3D Printing & Manufacturing Blog

3D-printed jigs and fixtures in 1–3 days: choosing PETG, ABS, ASA, carbon fiber, MJF PA12 or metal, 3-2-1 locating, bushings, inserts and cost per gram.

How large mascots are made: CNC foam cores, fiberglass composite shells and 3D-printed details – choosing by size, outdoor durability, brand colors and costs.

Remake discontinued spare parts without drawings: 3D scanning, reverse engineering with wear compensation, SLM metal printing, material choice and CNC.

How to paint 3D-printed models: progressive sanding, filler primer, airbrushing, faux bronze, wood and stone effects, paint choice, defects and costs.

Religious statue 3D printing: Buddha, Virgin Mary and a 1 m Catholic statue in SLA. Accurate modeling, part splitting, hollowing, indoor and outdoor materials.

3D printing vs injection molding: draft angles, wall thickness, undercuts, materials, tolerances, lead time, bridge tooling and a break-even formula from CT3D.

What is SLA 3D printing? CT3D explains how a UV laser cures resin, 25–100 micron layers, ±0.05–0.1 mm tolerance, key quality parameters and common defects.

Metal 3D printing (SLM) vs CNC machining: cost structure, billet-to-part ratio, 5 decision questions and a hybrid workflow of printing plus CNC on mating faces.

Custom 3D trophies: FDM or resin, base–body–emblem structure, metallic paint, plating, how costs are calculated, common defects and the CT3D production process.

MJF vs SLS for PA12 3D printing: principles, ±0.05–0.15 mm tolerance, surface, color, mechanical properties, batch productivity and an engineer's checklist.

What is FDM 3D printing? CT3D explains fused filament extrusion, 100–300 micron layers, ±0.1–0.3 mm tolerance, materials, common defects and when to choose FDM.

Custom 3D printed figures in 25–50 micron resin: choosing a 1/10–1/6 scale, splitting parts, avoiding support marks, airbrush painting, costs and our process.