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Painting your 3D models has always been an elusive subject. What kind of paint do you use? Will it stick to the 3D printed material? How will the quality look? These are just some of the questions floating around the heads of many designers and engineers. Over years of trial and error, one method we’ve […]

Guide for startups on how to get the most out of hardware accelerator programs.

You can 3D print parts using many different types of materials. Here’s an overview of the most commonly used 3D printing materials that you can find on the Fictiv platform. All of them are great options for prototyping hardware. When you’ve decided which 3D printing material to use for your project, consider these 3 factors: […]

There are 4 main types of 3D printing technologies: FDM, SLS, SLA, and Polyjet. In this post, I’m going to outline the strengths and weaknesses of each 3D printing technology, to help you choose the best one for your prototyping needs. Picking the Right Technology Similar to picking the right material, understanding your technology options […]

This quick start guide is designed to you help you become familiar with Fictiv’s online tools for 3D printing. Read on for a step-by-step guide to help you: Properly prepare your CAD files Export your files with the correct settings Upload your files to Fictiv Choose the right 3D printing material Step 1: Prepare Your CAD […]

We have a brand new uploader and it’s going to make your life a lot easier — promise. Now, you can upload your files just once and get unlimited quotes for all variations of materials, colors, and production speeds. To help you get started, here’s a step-by-step guide on how the process works: Step 1: […]

Introduction: A Brief History of IoT In 1926, inventor and futurist Nikola Tesla remarked upon the potential power of wireless technology to eliminate social problems arising out of the natural distance that exists between individuals and groups of people: “When wireless is perfectly applied the whole earth will be converted into a huge brain, which […]

The advent of 3D-printable transparent materials has opened doors to new possibilities with rapid prototyping for optical applications. Now, we can consider how to use and manipulate light in 3D printed parts. Light pipes, sometimes referred to as light guides or light tubes, are physical components used to purposefully redirect or transport light from a […]

Just having the right tool doesn’t mean you’re necessarily getting the most out of it. Here are 3 best practices to help you get started using your chosen CAD software effectively. 1. Keep it Simple With digital tools, it’s easy to create intricate features that look great but are unnecessarily, and unrealistically, complex. So before […]

Now that 3D printing is a more developed technology, the advantages it offers in the mechanical world are vast. But the power of 3D printing isn’t limited to building car parts and iPhone cases. When its vast capabilities of personalization and customization are applied to the medical field, the results are continuously pushing boundaries. From […]