Frequently Asked Questions

Plastic extrusion, or fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the most common desktop 3D printer technology; FDM printers melt plastic and use an extruder to print each layer. 

100 µ = 0.1 mm (highest resolution)

200 µ = 0.2 mm

300 µ = 0.3 mm

400 µ = 0.4 mm

Stereolithography/SL a photopolymer-based process, a high precision system directs a laser across a tray of liquid resin and causes a thin layer to solidify.

25 µ = 0.025 mm (highest resolution)

50 µ = 0.050 mm

100 µ = 0.1 mm

200 µ = 0.2 mm

300 µ = 0.3 mm

The Form 1+ uses stereolithography (SLA) technology to 3D print objects in resin.  We have two of these 3D printers in our boutique and the build dimensions are:

12.5 x 12.5 x 16.5 cm

4.9 x 4.9 x 6.5 in

Plastic extrusion, or fused deposition modeling (FDM), is a desktop 3D printer technology which melt plastic and uses an extruder to print each layer.  

We have a variety of these 3D printers in our boutique and the build dimensions of our largest 3D printer, the LeapFrog Creatr is: 

22 x 27 x 20 cm 

9 x 10.7 x 7.8 in

We have over fifteen MakerBots in our boutique available to serve you. The build volume is: 

24.6 L X 15.2 W X 15.5 H cm

9.7 X 6.0 X 6.1 in

The build volume of our CubeX Duo 3D printer by 3D Systems is:

27.5 W x 26.5 L x 24 H cm

10.83 W x 10.43 L x 9.45 H in

To be able to 3D print (build) an object you need to have a 3D model, which can be created with a computer aided design (CAD) software. 

Below is a list of popular 3D softwares, free or paid. 

FREE 3D SOFTWARES:

Tinkercad - We use this software to teach adults, teens and kids how to design in 3D for 3D printing. Check out our workshops.

SketchUp

3DCrafter 

3Dtin 

Anim8or 

Blender 

BRL-CAD 

Creo Elements/Direct 

FreeCAD 

GLC Player 

LeoCAD 

Netfabb Studio Basic

K-3D 

OpenSCAD 

Wings 3D 

COMMERCIAL 3D SOFTWARES:

3DS Max 

Alibre 

AC3D 

AutoCAD

AutoQ3D

FormZ 

Maya

Magics

NetFabb

Rhino3D

Solidworks

ZBrush

Regardless of the 3D modeling software used, the 3D model then needs to be converted to either a .STL (stereolithography) or an .OBJ format, to allow the 3D printing software to be able to read it.

We work with 3D designers that can help you. Visit us at our boutique, call: 514-312-6060 or email us. On average our designers charge between $30-$50/hour.  Or join one of our workshops available for adults, teens and kids and let our instructor teach you how to design in 3D. 

If you need some inspiration of what to 3D print, have a look at what some of our clients have done. Or visit the following websites which are thriving design communities for discovering, making, and sharing 3D printable things:

www.thingiverse.com
www.sketchfab.com

www.123dapp.com/Gallery/content/all

www.youmagine.com

www.turbosquid.com

www.grabcad.com/library

www.cgtrader.com

www.digitalstore.makerbot.com

www.leothemakerprince.com

www.myminifactory.com/category/education

www.yeggi.com

www.3dprint.nih.gov/discover

www.mxd3d.com

www.solidoodles.com/categories

www.threeding.com

www.yobi3d.com/#!

www.blender-models.com/model-downloads/objects

We treat every project with confidentiality. We don't publish renders or photos of your design, or project without your permission.  Yes, we can also sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or a confidentiality agreement (CA) before we start work on your project. 

If you don't have your own template you can find some on:

Google Templates
Scribd
FPPT
Elance - Sample Non-Disclosure Agreement or Sample Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement

When editing and preparing your files for 3D Printing you can use the free tools of NetFabb and Meshlab.

Sometimes you have to do some re-scaling and positioning with NetFabb. For example scaling from inches to millimeters. To change scale from inches to millimeters scale your model by a factor 25,4. If you worked in meters, scale with a factor 1000.

PLA - Most PLA's melt at around 150 degrees celsius, however most PLA's remain stable and keep their shape at a lower temperature. Heat resistant PLA can resist up to 110 degrees celsius and remain perfectly intact.

ABS - ABS has a HDT (heat deflection temperature) of 98 degrees celsius, meaning it can remain intact when exposed to up to 98 degree. Being exposed to greater than this temperature, it will begin to deform or lose its shape.

A multitude of materials can be used to 3D print, and each are better for certain projects.

Nylon Plastics - A light, flexible material. Water resistant and durable, this material requires little preparation and can create very detailed designs as well as functional objects. This material can have good elongation, meaning it can stretch, but can equally be more tensile, meaning it is like a glass: very solid and rigid, but is prone to crack when stretched.

ABS - ABS is the same thing that children's toys such as building blocks are made of. ABS is an ideal material for items which will see a lot of use and need to withstand wear and tear. ABS leans more to the tensile side, being a more rigid and tough plastic.

PLA - The organic cousin of ABS, this material is made of corn starch, it is food safe, and it is ideal for intricate or high detail work as its lower printing temperature means it can offer more detail in the later stages of the printing process. PLA is rather rigid, and tensile, more so than ABS.

Metals - You can find metals such as stainless steel, brass, and even silver serve as good materials to 3D print with. Serving a vast range of purposes, such as an intricate silver ring to a stainless steel machine component, metals are useful for an extremely diverse range of projects. Metals can vary. While they are tensile, they also resist very large amounts of pressure before cracking or weakening.

Charged Plastics - These are plastics which have been mixed with other materials, such as metals, wood and more. These materials are great for artisanal projects as well as industrial projects. Charged plastics are more tensile.

More Flexible Materials - For certain projects, more flexible materials with better elongation may be desired. These projects are typically for functional pieces which would need to resemble rubber in its elasticity. Materials in this category include: certain specific nylons, such as PCTPE.

In general, yes, 3D printed items can endure a lot of wear and tear at the hands of exposure to the elements. Keep in mind that 3D printed parts can end up in automobiles and even aircrafts, where it must withstand a lot of exposure and usage.

PLA is not extremely to UV, meaning after long periods of exposure to sunlight, it can eventually lose its colour. The main downside to PLA is If exposed to hot or humid environments for several years, the PLA can begin to degrade and lose its shape, as it is biodegradable. ABS on the other hand, can endure elemental exposure better. However, ABS is weaker than PLA when it comes to physical pressure applied to the material, and PLA has the ability to endure a larger range of temperatures.

Metals and Charged Plastics are also quite durable. Metals can suffer from oxidation after years of usage if not treated against rust, however, this only applies to certain metals such as silver. Charged plastics in particular can withstand a lot of usage before weathering, as they are reinforced by metals or other materials.

Here is a list of the various materials you can use to 3D print, and just how they compare.

PLA - Easy to use, biodegradable. Used in consumer products. Good strength and durability, less flexibility.

ABS - Durable and sturdy. Used in functional parts. Good strength and flexibility, excellent durability.

PETG - Polyester-based, flexible. Used in various projects. Moderate strength, great flexibility and durability.

Nylon - Strong material, very flexible. Used in all types of projects. Excellent resistance, strength, durability and flexibility.

TPE, TPU - Thermoplastics are extremely flexible materials, almost rubber-like. They are used in wearables and elastic parts. Tricky to use, great flexibility.

Wood - Typically used in home decor, it is a standard material, with moderate strength and durability.

HIPS - High impact polystyrene, used in both food packaging and support structures. Low strength, high durability.

PVA - Polyvinyl alcohol. Used as support for other materials such as ABS, it is water soluble. High strength, but low durability and flexibility.

PET (CEP)- PolyEthylene Terephthalate, is similar to PLA, but with more strength and durability.

Metal - Mainly used in jewelry or trinkets, it is not very flexible, but is highly durable.

Carbon Fiber - Stronger than PLA, very rigid. Used in machinery parts, it is incredibly durable.

Polycarbonate - Strongest material available to 3D print, but still flexible. Used primarily in functional parts.

Conductive - Any material which conducts electricity and can be used by a 3D printer fits this category. Used in electronics, not very durable.

Wax - Mostly used in making molds (casting), it is a weak material, and is not recommended for use outside of molding.

PETT (T-Glase) - A transparent filament, it is very durable, but also quite flexible. Used in functional parts mostly.

ASA - Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate is highly resistant to chemicals, and keeps it shape very well. It is used in outdoor applications.

PP - Polypropylene is also very resistant to chemicals, and it is biodegradable. It is very flexible, and is used for flexible parts.

POM, Acetal - This is the material most zippers are made of. It is used for functional parts. High strength, low flexibility.

PMMA, Acrylic - Very durable, this material is used for light diffusers.

Sandstone - This is used mostly in architectural applications. Low durability, completely rigid (no flexibility).

Glow in The Dark - Fluorescent plastics are used mostly as a novelty, you can expect the same strength and flexibility as an ABS, or PLA.

Magnetic - Used also as a novelty for the most part. Moderate characteristics (strength, flexibility etc.).

Colour Changing - Again, mainly used as a novelty for trinkets. Moderate characteristics.

nGen - Like PETG but easier to use. Used in all sorts of projects, high durability.

TPC - Extremely resistant rubber-like substance. Used in elastic parts or outdoor applications.

Poro-lay - Partially water-soluble, it is still an experimental material being tested out.

FPE - Highly flexible plastic, used in elastic parts.

An acetone bath will smooth the edges of your 3D printed object. Typically, it is said to do this you must heat the chamber containing the acetone to achieve results, but it is quite dangerous to do this if not done by trained professionals, as acetone becomes volatile at high temperatures. It is worth noting that acetone evaporates at room temperature, it just takes longer. Therefore, this procedure should be carried out with room temperature acetone. While it may take longer, the danger is much lesser this way.

While it is not at all necessary, you can do several things with your finished 3D print to make it look that much better. 

You can sand it down, using low-grain sandpaper to get a smoother shape. However, you may lose some of the sharpness of the shapes in the print.

You can polish the print to make it shine, or varnish it to make it shine.

If you know the item will be in use while exposed to the elements, it may be worth treating with a layer of hydrophobic spray, or even a coat of UV resistant spray. You can also treat metal items with anti-rust products.

There is also the possibility to hand paint the items if you so desire.

Also, you can give the print an acetone vapour bath depending on the material to remove the grid-like effect on your print (see the previous question ''should I do an acetone bath'' for more on acetone baths.

Yes you can! All you have to do is take the 3D model of the item you wish to make a mold of, and using a CAD (computer aided design) program (the same one you would use to create a model to print), you can convert your item into a mold for easy replication of the object.

Here is a good step by step guide. Check it out.

Yes we do! 

We have a Carbide 3D Nomad 883 Pro. CNC milling stands for Computer Numerical Control milling. This is a technology which resembles 3D printing, except instead of using a heated filament to create layers, CNC mills use computer-guided cutting tools to cut out a shape from a slab of material, typically wood.

Learn more about it here, or feel free to contact us to get a quote for your project!

Coming soon!

We are currently looking into it, however as of right now we do not offer casting or molding services.

Coming soon!

We repair MakerBot and Prusa 3D printers, as we specialize in the MakerBot brand, and our knowledgeable staff know just what to do.

Yes. We can ship to anywhere in the world. 

To give you an estimate we first need your 3D model in .STL or .OBJ format.  You can either email us your .STL files to matterthings3d@gmail.com, or bring them to our boutique. 

To serve you faster, please give us as much detail about your project as possible. For example:

What material do you want your project 3D printed in?
PLA, Resin, Castable Resin, ABS, Nylon, Polycarbonate or composite materials like: Carbon Fiber, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Wood, Bamboo, etc. 

What colour do you prefer?

Which resolution do you need your project 3D printed in?

Plastic extrusion, or fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology

100 µ = 0.1 mm (highest resolution)

200 µ = 0.2 mm

300 µ = 0.3 mm

400 µ = 0.4 mm

Stereolithography/SL a photopolymer-based process, a high precision system directs a laser across a tray of liquid resin and causes a thin layer to solidify.

25 µ = 0.025 mm (highest resolution)

50 µ = 0.050 mm
100 µ = 0.1 mm

200 µ = 0.2 mm

300 µ = 0.3 mm

When is your project due?

Do you need your project to be shipped or will you pick it up at our boutique?

To give you an estimate we first need your 3D model in .STL or .OBJ format. Please email them to us and we'll provide you an estimate how much it will cost to 3D print:matterthings3d@gmail.com

Yes we do.

Thanks for asking! We request payment in full to start working. You can pay in store, online, or by phone. We accept: cash, cheque, credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express), Apple Pay or PayPal.

3D printing (or additive manufacturing, AM) is any of various processes used to make a three-dimensional object. In 3D printing, additive processes are used, in which successive layers of material are laid down under computer control. These objects can be of almost any shape or geometry, and are produced from a 3D model or other electronic data source. A 3D printer is a type of industrial robot.

3D printing in the term's original sense refers to processes that sequentially deposit material onto a powder bed with inkjet printer heads. More recently the meaning of the term has expanded to encompass a wider variety of techniques such as extrusion and sintering based processes. Technical standards generally use the term additive manufacturing for this broader sense. Source: Wikipedia

Watch this great video by Mashable that explains:

While 3D printing turns a filament or resin into an object by printing each layer, a CNC mill (or CNC router) carves a shape out of a slab of material.

Both methods of manufacturing use 3D models, and have computers input the directions to print the 3D model to the device itself.  CNC stands for computer numerical control, and this type of machine is related to the manual tools used in woodworking. Source: Wikipedia.

Where a 3D printer either uses a laser or a heated filament, CNC routers use cutting tools to carve precise shapes.

Yes we do! Feel free to email us at matterthings3d@gmail.com to talk about this. We offer periodical training workshops, which last one afternoon, and by the end you should be able to design like a pro!

If you are 12 years old or younger, you can sign up here.

If you are 13 years old or older, you can sign up here.

Of course! Everyone, from the age of 5 to the age of 80 can learn how to 3D print. Its a lot simpler than it may seem, and you can learn everything you need to know at one of our 3D printing and design workshops! These events take place periodically, and last one afternoon (typically form 6:00pm to 8:00pm).

Yes. Our team speaks English, French, German and Spanish. We are working as quickly as possible to have our website in other languages too.

We're open Monday to Saturday, so please stop by our boutique, or call us on +1-(514)-312-6060 or contact us by email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.