Techniques, guides and projects for makers
Bylined, independent deep dives: how to work a material, which machine to choose, what we have actually built.
Tutorial / How-to
First layer not sticking? What your printer does for you, and what's still up to you
When a print comes loose halfway, it almost always started wrong at the first layer. What a modern 3D printer does on i…
Guida all'acquisto / pick
Drill press buying guide: swing, power, speeds, chuck
Which numbers on a drill press spec sheet actually decide the purchase: swing, motor power, speed range, quill travel a…
Guida all'acquisto / pick
Which xTool laser to buy: S1, P2S, M2 Color Craft or F2
xTool sells diode, CO2 and fiber lasers under one badge. This guide matches the S1, P2S, M2 Color Craft and F2/F2 Ultra…
Guida all'acquisto / pick
P2S, Centauri Carbon 2, K2 Combo or U1: which to buy
Four mid-range CoreXY printers with almost the same build volume, and four very different reasons to buy one. Here is w…
Guida all'acquisto / pick
Which Bambu Lab H2 printer to buy: H2S, H2D, H2D Pro or H2C
Four printers share the same enclosed chassis and the same 350 °C nozzle, and the price runs from about 1,200 € to abou…
Guida all'acquisto / pick
Best resin 3D printer for miniatures and detail work: which desktop MSLA to buy
Six desktop resin printers in our catalog, from about 249 to 499 euro, sorted by what you actually print. You will know…
Guida all'acquisto / pick
Which LaserPecker to buy: LP1 Plus, LP2, LP2 Plus, LP4 or LX2
Five LaserPecker engravers sit between about 199 and 1,800 euros, and they are built for different jobs. This guide tel…
Guida all'acquisto / pick
Which Bambu Lab 3D printer to buy: A1 mini, A1, P2S, X2D or H2D
Bambu Lab sells more than a dozen printers and the names don't tell you which one fits your desk. Here is how the curre…
Tutorial / How-to
How to Read and Calculate Welder Duty Cycle: A Practical Guide
Duty cycle is the essential parameter to prevent welder overheating. This guide explains how to interpret rating plate …
Tutorial / How-to
MIG/MAG welding: how to choose wire diameter, amperage and material thickness
Wire diameter, current and workpiece thickness are chosen together, not separately. A practical guide to reading the pa…
Approfondimento
Types of 3D printing: FDM, resin and powder compared
The three families of 3D printing — filament, resin and powder — explained with strengths, limits and typical uses. Whi…
Approfondimento
FDM or resin: which 3D printing is right for you
FDM for functional parts, prototypes, and large objects; resin for the fine detail of miniatures and jewelry. Practical…