Welcome
Dale Dougherty
Page 08
Make: Volume 42 Annual 3D Printing Guide
From scrappy laser-cut wooden kits only a few years ago to today’s sleek-looking machines, desktop 3D printing continues to evolve into evermore consumer ready machines. Since there are so many uses and user types for 3D printers, from schools and teachers to product prototypes and engineers, our guiding question was never “which printer is best?” but was instead “which printer is right for you?” We tested 26 printers and judged performance through a series of different prints and tests. Check out our findings and find the best printer for your needs.
Then, get tips on printing movable parts in a single print, make sure to stick your first print layer from the start, and get the skinny on Local Motor’s fully 3D-printed car.
Plus, add glowing cyberpunk spikes to your favorite futuristic outfit, 3D print a pair of custom eyeglasses, build a adjustable-height modeling table on the cheap, and learn to pickle delicious beets and grapes. All this and more in Make: Volume 42!
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Table of Contents
COLUMNS
Reader Input
Page 10
Punks and Makers
Chris Anderson
How a music revolution powered the Maker Movement.Page 12
Wrongs and Rights
Michael Weinberg
For 3D printing, copyright may not mean what you think it does.Page 14
Made on Earth
Explore the amazing word of backyard technology.Page 16
Over the Top
Do you have a 3D-printed concrete castle in your backyard? Well, why not??Page 112
FEATURES
Heroes in the Making
Nathan Hurst
Disneyʼs new animated crime-fighters are armed with ingenuity and high-tech tools.Page 22
Raspberry Pi Inside
Matt Richardson
How the new compute module helps makers create embedded Linux products.Page 26
SPECIAL SECTION
3D Evolution
Anna Kaziuna France
Desktop 3D printers are slowly evolving, but do performances meet the expectations of their consumer-ready facades?Page 30
What Is Print Quality?
Andreas Bastain
Testing to failure is more informative than a visual inspection.Page 34
Print-in-Place: The Additive Holy Grail
Kacie Hultgren
3D print movable parts and joints.Page 36
3D Printer Buyer’s Guide
From hacker-friendly to consumer-ready, our experts review 26 3D printers.Page 38
SLA Analysis
It all comes down to resolution.Page 65
Fused-Filament Findings
Anna Kaziunas France and Kacie Hultgren
Conclusions, trends, and the best 3D printers on the market today.Page 66
The Standouts
The results are in, and we can confidently say these machines are top performers.Page 68
Arduino Gets Physical
Mike Senese
We take an early look at the Materia 101, Arduino’s first foray into 3D printers.Page 70
Ones to Watch
Craig Couden
Will this be the year that SLS machines make it to the desktop? Page 71
Rapid Roadster
Nathan Hurst
It’s drivable, with a fully 3D-printed body, and it’s available soon.Page 72
Untether Your 3D Printer
Matt Griffin
Host software lets you control your printer from anywhere on the web. Page 74
Stick It from the Start
John Abella
Tips for getting that great first layer and making sure your print stays put. Page 76
Rainbow Extrusion
Josh Ajima
Use Sharpies to snazz up your prints cheaply and easily.Page 77
10 Great Short Prints
John Abella
Fast demo prints in 30 minutes or less.Page 77
PROJECTS
Cyberpunk Spikes
Becky Stern and Phillip Burgess
3D-print these soft, flexible spikes and light them up with full-color programmable LEDs. Page 78
3D Printed Eyeglasses
Aaron Porterfield
Finally! Design and print your own custom specs.Page 82
3D Print Your Medical Scan
Luis Ibáñez
Prep CT images for printing, using only open-source software.Page 83
Boat Hitch Table
Dan Spangler
Make an adjustable-height modeling table like the pros, for hundreds less.Page 84
DIY Pickles: Beets and Grapes
Kelly McVicker and Wes Rowe
Quick and tasty, vinegar pickling is great for preserving a surprising variety of fruits and veggies.Page 86
Remaking History
William Gurstelle
A 15th-century English nun wrote the book on recreational fishing technology.Page 88
Universal Translator
Dave Conroy
Translate between thousands of language pairs with voice recognition, using the Raspberry Pi. Page 90
123 — Board Feet
Sean Michael Ragan and Julie West
Give your board a lift by adding legs built from off-the-shelf hardware.Page 91
The Kit That Launched the Tech Revolution
Forrest M. Mims III
We celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Altair 8800 microcomputer.Page 92
Make-an-Entrance Party Doorbell
Matt Richardson
Let your guests choose their own sound effects with wireless sensors and a Raspberry Pi.Page 94
Howtoons
Howtoons
Launch easy-to-make paper rockets using PVC pipe and an empty soda bottle.Page 95
Toy Inventor’s Notebook
Bob Knetzger
Assemble a kaleidoscope with built-in LEDs to turn any flat surface into a colorful trip.Page 96
SKILL BUILDERS
Glowing Recommendations
Charles Platt
Vintage components that add character to your creations.Page 98
Fun with Flexibles
Matt Stultz
Tips for 3D printing the stretchy stuff.Page 102
TOOLBOX
Tool Reviews
Recommendations for unique and useful maker tools, toys, and materials.Page 104
New Maker Tech
On the horizon for electronic accessories.Page 106
Books
Text tools for your bench or bedside table.Page 107
