How to Paint Polyamide 3D Prints: Master Artist Shares His Knowledge
Master 3D Artist Danny van Ryswyk sat down with us for a tutorial about his world-class sculpting and painting techniques. In this article you will learn how to prepare and hand-paint your polyamide (nylon plastic) 3D prints like a pro!
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Calling all 3D Designers: Do You Have What it Takes to Join the i.materialise 3D Modeling Service?
Are you a talented designer, or know someone who is?
The i.materialise 3D Modeling Service might be the place for them! This exhaustive design directory is free to use, and provided as a resource to all of i.materialise’s clients. This growing list is the largest offered by any 3D printing service, and allows clients to find and commission a 3D designer to make ideas into 3D-printed-reality! Each applicant’s portfolio is vetted for quality, and designers are hand-picked for their exemplary skill and reliability. Designers can apply and submit their portfolios here.
Read on about how Frederik Bussels, architect, 3D printed shoemaker, and owner of Visualize-to.be, is growing his 3D design business after being featured in our free directory.
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8 Things to See and Do at the October 2014 3D Printshow in Paris
Located in none other than the international capital of romance and adventure, the 2014 3D Printshow is making its annual debut in Paris from October 17th to October 18th! Located in the Carrousel Du Louvre, one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, this dynamic 3D printing industry event features some of the brightest names in the industry, including designers like Michaella Janse Van Vuuren, Joshua Harker, Julian Hakes, and Michael Winstone. 3D Printshow has also recently expanded, and now features shows in London, Paris, New York, Berlin, Dubai, Madrid, Mexico, Milan, and a city in California!
The i.materialise outreach team will join a top-ranked list of exhibitors in Paris that include Stratasys, Autodesk, MSC Scanning, and many more. We’ll bring along our Touchable 3D Printed Art Gallery, and welcome all attendees to take #Makerselfies touching real 3D printed artwork!
Read on for eight can’t-miss speakers and exhibits to check out in this one-of-a-kind industry event!
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How to Design and 3D Print Chainmail Patterns and Interlocking Parts
One of the most fascinating things about 3D printing are chainmail patterns, interlocking, and movable parts. The structures of these designs look complex, but they are actually quite simple to make. These kinds of structures (often called “nested” parts) can be used for 3D printed jewelry, mechanical structures, complex action figures, decor items, and many other projects. Follow this tutorial to learn how to use free 3D design software to make 3D printed chainmail and other interlocking parts. It’s easier than you think!
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Get Brass Faster than Ever: Faster Lead Times!
Brass fans rejoice! Our gold-plated brass now ships out of our 3D printing factory faster than anybody else’s! Our fastest brass lead time is down to only 13 business days.
The new 13 business day lead time is for “natural” brass only, but our “gold-plated” variety has also set a record: it ships out in only 15 business days. This is currently the fastest industry lead time in the industry for gold-plated brass material.
To see an estimated arrival date tailored to your project, start by uploading your design here for free. The free quote is instantly and automatically generated. Read on for details and the latest information on all metal lead times.
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3D Design Software Lifehacks: Basic 3D Printing Features Every Designer Should Know About
There are common software tools that make it easier to 3D print a design— and that all designers should know about. 3D Design software can be categorized according to how it works and is used: “sculpting,” “building,” “scanning,” etc. But a designer’s project needs might overlap, so there are commonly available tools that all designers can use and benefit from: wall thickening, subdivide (i.e. smoothing), symmetry, sculpt, and “boolean”/“hole making.”
These tools aren’t available in every 3D design software package, but just knowing that they exist saves time. Once you know what type of tool you need for a project, you can seek out the design software that has it— just as you would “seek” pizza at a pizza parlor, and sushi at a sushi bar.
Read on for how wall thickening, subdivide (i.e. smoothing), symmetry, sculpt, and “boolean”/“hole making” work— and for free software packages with those features.
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2014 New York Maker Faire Wrap-up: Our Favorite Moments!
Maker Faire New York 2014 ended on Sunday, September 21, topping off one of the biggest 3D printing and design events of 2014. The i.materialise outreach team joined over 85,000 attendees to connect with makers from around New York and across the world!
Among them were the winners to our free ticket giveaway, who received VIP 3D print goodie bags! At least 500 people visited our Touchable 3D Printed Art exhibit, featuring 3D printed metal, ceramic, and plastic art. We were proud to connect with some of New York’s finest designers, engineers, programmers, and families— and to share our passion for 3D printing with you.
Read on for our Maker Faire New York 2014 summary and some of our favorite moments! For more photos, see our Facebook gallery here. For a list of official exhibitors for 2014, go here.
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Win a Customised iPhone 6 Case: Send us Your Selfie!
The iPhone 6 just launched— and we want to 3D print you a custom iPhone 6 case!
And not just any case: a limited edition 3D printed polyamide case with your name on it, in a color of your choice. Your case will be created and 3D printed entirely by our design team, one of whom recently released this free iPhone 6 case template file. Even if you don’t have an iPhone, this prize makes a great great gift, giveaway, or charity auction donation— the name on the case does not have to be your own!
Enter to win by sending us your selfie! We’re using them for our upcoming gallery project, “Maker Selfies” (#makerselfie), which aims to highlight the diversity within the global Maker Community.
Read on for rules and details.
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3D Printing With Meshmixer: A Beginner-friendly Introduction to 3D Sculpting and Combining Meshes
Meshmixer is a free 3D sculpting-based CAD (Computer Assisted Design) program created by Autodesk as part of their “123D” software line. Autodesk is best known for releasing premium-rate professional-grade software like Maya and 3Ds Max, and their “123D” free line can be seen as a simpler, beginner-friendly version of those professional programs. This Meshmixer covers how Autodesk Meshmixer can be used to intuitively sculpt designs, hollow them out, cut them apart, and combine parts together without wrecking your mesh’s internal or external geometry. It also covers how to prepare your design for 3D printing.
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Who Are (Y)our 3D Printing Programmers and Engineers?
3D printers and printing service websites cannot run without programmers and engineers. They provide the crucial link between human needs and machine capabilities, and make it possible to use use our API, order from our website, and ship orders across the world.
What does an engineer or a programmer look like in the 3D printing field? And what do they do for Materialise and i.materialise?
Part of our engineering team resides in the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev, and we have your “sneak peak” into their lives. They code, program, use software, and help refine 3D printing-related technology that we will use for years to come. Here is a look into their work and life in Kiev.
Read on for details.
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