WTFFF?! 3D Printing Podcast: 3D Print Tips | 3D Print Tools | 3D Start Point

How do you organize your 3DP files? In this WTFFF?! episode Tom and Tracy discuss all of the different files, and the many versions that they save in order to preserve the variations that get created in the design process. The number of files only grows further with settings and Gcode files of the many iterations it takes to achieve the best possible print. Organizing all of the files and documenting the differences is critical to make sure you can find the files you need when you need them, and do not have to waste time trying to remember what settings worked best in the past. To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

Today's question came to us over Facebook and in email from a teacher in Indiana, Joe Rife. He asks us "Can I Get a Copy of Your 3D Angel STL file? In this WTFFF?! episode Tom and Tracy discuss how they would like to help Joe and other teachers like him, but there are a lot of issues that make just handing over the STL file risky. They weigh the pros and cons, and search for a way to accommodate the request. This one definitely got them thinking! To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

In yesterday's Podcast with Maria Speth we had a great discussion that shed a lot of light on how current US Intellectual Property laws apply to 3D Print digital content. In this WTFFF?! episode Tom and Tracy ask themselves a related question, "Should 3DP Companies Lobby Congress to update IP laws to apply better to modern technology, especially the 3D Printing industry?" It may take a long time, and significant investment, but the music industry did the same thing when radio was invented to make sure laws protected music authors from having their work distributed for free. This is a good debate, and one that needs to continue.  To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

Can you copy a 3D print file without violating Patent or Copyright law? If someone makes a slight change to your original design file, would that new file no longer be protected by the original Copyright? A recent decision in the Federal Court battle between Align Technologies, makers of Invisalign 3D Printed clear braces, and direct competitor Clearcorrect, has established (for now) if digital files, 3D CAD files, are considered "articles" within US Patent law. While this case has raised awareness for an important issue in the 3D Printing industry, it actually will not have as much impact on 3D print file rights and protection as it may first appear. In this WTFFF?! episode Tom and Tracy interview Intellectual Property Attorney Maria Speth, partner in the law firm of Jayburg Wilk, about the Invisalign case, the differences between Patents and Copyrights, and how you can best protect your 3D Print digital files. What are some best practices for protecting your 3D print files? How do you obtain a copyright? Do you need to register that Copyright? This podcast has critical and valuable information for anyone creating, selling, or sharing 3D CAD files. LINKS MENTIONED: Jaburg | Wilk ITC Clearcorrect Ruling CEO Space International Sony v. Universal City Studios Berne Convention Invisalign   To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

A teenager came into our booth at the SoCal MakerCon convention and asked us this question? "How do I get my Mom to buy me a 3D Printer?" In this WTFFF?! episode Tom and Tracy discuss this question and make suggestions for what you can do to show your mom (or dad) that you are serious about getting into 3D Printing, how you can start without having your own 3D Printer, and tips for how you might be able to get your own sooner rather than later.  To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

In this WTFFF?! episode, the last in our series brought to you live from the SoCal MakerCon show floor, Tom and Tracy interview Diego Porqueras, founder of Deezmaker. Four years in the making, this company has grown to occupy two store fronts in Pasadena, CA, one that sells machines and materials, and another that is a Makerspace, a powerful combination of sales and support. The Makerspace is built on the idea that users should "Fail Beautifully" to get the most out of their learning experience. Diego shares a great story from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on how critical failure is in engineering and design. To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

In this WTFFF?! episode brought to you live from the SoCal MakerCon show floor, Tom and Tracy speak with Carlos Espinoza, Founder of OneBot, about his new line of 3D Printers. This San Diego start-up makes printers that are designed to be upgraded and customized for the user's specific needs. The drive for OneBot to create more flexible 3D Printers came from a key customer and adviser from the movie industry in Hollywood. To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

In this WTFFF?! episode brought to you live from the SoCal MakerCon show floor, Tom and Tracy learn how Jewelyn Co and her husband Will started CoKreeate as a one stop retail shop for 3D scanning and printing. In just two years their business has grown to a full time endeavor as they scan and print miniature figurines for a range of different customers. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE CoKreeate web site To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

3D Printing is creating a whole new economy of entrepreneurs starting side businesses that make and sell unique products. With the help of marketplaces like Etsy and Shapeways, discerning consumers are being connected with makers to find more personal and unique gifts. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, in this WTFFF?! episode Tom and Tracy have an in-depth discussion with Vicky Somma, 3D Print entrepreneur, about how she got into 3D Printing with free CAD tools and service bureaus, but has grown a meaningful business selling her 3D print designs at craft shows, Shapeways, and Etsy. Her experience and path to success is a great case study for any entrepreneurial minded maker. We also cover what is working best for each of us to market and promote our products or business, so we let this one go a little long, but it is worth it.    LINKS MENTIONED: Vicky's Etsy Shop TGAW TGAW Shapeways Shop TGAW Blog Blender free CAD software 3D Printing Nerd on YouTube 2014 White House 3D Printed Ornament Competition   To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

Successful 3D Printing begins with learning how to create 3D designs to print. In this WTFFF?! episode brought to you live from the SoCal MakerCon show floor, Tom and Tracy interview Joe Micallef about how he got into the 3D Printing industry and decided to write his book, "Beginning Design for 3D Printing." Joe's book introduces beginners to the world of 3D model creation and design with step by step tutorials for free online software to help new users get started and immersed in the world of 3D Printing. The discussion expands to the critical need for designers and CAD experts in the growing 3D economy.   To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

Is any 3D Printer really "Plug and Play?" The folks at AIO Robotics have created their All-In-One 3D printer with this goal in mind. In this WTFFF?! episode brought to you live from the SoCal MakerCon show floor, Tom and Tracy speak with CEO Jens Windeau & Director of Operations Lucas Lok about how this startup team is building a software and hardware user experience to appeal to new users who don't need to have CAD skills. To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

When it comes to detail, how precise can 3D Printers be, and how complete can a part be when it comes of the printer?   In this WTFFF?! episode brought to you live from the SoCal MakerCon show floor, Tom and Tracy learn about 10 micron printing from Russell Singer, Design and Development Director of MAKEiT Inc.. Their printer can make incredibly fine machine threads that come off the printer ready to accept a nut or bolt. At WTFFF?! we have tested printing threads in printed parts without much success, so the detail this printer can achieve is impressive. Listen as we discover the market and applications the MAKEiT Inc. printer is intended for. To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

For people born in the 1970's and earlier, shop class was the place that most students first learned to design, build, and create. Today shop class is on the endangered species list of educational programs. In this WTFFF?! episode brought to you live from the SoCal MakerCon show floor, Tom and Tracy spend some time with Gene Sherman, Founder and CEO of Vocademy, the world's first education focused makerspace, and learn about his mission to spread the knowledge of how to create and maintain education based shop classes for all. To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

Is Shapeways the best place on the internet to sell your 3D printed designs? Eric Ho sure thinks so, and he should know because he worked there as their Social Media Manager. Now he has a stable of designers that work with him to create original 3D printed memes (with a lot of Corgis!), and sells them in his Raw Legend Collaborations shop on Shapeways (ShopKeepCorgis). In this WTFFF?! episode Tom and Tracy learn how Eric exploits social media to tell the story behind his 3D designs in what is one of the most effective modern marketing strategies. His success is living proof that marketing in the niche works. LINKS MENTIONED: Raw Legend Collaborations Shapeways Shop Meetup Corgis - Dog Breed   To send us a voicemail, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!

What does a coder and world traveler like Drew Taylor do when he falls in love with 3D printing? Well, of course he leaves his former career behind and starts Astroprint 3D Printing App Store. In this WTFFF?! episode brought to you live from the show floor, Tom and Tracy discuss how Astroprint is positioning itself as the "Android" of the 3D Printing space by providing apps to improve and enhance the 3D printing process. The apps provide for remote monitoring of multiple printers, better access to file repositories, cloud based file repairs, and more. This company is rather unique in that it is based in San Diego and Spain, check out the podcast to learn why. To get in touch with us, go to 3dstartpoint.com or wtfffpodcast.com or shoot us a message at info@wtfffpodcast.com or on our facebook or twitter! Its absolutely free, so ask away and and don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more on our regularly scheduled Thursday podcast episodes!