https://www.matterhackers.com/how-to The latest on 3D Printing from MatterHackers Mon, 29 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT en-us 60 https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-3d-print-a-custom-stencil https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-3d-print-a-custom-stencil Mon, 29 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT This is a quick tutorial for how to create a custom 3D printed stencil using MatterControl. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-bring-game-characters-to-life https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-bring-game-characters-to-life Mon, 25 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT 3D printing has been a game changer in the cosplay world. Learn techniques from our resident cosplayer to turn digital models into physical costumes. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-vapor-polishing https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-vapor-polishing Thu, 26 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT Vapor polishing is the process of smoothing the surface of 3D printed ABS parts. The results give your models the look of professionally made injection molded parts. If you want to achieve this look, read on. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/3d-print-hardware-from-mcmaster-carr https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/3d-print-hardware-from-mcmaster-carr Wed, 25 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT The old adage “work smart, not hard” is applicable here. There is no reason to get out any fancy CAD software if you are in the mood to 3D Print standard hardware. The McMaster Carr online catalog has an abundance of CAD designs available and ready for printing. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/troubleshooting-for-mattercontrol-print-leveling https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/troubleshooting-for-mattercontrol-print-leveling Thu, 17 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT 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! https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/band-it-dragster-assembly-instructions https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/band-it-dragster-assembly-instructions Sun, 01 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT The Band-IT is a rubber band powered dragster with 3D printed components. Print one and take it for a spin. Better yet, print two and race against each other. Endless hours of fun are waiting to be discovered. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/bringing-the-helmet-to-life https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/bringing-the-helmet-to-life Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT You printed it, now make it spring to life. Dive into these instructions to make your Iron Man helmet as lifelike as possible. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/calibrating-your-makerbot-using-mattercontrol https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/calibrating-your-makerbot-using-mattercontrol Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT This guide will walk through the calibration of your Sailfish Firmware printer using MatterControl. If your 3D printer is lacking the precision you desire, read on. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/3d-printer-firmware-settings-stepper-motor-configuration https://www.matterhackers.com/news/3d-printer-firmware-settings-stepper-motor-configuration Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT How to calculate motor steps and update your firmware settings. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/coating-your-prints-with-hydrographics https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/coating-your-prints-with-hydrographics Tue, 28 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT This guide walks through the process of succeeding when using Hydrographics. Hydrographics is a way of applying complicated graphics and intricate patterns to 3 dimensional objects. The dissolvable film is floated on the surface of a tub of water, and the object is literally dipped into it. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/3d-printer-world-expo-2014-presentations https://www.matterhackers.com/news/3d-printer-world-expo-2014-presentations Tue, 04 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT MatterHackers CEO Lars Brubaker lays down some knowledge at the 2014 3D Printer World Expo. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/3d-printing-a-wooden-glider https://www.matterhackers.com/news/3d-printing-a-wooden-glider Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Much has been made of the new wood-based 3D printing filament, so we thought we'd try it out by printing a toy plane. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/a-closer-look-at-nylon-x https://www.matterhackers.com/news/a-closer-look-at-nylon-x Fri, 02 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT NylonX has quickly become one of our favorite filaments for strong, durable, and ready-to-use parts. Here's an in-depth look at Nylon X, and some printing tips to get the most out of this great new material. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/automatic-print-leveling-in-mattercontrol https://www.matterhackers.com/news/automatic-print-leveling-in-mattercontrol Wed, 18 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT The latest release of MatterControl (version 0.9.0) adds software-based, automatic print-leveling and height calibration as an optional new feature. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/hack-your-makerbot-with-an-e3d-all-metal-hotend https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/hack-your-makerbot-with-an-e3d-all-metal-hotend Mon, 25 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT Finally take the leap away from your stock Makerbot extruder and indulge in the precision printing that only an E3D All-Metal HotEnd can provide. Check out our step by step guide to get your Makerbot up and running with an E3D HotEnd. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/automatic-printer-calibration-update https://www.matterhackers.com/news/automatic-printer-calibration-update Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT MatterHackers adds automatic height calibration and bed leveling. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-customize-your-presets-in-mattercontrol https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-customize-your-presets-in-mattercontrol Thu, 22 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT Presets are an incredibly powerful tool for getting exactly what want out of your 3D print. With a little bit of knowledge under your belt, you'll be printing more efficiently than ever before. --------------- Updated 6/12/15 https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-integrate-a-custom-printer-profile-into-mattercontrol https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-integrate-a-custom-printer-profile-into-mattercontrol Wed, 01 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT Are you building your own printer? Do you need to create a customized printer profile? MatterControl can easily help you out with just a few quick steps - check out our new guide! https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-print-in-multi-color-with-a-single-extruder https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-print-in-multi-color-with-a-single-extruder Fri, 15 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT 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. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-sync-files-from-your-mattercontrol-desktop-to-mattercontrol-touch https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-sync-files-from-your-mattercontrol-desktop-to-mattercontrol-touch Tue, 03 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT With the release of MatterControl 1.2.1, users are able to employ cloud features, which makes sending files wirelessly a breeze. Learn how with this step by step guide. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/choosing-the-right-3d-print-bed-surface https://www.matterhackers.com/news/choosing-the-right-3d-print-bed-surface Fri, 07 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT From general purpose print beds to tips and tricks with acetone, finding the right bed surface to print on is an important step in the 3D printing process. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-use-the-text-creator https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-use-the-text-creator Thu, 13 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT If you’ve downloaded the most recent release of MatterControl, you may have noticed one of our new features: The Text Creator! In this article, we’re gonna break down the functions and features of our newest creation program. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/create-your-own-custom-night-light https://www.matterhackers.com/news/create-your-own-custom-night-light Tue, 02 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT Matt Manhattan, our February Hacker of the Month, took a stab at merging an everyday object with 3D printed parts to create a new, customized item. With great success, he's done it! Everyone has one, but do you have your very own, personalized night light? https://www.matterhackers.com/news/hands-on-with-the-mattercontrol-image-converter https://www.matterhackers.com/news/hands-on-with-the-mattercontrol-image-converter Sat, 10 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT With the new image converter add-on for MatterControl, turning 2D images into 3D printed objects has never been easier. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-3d-print-a-map-of-anywhere-in-the-world https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-3d-print-a-map-of-anywhere-in-the-world Tue, 10 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT Roy (aka "The SmithBot") presents us with a hands-on guide to turning your neighborhood, city, state, or favorite National Park into a 3D printable topographic map. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-smooth-and-finish-your-pla-prints https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-smooth-and-finish-your-pla-prints Fri, 26 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT Making your 3D prints look fresh off the assembly line isn't as hard as you think. Follow these simple techniques to finish your 3D prints and make them shine. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-use-support-material-part-1 https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-use-support-material-part-1 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT Part one of an in-depth look at how to use support material. First up: single extrusion. Learn successful design considerations and how to use support material to create complex prints. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to:-smooth-and-finish-you-pla-prints-part-2 https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to:-smooth-and-finish-you-pla-prints-part-2 Tue, 29 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT 3D printing is a wonderful process, but for convention and show ready prints, some post-processing may be necessary. Learn some helpful techniques from our resident cosplayer to turn even the most polygonal model into a smooth masterpiece. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/motor-dampers-install-guide https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/motor-dampers-install-guide Mon, 11 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT Hands down, motor dampers are one of the best upgrades available for your 3D printer. Not only are they a quick and easy install, but they result in a quieter, more precise print. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/print-your-ships-from-kerbal-space-program https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/print-your-ships-from-kerbal-space-program Wed, 02 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT Fan of the game Kerbal Space Program? Ever want to bring your customized space rockets to life? Well look no further! This helpful guide will put those little rockets right in the palm of your hand. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-calibrate-your-extruder https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-calibrate-your-extruder Wed, 04 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT This quick and informative guide will help you calibrate your extruder perfectly, resulting in accurate, quality prints. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-clear-and-prevent-jams https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-clear-and-prevent-jams Fri, 14 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT If you have a 3D printer, you will inevitably be clearing a jam. It is simply a fact of 3D printing life. This guide can help you deal with that as painlessly as possible. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-make-abs-juice-glue-and-slurry https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-make-abs-juice-glue-and-slurry Mon, 12 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT This guide will show you how a few simple mixtures of ABS and acetone will be a helpful new staple in your 3D printing toolbox. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-succeed-when-printing-with-petg-filament https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-succeed-when-printing-with-petg-filament Fri, 21 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT Durable and easy to print, PETG filament is likely to take over as the most commonly-used filament. This in-depth guide provides a few tips and tricks on how to get started and embrace the fantastic properties of this material. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-succeed-when-printing-with-abs https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-succeed-when-printing-with-abs Tue, 22 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT Last year, we published an article talking about how to succeed while printing with PLA. While we still love printing with PLA, we neglected to write about the sister filament - ABS. Prepare your printer and get a notepad - the time has come. https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-succeed-when-printing-in-pla https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-succeed-when-printing-in-pla Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Let's dive into the details of 3D printing with PLA filament. We will discuss what PLA plastic is and how to make it work with your printer, how to find the right temperature and what surfaces to print on. https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-unclog-a-3d-printer-nozzle https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-unclog-a-3d-printer-nozzle Thu, 06 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT Clogged nozzles - they happen. This informative guide will help you get your 3D printer back up and running.  https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-succeed-when-printing-with-flexible-filament https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-succeed-when-printing-with-flexible-filament Wed, 03 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT Let’s talk flexible filaments. Everyone wants to print with it, but to a novice, it might seem daunting. We will take a look at what makes flexible filaments easier to print than it might seem and how you can add flexible filament to your toolbox.