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3D Printing Blog

The i.materialise blog keeps you updated about outstanding 3D designs, the newest 3D printing technologies and the best 3D modeling software tutorials.
Going The Extra Mile: How i.materialise Ensures Quality And Agility For Its Customers

Going The Extra Mile: How i.materialise Ensures Quality And Agility For Its Customers

Research shows that 76% of customers expect companies to understand their needs. And when it comes to 3D printing, these needs may vary. Often, customers have questions regarding which material to use, how to better design their parts, or even which courier service best suits their order. Luckily, at i.materialise, we have a customer support team that is ready for anything. To find out exactly how they go above and beyond for our clients, we talked to Anna Vasylkivska, Customer Support Officer at i.materialise. 

 

Anna Vasylkivska Customer Support Officer at i.materialise

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ABS: Save Over 50% On This 3D Printing Classic

ABS: Save Over 50% On This 3D Printing Classic

When you think of fused deposition modeling, your mind might jump to materials like ABS – this plastic is well-known in 3D printing crowds, after all. With an attractive new price to add to the list of reasons to love it, there’s never been a better time to try it for yourself.

Whether you’re an i.materialise veteran or thinking of starting your first-ever 3D printing project, we’ve got some exciting news that’s sure to be right up your alley. On July 22, 2021, we introduced a new price for ABS that will see you save more than 50% on every piece you print, depending on the size and shape of your model.

It’s a great opportunity for us to empower you to bring your projects to life and to share the joy of 3D printing with more people than ever before. But why should you choose it? Let’s take a look at just some of the reasons this material has stood the test of time that we think will inspire you to try it for yourself.

ABS is great for practical objects, but its surface textur

The Heat Is On: Get 10% Off On All Orders Over €250 With Our Promo Code “Creativesummer2021”! 

The Heat Is On: Get 10% Off On All Orders Over €250 With Our Promo Code “Creativesummer2021”! 

This summer might be the perfect time to start a new 3D project and materialize your wildest ideas. If you are taking a holiday from work, you can dedicate more time to your hobbies, including exploring your creativity in 3D software and design something extraordinary. To give you an extra creative boost, this week, we are launching our special Summer Sale!

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An Interview With Materialise’s CEO: The Top 5 Highlights

An Interview With Materialise’s CEO: The Top 5 Highlights

Looking back at three decades

In June 1990, Fried Vancraen and his wife, Hilde, founded Materialise and embarked on a mission to create a better and healthier world through our hardware and software infrastructure and an in-depth understanding of 3D printing.

But the radical change didn’t come overnight. With incremental steps, 3D printing has indeed revolutionized the way we manufacture products and has helped to save lives. This interview between Fried and Kristof Sehmke, our Communication Manager, goes over the last 30 years of the company’s story with a look forward to the future. Read on to learn about five highlights from the interview!

1. Surprise at the evolution of AM

Fried says, “I always recognized 3D printing as a paradigm shift in manufacturing and as a technology with huge opportunity,” but he has been pleasantly surprised with the technology as it exists today — especially when it comes to metal sintering. He adds, “It h

Five Top Tips To Perfect Your 3D Printing Files

Five Top Tips To Perfect Your 3D Printing Files

When the time finally comes to hit that hallowed upload button and get your 3D printing project underway, you want to make sure your design follows every rule and is ready to go. While our team is always here to double-check every submission and flag any errors, following our five top tips will help ensure every file is printable and maybe even cut down on some of your costs while you’re at it.

#1: Make your model watertight

For your file to be ready to print, all of your surfaces must be connected without any gaps in the sides. So, before you submit your design, look over your model and ask yourself one question: if I were to fill it with water, would it flow out? If the answer is yes, it’s important to close it, as shown in the example below. This process is also known as ‘creating a manifold model’.

In this example, the clear gap in the design means it would not be suitable to print.

#2: Add wall thickness and volume

Every surface of your 3D model must be assigned a wall th

What Materials Should You Use For 3D Printing? The Choice Is Yours.

What Materials Should You Use For 3D Printing? The Choice Is Yours.

You’ve got a great idea, you’ve drawn it out, and you’d love to see it come to life through 3D printing. But what material should you choose? With i.materialise, it’s entirely up to you — whether it’s plastic, metal, or resin, you’ve got plenty of options, and we’re here to walk you through them.

But first… what do you need to know?

The material you choose will impact more than how your model looks and feels — it’ll even decide which 3D printing technology is used to make it! But, what matters most is that you get to see just how many options you really have — by discovering all the possibilities, you’ll be able to create a design that truly makes you happy and best suits your needs.

3D printing in Polyamide

When you’re looking to create a model from plastic, Polyamide is the most popular choice. When used for Laser Sintering, it is strong, flexible, and can create moving or interlocking parts. Though naturally white, Polyamide can be easily dyed to bring a burst of color to your d

From Swarovski Competition To Reusable Bag: How An Innovative Designer Created A Fully 3D-Printed Purse

From Swarovski Competition To Reusable Bag: How An Innovative Designer Created A Fully 3D-Printed Purse

Since 2009, when we launched our i.materialise platform, our mission is to enable creative people worldwide to design and sell their unique 3D-printed objects. One of the makers who caught our attention is Marta Cherednik, a Singapore-based 3D printing designer who runs a design studio MALINKO.

Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Marta has quite a peculiar background story. First, she studied geology. After graduating, she moved to Australia, where she worked in mines for a few years as a geologist. Later on, she decided to change her career. She was interested in learning how things are made and how to find a creative outlet for her ideas, so she studied Industrial Design. For seven years, she worked for an Australian train company, where she honed her skills in designing trains and learning about highly technical aspects of industrial design.

Despite the exciting job, she wanted to express her creativity, even more, so she started designing small 3D-printed objects. Her des