowdsourcing. The MicroVentures campaign intends on raising at least USD $50,000 for the company, with a maximum amount set at USD $500,000. As of this writing, early into the campaign, they’ve raised a little over USD $20,000. On…

Stella, a “Polyhedron Navigator” provides a way to very quickly view and generate almost any type of 3D polyhedron you can imagine. What’s a 3D polyhedron? While you may bump into them in real life constantly, it’s a geometric concept that encompasses a broad set of possible objects. Wikipedia defines them as: In geometry, a polyhedron (plural…

For sneakerheads who would happily sell their offspring for a chance at exclusively designed shoes, listen up: You won’t have to! Nike recently opened its Nike Makers’ Experience at the Nike By You Studio at 45 Grand in New York which will allows users to create their own one-of-a-kind pair of shoes. If you thought…

All this talk of innovations that haven’t come out yet and we end up forgetting the ones we already have. For instance, have you ever stopped to wonder about how Dippin’ Dots ice cream got its unique beaded shape? You know, those tiny clusters of circular ice cream which could be a potential hazard if…

Recently, we talked about MX3D getting all giant metal 3d printing robot on us and printing the 3D structures of the future. If you’re familiar with the company, you know they’ve been busy the last few years on a mission to build the first functional 3D printed bridge across the Oudezijds Achterburgwal canal in the De Wallen…

Germany-based voxeljet announced a new 3D printing process they call HSS. voxeljet is known for their line of very large format 3D printers, which are specialized for the production of casting molds. Many companies use voxeljet technology to produce large cast metal parts, and in many circumstances, do so much more effectively than using conventional…

For all of the nauseating “Smartphone of the Future” noise we’ve been hearing over the past week, let’s take a minute to go back to basics. SolidSmack favorite YouTuber Primitive Technology, a mastermind in working with natural materials to create functional shelters and objects, recently created his own furnace using—yep, primitive technology—for manufacturing ceramic goods.…

If you’re tired of conventional magnets doing little more than sticking like parasites to your refrigerator, you might want to consider making your own. That’s what YouTube creator BrainfooTV did. After years of decorating his refrigerator with half-broken alphabet letters, he decided to create something a bit more practical for the kitchen. This mini meat…

With Mercedes-Benz announcing last year that it is now selling 3D printed spare parts for its cargo trucks, 3D printing is gaining momentum as a commercial strategy for large-scale manufacturers. But what does 3D printing mean for non-enterprise businesses and entrepreneurs? Can 3D printing really offer ordinary people the chance to change their lives? As the technology…

Jumanji is the movie best known for two things: the “What year is it?” meme, and forever scaring the hell out of 90s kids, making them think twice about ever playing board games again. The film follows the adventures of a boy named Alan (played by none other than Robin Williams) who becomes trapped in…

Japan-based Mimaki formally announced a new and rather interesting full-color industrial 3D printer. The new machine, the 3DUJ-553 UV LED, is the first 3D printer for the organization, which to this point has produced only 2D color equipment. But they are a large corporation with decades of experience developing very high-quality printing solutions, today making…

An interesting technique used by some Ultimaker users could put a better finish on your 3D printed parts. It’s called “Neosanding” and is a way for flat surface layers to be “polished”, so to speak. The technique has been developed by Ultimaker forum moderator Neotko from Spain, who has recently posted a version 2 method…

With over 1 million subscribers on YouTube, woodworker Matthias Wandel knows a thing or two about making shop time entertaining. Whether he’s making marble machines, wooden combination locks, Jenga pistols, or even a wooden air raid siren, he’s always having a killer time making it. And who wouldn’t want to watch that? More recently, the…

Italy-based WASP announced a new version of their flagship 3d printer, the DeltaWASP 20 40 Turbo2. WASP has become very well known for their reliable – and sometimes overly large – delta-style 3D printers. They’ve developed equipment that can 3D print in a variety of unusual materials, including local clay, plastic pellets and other substances.…

Last 2015, entrepreneurs Simon Breum Fisker and Jacob Lindeberg Kickstarted a compact 3D printer which made the technology more accessible to children. Aptly called the Sculpto, it requires a simple Wi-Fi connection and control via a mobile app. With it, they can print countless designs found on the Internet and, if they’re feeling particularly creative,…

If you visited Japan recently, you may have noticed the titular giant Gundam which guards the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza against impending Godzilla attacks is missing. Why? Well, it was torn down earlier this year to make room for its bigger, badder giant robot. Giant mecha have been an attraction for the country since 2009, with…

Unless you accidentally step on them, you can never go wrong with LEGO. Since 1949, the company has helped creators both young and old bring their ideas to life. With new features like submersible blocks and working motors, making anything from a tiny house to a life-size replica of a car is possible. But one…

Entertainment giant Disney has published (pdf) an interesting study on a compliant mechanism system they’ve developed to assist in 3D design, which could be very useful for 3D printing. What is a “compliant object”? They explain: Fueled by progress in technology and computation, however, many fields of engineering have started to embrace deformation and to leverage flexibility…

From the introduction of color television to the formation of NASA, few decades have offered a glimpse of endless possibilities quite like the 1950s. And while commercial jet travel and the wonder of Xerox copiers were making their way into dinner table conversations, the rise in post-war manufacturing also introduced cost competition and a growing…

For some, electric motors and off-road vehicles go together about as well as pineapple bits on a pizza. But hey, other people actually like pineapples on their pizza (what are you?) So, an all-electric off-road vehicle design might not be such a bad idea… if it looks good. Bollinger Motors has done just that, designing the…

If you’re too busy living on planet Earth to bother with the rest of intergalactic space, you might be surprised at the sudden loss of sunlight August 21. The 2017 solar eclipse will cover the entire contiguous United States and will be the first one to hit the country since June 8, 1918. To prepare…

With nearly 3 million YouTube subscribers, Kevin Kohler, aka The Backyard Scientist, knows a thing or two about holding people’s attention. Whether it’s pouring molten aluminum into a watermelon (and subsequently pulling out the odd-shaped sculpture) or creating a giant human-sized mousetrap (sorry again, watermelons) the mad scientist seamlessly blends science with entertainment—a sort of…

MyStemKits announced an international expansion of its 3D printing kits and curriculum, which could eventually lead to breakthroughs in 3D print use worldwide. MyStemKits is a US-based organization that provides educational packages for students and teachers to learn about 3D design and print in the classroom. We’ve written about them previously when they launched larger quantities…

Picture this: you’re in a room with like-minded designers, programmers, and coders. You all want the same thing: to innovate. A makerspace. Now imagine that space–the oddest inventions, the whir of electronics and the smell of cutting oil. Ahhhh. You may be part of a makerspace. You may have started one. You may really want…

There are 3D print fashion designers, and there are fashion designers who go a bit farther. One of them is Francis Bitonti. Bitonti has been working in the 3D print field of fashion design for many years, and we’ve seen his works at multiple exhibitions. In fact, our records show that he’s been awarded Fabbaloo’s…

Simplify3D has been building up steam over the past few years with their professional 3D printing software. With loads of 3D printer support and the cleanest UI this side of manufacturing revolution, they’re not showing any sign of letting up. The team just had a round of head-butts and high-fives with the release of the…

From something quite obscure a few years ago, 3D printing is now at the point where you can obtain a degree focused on the technology. 3D printing, or Additive Manufacturing, as it is sometimes known, has long been a single-course subject in engineering schools, or as a tool one might learn as part of lab…

Before you ask, the 3D printer itself isn’t made of clay. That would be silly. And I’m not talking about printer that extrudes layers of clay–wait, yes I am. I’m talking exactly about a 3D printer printing beautiful art with layers of clay. Dabbling in pottery is no easy task. You have to put on…

For all the things it can create in its bosom, your average 3D printer is a lot of work. The best 3D printers are huge, expensive, and require more space than a young professional’s apartment can afford. On the flip side, cheaper printers are usually unreliable and are about as appealing to the eye as…

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does the things his costume can. Why else would he wear red-and-blue tights out in public? The Spider-Man costume is the most iconic ever. Ever since his first appearance in 1962, Peter Parker and his other incarnations have donned countless suits to hide their identities from their enemies. But even with the changes…

The unspoken law of the universe dictates that if an activity is dangerous, someone will try it. Human nature, right? When someone puts boundaries on what you can or cannot do, curiosity says, “question that, fool!” From ‘Do not feed the animals’ to igniting hairspray with a lighter, nothing is too frightening (or too outlandish)…

Though 3D printing was slow to catch on when equipment was expensive and resources were hard to come by, we’re living in a different world now. 3D printing jobs are in demand. 3D Printing Jobs on the Rise Many companies and private individuals are embracing the convenience and practicality that come with 3D printing. As…

3D metal printer manufacturer Höganäs delivered a new machine to a client this week, but it’s not a typical client. Readers may recall my enthusiasm upon discovering Höganäs last year. The Swedish company produces metal powders for additive manufacturing, but also develops and markets their own 3D metal printing equipment. The 3D metal printer, shown here,…

Back in the day I made my living reshaping the skin of what we now call “classic cars”. I’m talk’n late ’70s Camaro and ’69 VW Karmann Ghia kinda stuff. Through my artistry, I was able to reclaim what rust and decay had stolen. But sadly some vehicles were too far gone to be safe on the…

Not everyone is born with the steady hands of an artist, marksman or eye surgeon. It’s hard to keep your digits steady with the knowledge that every move you make could spell success or failure. Enter, TECHNOLOGY. Barry Abrams isn’t an eye surgeon, but he is a designer and maker of things from Champaign, Illinois.…

When it comes to ingenious video game mods, Ben Heck usually has just about everything covered. But with the arrival of the Nintendo Switch earlier this year, plenty of DIY modders and hardware hackers have been coming out of the woodwork to show us their own interpretations of Nintendo’s latest device. And when it comes…

I’m trying out a new online service that hopes to enable makers to work together on open source hardware projects. 3D Orchard is a web service designed by three enthusiasts hoping to ignite the development of many more open source hardware projects. To that end, the service offers three features: A browser-based community-style 3D CAD…

In the wide world of manufacturing—from seamless iPhone assemblies to precision watch parts—who would have thought that the manufacturing of ping pong balls would be so dang fascinating to watch? Yes—the little plastic balls, which can often be found in packs of six at your local convenience store for less than $5, have a considerably…

If someone has ever asked you to build something out of plywood and the first thing you thought of is giant robot, you will love this. What? You’ve never thought that? You need to reconsider your priorities. At the top of that ‘Things to build with plywood’ list should be a robot. Our model this…