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Tips and Tricks

The Top Ten Tips For Getting Started With 3D Printing

The Top Ten Tips For Getting Started With 3D Printing

  • Alec Richter
  • Dec 6, 2017
We were all noobs at one point! Here the ten best tips for getting started with 3D printing - whether it's your first time 3D printing or you need to brush up on the basics, this guide will help you out!
When I bought my first 3D printer, I didn’t have any clue what I was doing. The best example of that is I couldn’t get my nozzle to fit over the PTFE tube in the hotend, so I beat it with a wrench to get it to fit, and in doing so flattened the end of the nozzle and blocked the opening. Oops. Common sense would say that was a dumb idea, but having no clue how any of it works, my resour... (More)
Troubleshooting for MatterControl Print Leveling

Troubleshooting for MatterControl Print Leveling

  • Taylor Landry
  • Dec 16, 2015
Interested in using MatterControl's 7 and 13 point print leveling? Although, this system is easy to use, there might be some hardware or firmware settings you'll need to fix first. Here's how!
MatterControl recently introduced 7 and 13 point software print leveling. These are great options for delta 3D printers, as well as Cartesian printers with large print beds. (More)
How to Print in Multi-Color with a Single Extruder

How to Print in Multi-Color with a Single Extruder

  • Erica Derrico
  • Jan 14, 2016
Want to print in multi-color but only have one extruder? Fear not! With just a simple trick using MatterControl, you can print with all the colors of the rainbow.
When I first started working at MatterHackers all of my friends were so intrigued by the concept of 3D printing, I would often get the question, "What does something 3D printed look like?". So I decided to make myself a key chain I could put on my car keys; something I could easily grab out of my bag when people asked me. The trouble was, I am a very colorful person. I did not want my key chain to... (More)
How To Calibrate Your 3D Printer's Extruder

How To Calibrate Your 3D Printer's Extruder

  • Taylor Landry
  • Mar 3, 2015
This quick and informative guide will help you calibrate your extruder perfectly, resulting in accurate, quality prints.
Your 3D printer extrudes and retracts precise amounts of filaments in order to create your printed masterpieces. Well, it does if it’s properly calibrated. Calibrating your extruder is one of the most important, as well as one of the most overlooked, things you can do to your machine. If you’ve been unhappy with your printing results or have noticed either under or over-extrusion, thi... (More)
3D Printing 101 Web Series

3D Printing 101 Web Series

  • Erica Derrico
  • Mar 31, 2016
We know what challenges come your way when you first start printing. Get a head start and solid guidance with MatterHackers' new web series, 3D Printing 101 hosted by YouTube's 3D Printing Nerd, Joel Telling.
MatterHackers and YouTube's 3D Printing Nerd, Joel Telling, have teamed up to bring an exciting new web series, 3D Printing 101. 3D Printing 101 is a great resource to get new 3D printing users up and running quickly and efficiently. Whether you are new to the 3D printing club or you simply need to brush up on the basics, we are here to help. ... (More)
How To Clear and Prevent Jams on Your 3D Printer

How To Clear and Prevent Jams on Your 3D Printer

  • Dave Gaylord
  • Feb 13, 2014
At some point you may encounter a filament jam or a clogged nozzle where your 3D printer is not extruding. This guide is intended to help you prevent such jams, or fix with them as painlessly as possible.
If you arrived at this article, I have to assume you’re either a seeker of knowledge, or an unfortunate soul with a 3D printer that is not extruding. In either case, we are here to enlighten you with some techniques for making your 3D printer run like a dream. (More)
Bed Surfaces: Applying Kapton Tape

Bed Surfaces: Applying Kapton Tape

  • MatterHackers
  • Apr 12, 2016
Certain filaments call for certain bed surfaces. Kapton Tape is a key choice for ABS, but it can get tricky when it comes to application. Learn how to apply this sticky tape flawlessly with our helpful tutorial.
Kapton tape is the recommended bed surface for 3D printing ABS filament. The tape protects the bed surface and acts a base layer, while the hair spray or juice provides the adhesion.  Kapton tape (a registered trademark of DuPont) is a polyimide film. Created for the aerospace industry in the 1960s, Kapton tape as a flexible adhesive tape that is stable over a wide range of temperature, from ... (More)
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