Modern Makes

22/03/2024

🚀 QIDI Tech Q1 Pro Review - High-Performance Desktop 3D Printer

Crafted for precision and versatility, the Q1 Pro opens the door to engineering-grade filament printing right from the comfort of your home or studio. Its enclosed design and powerful chamber heater ensure flawless prints with materials that were once deemed challenging for desktop models.

✨ Don't limit your creativity with conventional options. Transform your 3D printing journey with the unmatched capabilities of the Q1 Pro.

Read our comprehensive 2024 review of the QIDI Tech Q1 Pro and see how its innovative chamber heater and high-speed printing transform desktop 3D printing for hobbyists and professionals. Experience the pinnacle of precision and efficiency in 3D printing with the Q1 Pro.

01/03/2024

I just received a Bondtech LGX Lite Pro extruder that will be replacing my LGX on my Rat Rig V-Core 3. The LGX has served me proudly but I’m looking forward to the weight-savings on the gantry and the extra torque. Big thanks to for the extruder. Now I just need to upgrade the hotend and make this a high-performance combo.

22/02/2024

🌟 Wrapstyler Unlocks New Dimensions in 3D Pattern Making! 🎨

Introducing Wrapstyler, a game-changing software that transforms intricate 3D designs into precise 2D patterns. This tool is a must-have for anyone looking to streamline their design to production process, detailed in our latest blog.

Learn about Wrapstyler’s impact across industries, from fashion to engineering, and how it simplifies project workflows. Our post delves into its key features and real-world applications, offering insights for both novices and seasoned professionals.

Explore how Wrapstyler can enhance your projects!

Dive into the world of Wrapstyler, the software that redefines 3D pattern making for creative minds. Learn how it streamlines design processes and opens up new possibilities in various industries.

20/02/2024

Here's my attempt at creating a mesh "wicker style" material for a 3D printed lampshade. This is based on the fine work from who creates some amazing designs using this technique. I thought it would be awesome to give this a try and maybe add this to some of my designs in the future.

I created this mesh pattern in Fusion 360 which is definitely not the best software for this. I should definitely start learning Blender or maybe give Rhino a try to make creating designs like this a lot easier.

These renders are about as far as I'm going with this exercise. I might make a smaller one so I can print it and see what the actual physical design looks like in hand and how much light it blocks.

Big shoutout to for the inspiration. Make sure you check out his awesome designs.

19/02/2024

I modelled a desk in Fusion 360 based on a 1950s Erich Stratmann design. It has some serious mid-century modern vibes with its quirky contemporary appeal.

I created this model using parameters that adjust everything when I update the total width and height. I also put most of the work into controlling the number of drawers but ended up not creating them in a way that could be updated. To do this properly, you need to create a single drawer and then use the pattern tool to duplicate the component based on the drawer number parameter that is set. I didn't feel like adding that to this model this time.

MCM furniture is still my favourite to model. It's angular and fairly simple but also a little funky.

17/02/2024

🍫 Cocoa Press: Chocolate 3D Printing Made Easy! 🖨️

Meet Cocoa Press, blending chocolate crafting with 3D printing technology. Ideal for those who love experimenting or need unique chocolate designs. It simplifies making detailed chocolates at home or professionally.

Our latest blog post highlights Cocoa Press's key features and how it supports creative chocolate making. Whether for personal use or professional applications, it offers an easy start to 3D printing with chocolate.

Discover Cocoa Press, a specialized 3D printer for chocolate, enabling detailed and creative chocolate designs with ease. Ideal for chocolatiers and hobbyists looking to blend technology with culinary art.

10/02/2024

🌈 Discover the Phrozen Arco: Phrozen's Entry into FDM 3D Printing 🖨️

The Phrozen Arco marks the company's first venture into FDM 3D printing, offering users new capabilities in speed and colour. Known for their high-quality resin printers, Phrozen now extends their expertise to FDM, focusing on user-friendly features and reliable performance. The Arco aims to provide a versatile printing solution for both enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Interested in finding out how the Phrozen Arco can complement your 3D printing projects? Click through to our blog post for a comprehensive overview of this new printer's features and availability.

Introducing the Phrozen Arco, a groundbreaking FDM 3D printer that combines high-speed, multi-color capabilities with Phrozen's renowned precision and quality. Learn how to secure your unit with an exclusive preorder offer ahead of the Kickstarter launch. Don't miss out on redefining your 3D printin

09/02/2024

🚀 FLSUN S1 & T1: Leading the Race in Consumer 3D Printing Speed 🚀

Meet the FLSUN S1 and T1 - the frontrunners in high-performance 3D printing technology. These models are redefining expectations with their exceptional speed, proving to be the fastest printers available for consumers.

Get a closer look at how each model stands out in the fast lane of 3D printing. Whether for intricate hobby projects or professional-grade prototypes, find out which printer aligns with your needs.

Click the link to read the full article!

Get an in-depth look at FLSUN's latest 3D printers, the S1 and T1. Discover the unique features, performance, and value each model offers to understand which high-speed printer aligns with your 3D printing projects and budget.

08/02/2024

Big News From HevORT! 🎉

HevORT just announced they're now producing kits for their high-end coreXY 3D printers, thanks to a partnership with Mellow3D. This is a game-changer for DIY 3D printing enthusiasts!

Why It Matters:
- Hardware kits for each part of the printer mean you build the printer you need
- High-quality parts from Mellow3D ensure top performance.
-Full control over your build, from size to motion systems.

Check out the full article to get all of the details!

HevORT teams up with Mellow 3D to offer modular 3D printer kits, allowing for full customization and control over your printing setup.

07/02/2024

🌿🤖 Introducing FarmBot: The Fusion of Technology and Nature! 🤖🌿

Step into the future of gardening with FarmBot! Imagine a garden where every plant flourishes, thanks to the precision and efficiency of technology. Whether you have a knack for DIY projects, a passion for gardening, or a curiosity about tech, FarmBot is designed to make your gardening journey seamless and productive. 📱🌱

With FarmBot, blending CNC technology, automation, and eco-conscious living has never been easier. It's perfect for enthusiasts at any level, transforming gardens into havens of productivity and sustainability.
# greenthumbtechnology

Read the full article: https://www.modernmakes.ca/blog/farmbot-technology-gardening-future-cnc

01/02/2024

Here’s another lamp all finished and ready for its new home. The base and frame are 3D printed with a canvas material used for the ‘shade’.

I was going for a Boho style lamp with adjustable lampshade - I wanted to be able to add diffusers to control the light. I created slits in the lampshade frame where the diffuser sits. For the other lamp, I printed a diffuser with a single wall in Vase mode out of some Wood PHA material that I had left over. It makes the lamp quite dark so it’s not very good for functional light but for mood....oh buddy🏆.

The base includes a removable ‘dish’ that I will eventually fill with concrete or maybe just rocks to give the lamp some weight. I like heavy home decor items.

Designing and printing lamps have become my favorite task. Lighting just has such a huge effect on your space and it’s fun to be able to create lamps/lampshades that add to it. For my next lighting project I should finally attempt some addressable LEDS and make a smart lamp that is interactive.

Printer: Rat Rig V-Core3
Extruder: Bondtech LGX
Hotend: Rapido HF
Nozzle: CHT 0.8Mm
Layer Height: 0.32mm
Filament: Polymaker PETG
Filament Color: Dark Green
Part: Modern Makes - Boho Lamp

31/01/2024

When the idea came up to replace the old handles I instantly thought of big, wide handles to replace the small wooden k***s. I wanted to design and 3D print my own using a technique I've never tried before. I wanted to use knurling on the handle and I wanted it to be easy to 3D print and without supports. I also wanted to print the handles horizontally because a model this tall and narrow will eventually wobble which will ruin the surface quality and I also wanted the strength of the horizontal layer lines. So I came up with this design that has a handle that is printed flat and then 2 posts and 2 end caps that all fit together.

I've had this roll of PETG CF from Spool3D for a long time now just waiting to be used. I remember seeing a video about how this filament is the best 'bang for your buck' that you could get when it comes to strength, price, and ease of printing. I was hoping that it wouldn't be as oozey as normal PETG but it definitely was. Before printing, I calibrated the flow and then the retraction. I could have definitely done more retraction tuning to get that dialed in but I was worried the CF would have eventually clogged the nozzle if retractions were too high. I also could have done temp tuning but I honestly haven't done one of those in a long time. I usually just pick a temp that is around halfway in the recommended range and stick with that. I may up the temp depending on the speed that I'm printing and what type of nozzle I'm using. For this print, I used a 0.8 hardened steel nozzle so I increased the temp by 15deg just for that.

Printing this horizontally definitely made the top knurling a little ugly as there were a lot of jagged edges and the 0.8 nozzle couldn't pull off the fine details that were required. I chose to sand down the handles to fix this and then ended up applying a coat of epoxy. I chose not to sand down the epoxy as I like the shine it gives and I really didn't feel like giving these handles any more attention. Project completed, on to the next one.

29/01/2024

The Bambu Lab A1 Mini

Meet the smallest of the Bambu Lab family, the A1 Mini. In this article, we look at why Bambu Lab decided to produce such a small printer after their successful run of corexy machines.

We go over the features and talk about who will get the most out of this printer.

https://www.modernmakes.ca/blog/bambu-lab-a1-mini-who-should-buy-suitability-features

Discover the Bambu Lab A1 Mini through our detailed analysis, focusing on its features and suitability for various users. This article helps you understand if the A1 Mini aligns with your 3D printing needs, whether you're a beginner or an experienced user. Learn about its capabilities, ease of use,

26/01/2024

Here's my latest CAD exercise, a desk gallery built by . It is meant as a stand for a laptop or monitor that goes onto a desk storage space and a drawer to hide some clutter. I was drawn to this design due to the exposed joinery. It adds a nice characteristic to this piece that I haven't seen before.

Designing this was pretty easy with 1 sketch on the front plane that acted as the master sketch which all bodies could be created from. The challenging part was to create the dovetails and the cutouts for them. They aren't very technical, I just find that they take too many extra sketches and extrudes/cuts to create. I'm trying to get this process down to as few steps as possible while still being able to be updated with the use of parameters.

Using parameters for every aspect of a design that is necessary has become my goal when designing. I love this feature and how it adds an extra challenge to creating a model. For this design, I wanted the dovetails to be updated with any change in the depth of the model. I set the width of the top and bottom of the dovetail and then used the Pattern tool to update the distance between each one. There are limitations to the parameters that I'm using; the dovetails are set to a certain amount, and the distance between them is updated. If I wanted to get more technical I could use an IF statement parameter that controls the amount of dovetails used based on the depth of the model.

I created a custom GPT model that is trained on Fusion 360 parameters that helps me build these designs. It creates a great framework for me to build off of for these designs. If anyone is interested in using it, comment below. I'll be editing it a bit soon and then adding it to the GPT Store for others to use.

Make sure to check out for great woodworking projects and insight.

25/01/2024

Here's another project that I finished a little while ago. This is a fan mount for driver cooling on a Duet 3 Mini 5+.

I've been using my Duet Mini without a fan since I first built my printer. Most of the time I can pull off a long print without any warning and other prints I will get overheating warnings within the first 20 minutes. The warnings will come for all drivers too, even z-hops will cause the drivers to really heat up.

My speeds and accels are pretty time since I print mostly with a 0.8mm nozzle and a 0.32 layer height so it's easy to max out the flow of my Rapido hotend with this combo. With a CHT nozzle, I can get up to 120-130mm/s3 which is very low for what my printer could pull off with a smaller nozzle and layer height.

For the fans, I used 2 different 4010's that I had in my parts drawer. I soldered them together and connected them to a free fan output. Eeeeasy. They are set up in the config to be always on which is great since they are fairly silent and tucked behind on the massive enclosure.

The mods never stop...

23/01/2024

🎉 Just Released: Bondtech LGX Lite PRO Extruder! 🌟

The LGX Lite Pro is now available, offering a blend of lightweight design and powerful performance for your printing projects.

💥 Ready to upgrade? Check out our latest blog for all the details on this must-have tool.

The Bondtech LGX Lite Pro Extruder sets new standards in 3D printing with its lightweight design and powerful performance. Featuring a high-torque stepper motor, adjustable tension, and compact form factor, this extruder is perfect for enhancing precision and speed in your 3D printing projects. Read

22/01/2024

Here's my take on a 'grid-finity' type of drawer organizer meant for kitchen utensils. It will be 3D printed and will store cutlery, knives, and all of the random kitchen utensils that one would need.

It uses a base grid that stops the containers from sliding when the drawer is opened and closed. I created the grid using parameters, I just fed in the inside width and length of the drawer and they produced the grid for me. Since the drawer is rectangular, the parameters ensure that the grid squares all have equal lengths and take up as much of the space as possible. There is a gap at the back of the drawer that I will have to add material to before I cut the grid into pieces before sending to the printer.

The containers are pretty straightforward, only the holders for the knives needed some special attention. I just extruded the material I needed and then made an angled cut for the blades using the loft function. The best way to do this would be to model the knives first and then the holders but I didn't want to spend too much time on this. This took me roughly 2 hours to complete and boy-did-I-ever make a mess of the timeline.