Nozzles screw into the hot end of a 3D printer extruder, acting as the exit point for the melted thermoplastic filament. 3D printer nozzles are made from solid metal, featuring a tiny nozzle opening. The nozzle opening size (bore size) defines the thickness of the melted filament on exit, with
What Are Nozzles On 3D Printers? Read More »
An extruder is the part of a 3D printer responsible for moving the filament through the printer and melting it for the nozzle. Extruders are sometimes called printheads, but this name also encompasses the nozzle system, which is a simple, user-replaceable part. Extruders tend to be contained units, although some
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With additive manufacturing, we can precisely control two aspects of any part: the perimeter (walls) and the infill (insides). Contrary to popular belief, 3D printed models are rarely ever hollow. Most have at least a basic infill either to improve the physical characteristics of the part or where necessary to
What Is Infill? What Does It Do? Read More »
Cura is Ultimaker’s 3D printing software. Cura is open source, meaning anyone can use it even if you don’t have an Ultimaker 3D printer. As 3D printing software goes, Ultimaker Cura is one of the best-reviewed, most recommended tools of its kind. It competes with slicing tools like Slic3r, but
What is Ultimaker Cura? A Quick Guide Read More »
When it comes to 3D printing an object, a few things have to happen. First of all, you have to design the object you would like to print using CAD software, otherwise known as 3D modelling software. It is with this software you will create your object to the specifications
What is Slicing Software, and what does it do? Read More »
One of the issues that people face when 3D printing is getting their prints to stick to the build plate. If a print does not stick to the build plate properly, then it could move during the print process which will cause it to fail. Manufacturers have, of course, devised
What are Bed Adhesives in 3D Printing? Read More »
This article has been updated for 2021 with new information. We recently received a question from a student in secondary education regarding file formats and 3D printing. He wanted to know what the most common file formats are and how they are used. So, we thought we’d write an article
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3D printing is billed as an easy way to manufacture models and parts, but is the workflow really as simple as it’s made out to be? The short answer: yes! This article will explore the 3D printing workflow in simple terms so you can wrap your head around it and
3D Printing Workflow – The 5 Steps Explained Read More »
If you’re going to solve your biggest design, engineering and manufacturing challenges with 3D printing, you’ll need the right technology. Different 3D printing technologies use different print processes that print different materials. These variances have created what is unarguably the most diverse, exciting and useful manufacturing technique in the world.
Which 3D Printing Technology Should I Use? Read More »
