Years ago I wrote a PHP script to download photographs from Flickr. That was the previous time the company changed hands, when it was sold to Yahoo! I am not sure I want to keep my photos on Flickr again so I brought my script up to date and made it iterate through all my albums so I could download everything in original resolution. Check it out. [Read more…]
Know Anyone Who Wants to Learn Frustration-Free 3D Printing?
Beginners to 3D printing often find their enthusiasm flames out when they realize that the rainbows and unicorns they have been sold are imaginary, so I wanted to put some of those mythical creatures to rest, and offer some hope for the fresh-newbies who want to avoid all the unicorn poop, and 3d print with fewer stresses and hassles.
Sound good? Let’s begin! [Read more…]
Filament Review
A Canadian filament company sent me a couple of spools to review but I can no longer support them so all references to the company are removed. [Read more…]
In Defence of ABS
ABS gets a rough rap in the 3d printing community, so I wanted to give a small defence of ABS filament for your 3d printer consideration …
[Read more…]
June Newsletter
June! Which means summer, which means warm weather, which means making things with the blinds shut and aircon on 😉
Biggest news around Maker Hacks is the 3D Printing Workshop pre-order customers got the first beta of the 100 page Module 1 ebook yesterday. So far feedback has been extremely positive, but please keep it coming because as I build out the rest of the workshop emails and videos I want to create the content YOU need 🙂
While I am building the course you can still pay whatever you want, whatever you think is fair – even in bitcoin now! – and when it is all done the price future customers pay will go up substantially 🙂
Maker Hacks on Adafruit!? They liked my 3D Printed, Raspberry Pi Powered, Doctor Who Tardis!

Doctor Who, Raspberry Pi AND 3D printing fans will love this 3D Printed Tardis, powered by Raspberry Pi, that can play all the sounds effects from the show!
Nylon 3D Printing Filament is Awesome!
Nylon 3d printing filament is not as popular as PLA or ABS, but after giving it some serious use recently I wanted to implore you to at least try it.
5 Ways to Bond and Glue 3D Printed Parts

Finishing is an important part of 3d printing, but how do you combine, glue, and bond your 3d printed parts to get a 3d printing result you can be proud of?
3D Printed (HIPS) Solar System
A scale model of the solar system, 3d printed in white Inksmith HIPS filament – how well does HIPS work and why would you consider it for your 3d printing?
Anet A8 $200 (or less!) 3D Printer Kit Review
The Anet A8 is a $200 (or less!) 3d printer kit. In this review we answer the question how good could a sub-$200 prusa i3 clone 3d printer kit actually be?
Coming up at Maker Hacks: more robot lessons, more projects and reviews on the blog, and of course, more 3D Workshop modules!
Happy Making!
– Chris G
Nylon 3D Printing Filament is Awesome!
Nylon 3d printing filament is not at all popular with regular 3d printers, and for good reason, but after giving it some serious use recently I wanted to implore you to at least try it.
Why? Let’s take a look … [Read more…]
5 Ways to Bond and Glue 3D Printed Parts
Finishing 3D prints is as important to getting a good final 3D print as dialling the printer in. One way to get a good outcome is to create your print in multi-part assemblies, but how do you combine them to get a 3d printing result you can be proud of? [Read more…]
3D Printed (HIPS) Solar System
With most people who own 3d printers, at some point you are going to get asked to print something. Fortunately I know more interesting people than those who want spinners making (before anyone asks, no, I will not). My friend Ted is a teacher and he tends to come up with interesting and nerdy-fun requests, and this one was no exception – a scale model of the solar system! [Read more…]
3D Printed, Raspberry Pi Powered, Doctor Who Tardis
Doctor Who’s Tardis is iconic. I love the various 3d prints I have made of it over the years, I have a couple of smaller Arduino versions of the Tardis that light up and make sounds right here, but this one has to be my favourite Tardis, and 3d print for that matter (so far!).
When I shared to the 3d printing groups, so many people wanted to make one, I thought I would put together a quick guide 🙂
Check out how quick and easy it is to make your own, and please do share your creations with me! Let’s take a look now …. [Read more…]
Anet A8 Review – Budget ($200 or less!) 3D Printer Kit Review
“Review the Anet A8 3D printer kit, 220mm x 220mm for $200 (or less)“, they asked. So I take a look. Prusa-style printer. Lots of social media mentions. Some nice community prints. Meets that magic “3d printer for under $300” checkbox.
Heck yeah, I will review one of those 3d printer kits Mr Gearbest – free 3d printer, even if just for parts? Sign me right up!
Of course, part of me is skeptical. Yeah, lots of people like this guy, but how good could a sub-$200 prusa i3 clone 3d printer kit actually be? Would all the parts be in the package? Would it arrive in good condition? (The 3d printer is after all mostly acrylic …). How well would it actually 3d print?
Only one way to find out! I gladly accepted the challenge and awaited my A8 kit in the mail … Read on to find out what it is like in reality …. [Read more…]