Blog
Long-form guides on 3D printing as a business. No fluff, no listicles — just the math, the strategy, and the lessons we've learned running our own shop.
May 10, 2026
First Layer Problems: A Real Diagnostic Guide (Not Just 'Level Your Bed')
Bed leveling fixes maybe 30% of first-layer issues. The other 70% are Z offset, flow rate, bed temp, surface contamination, or worn PEI. Here's how to diagnose by symptom — and the order to fix things.
May 9, 2026
How to Price Your 3D Prints in 2026: The Complete Guide for Sellers
A complete, formula-driven guide to pricing 3D prints for Etsy, eBay, and Amazon Handmade in 2026. Material costs, electricity, depreciation, AMS purge waste, failure rate, labor, platform fees, shipping, and margin — explained with real numbers.
May 7, 2026
Heat-Set Inserts in 3D Printed Parts: A Practical Guide
How to add metal threads to 3D printed plastic parts that survive 1,000+ assembly cycles. Insert sizes, hole tolerances, install technique, and why most failures come from skipping a 1mm chamfer.
May 3, 2026
Etsy Fees for 3D Print Sellers in 2026: The Honest Breakdown (Including Off-Site Ads)
Etsy takes 22–26% of your sale once off-site ads kick in — not the 11% beginners think. Here's every fee, when each one triggers, and the math for whether Etsy still makes sense for your shop.
May 2, 2026
Resin vs FDM 3D Printing: A Real Cost Comparison for Sellers
Resin sells for 3–4× the retail price of FDM, but costs 2× more to make. Here's the per-part math, the categories where each wins, and how to decide which technology to invest in for your shop.
April 29, 2026
AMS Purge Waste: What Multicolor 3D Prints Actually Cost
Bambu Lab AMS prints look incredible, but the wipe tower and poop chute can waste 30–50% of your filament. Here's the math on what multicolor really costs, and when to skip it.
April 25, 2026
Filament Drying: When It Matters, When It Doesn't (Stop Drying Your PLA)
The internet says 'always dry your filament.' That's wrong for PLA. Here's which materials actually need drying, the signs of wet filament, drying times and temps, and the cheapest way to do it right.
April 22, 2026
The Real Cost of Resin 3D Printing: 7 Hidden Expenses Beginners Underestimate
Resin printing isn't $25/kg. Once you count FEP wear, LCD lifetime, IPA cycles, wash & cure power, and PPE, the true cost per print runs 2–3× higher than calculators show. Here's the math, with real numbers.
April 19, 2026
Why Your 3D Prints Warp (And the Three Fixes That Actually Work)
Adding a brim treats the symptom. Warping is caused by thermal contraction fighting bed adhesion — and the real fixes are material-specific. Here's what actually works for PLA, PETG, ABS, and Nylon.
April 15, 2026
Why Your 3D Printed Holes Always Come Out Too Small (And the Math to Fix It)
Every 3D-printed hole shrinks by 0.1–0.3mm. Here's the physics behind it, the per-material numbers, and the exact CAD compensation formula that makes M3 bolts fit on the first try.
April 11, 2026
PLA vs PETG: When to Use Which (and the Per-Part Cost Nobody Talks About)
PLA is easy and cheap. PETG handles heat and water. The decision is rarely about strength — it's about temperature, UV exposure, and a cost difference that's bigger than the $/kg suggests.