Part of what we do here at 3D Musketeers is help Inventors get their product ideas out of their heads and onto paper. This can be challenging at times, and often, we can point to a few different things that if the inventor would have had, their journey would have been less rocky! Often we will send them back out into the wild to collect this information as it is crucial to their success. What is it? Tune in to find out! Topics to Cover: Why some inventors succeed Why some inventors fail Most com...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 41 min
Just over 20 years ago the #RepRap project was started by Dr. Adrian Bowyer and ever since the consumer 3D printing industry has NEVER been the same! Being that RepRap just celebrated 20 years, lets talk all about hoe RepRap has shaped this community to what we see today! Topics to Cover: What is RepRap? Why should I care about RepRap? Is RepRap still around today? Will the ideals of RepRap survive? AND MORE!!! Looking for a stream to watch after we finish our stream, check out @SteveBuilds 's l...
Feb 12, 2024•1 hr 21 min
It is easy to take on more projects, saying YES is easy, saying NO is much more difficult! Join us as we discuss why this is a thing and how you can say NO more often to projects! Topics to cover: Why saying No sometimes for new projects is good When to say no vs yes How to find the right projects Over working as a cause of not saying no Why it is important to say no for newbies to 3D Printing AND MORE!!! Looking for a stream to watch after we finish our stream, check out @SteveBuilds 's latest ...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 27 min
Continuing on our topic of beginners in the industry, I wanted to share the things I wish I knew before I got my first 3D printer, both old school machines and more modern ones! Topics to cover: What I wish I knew before building my first 3d printer What I wish I knew before buying my first 3d printer How these would change with printers of today vs old school AND MORE!!! Looking for a stream to watch after we finish our stream, check out @SteveBuilds 's latest stream: https://www.youtube.com/wa...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Getting started 3D Printing is not always easy, and even machines that calibrate for you can get things wrong. We will break down some of the most common failure modes on printers for beginners and help you get back to printing with purpose! Also, it is my birthday on the 15th, so lets just hang out and chat some! We also have a whole series on this, called Print Fix Friday, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLba75jTQHMRQ7fexqlvq0rHG6UfuA_N-q Topics To Cover: Common pr...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 25 min
3D Printing itself is not as difficult as you think, but we see a VERY common pitfall in 3D Printing: Design. The tech around printers has gotten SO GOOD, but the learning curve for design is still pretty vertical. Knowledge bases are seemingly always outdated and getting started is daunting and with programs like @adskFusion changing their UI often, even tutorials a few months old are not very useful. So, let's talk about this, and how we may look to solve it, because unlocking your ability to ...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 44 min
Earlier this year we looked at the potential future of 3D Printing for 2023: https://youtube.com/live/OPfES2y0vyE?feature=share Let's see how I did and what we think is the future of 3D Printing in 2024! With an ever changing industry, the 3D Printing communities will certainly see a shift, but how and why?? Topics to cover: Multi color printing for the masses Cheap 3d scanners? More connected hardware Dreaded DRM 3D Printers as a commodity and appliance Looking for a stream to watch after we fi...
Jan 08, 2024•1 hr 46 min
With 2023 coming to a close it is time we visit the 3D Printers that we liked most this year, why we like them, and how they fit for your needs. Be it for business use or your first 3D Printer, choosing the right one is important. We have tried out a TON of machines this year and figured a good long chat is in order! Looking for a stream to watch before we go live, check out @SteveBuilds 's latest stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_iO21xT-oA __________________________________ Do you have ...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 34 min
It finally happened. After over 3 years of growing my hair out, we shaved it for charity, raising over $6000 USD for the Sanjay Mortimer Foundation! Anyone in fundraising knows how complicated it can be and often how thankless it can be as well, this was just the opposite! I will also be reading and thanking EACH donor personally here on the stream Join me to talk about what it takes to make a difference, why we chose to do it at SMRRF and more! Topics to cover: How this whole thing started Why ...
Dec 19, 2023•56 min
Recently I was on the @1440Makers stream in their Makers Making a Living panel alongside @cocoapress308 , @printedsolid 's David Randolph, @3DPrintingNerd , and @MChrisP1 of @_3DPrintopia where some really fun and interesting stories were shared about some of the trials and tribulations about trying to make a living as a maker. I figured it would make for a solo show as well, but if you all like this topic, we can definitely look to book a couple of the other panelists to get into the nitty grit...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 47 min
Patents, a dirty word in the 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing industries for hobbyists, but as you get closer to professional and industrial, they become a part of doing business. You can use a patent in a way that benefits a community as a whole or as a way to stifle competition and maintain market superiority. Let's talk about how patents can protect innovations and drive growth, particularly for small businesses transitioning from hobby to full-time ventures in the 'making' space. But t...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 27 min
In this episode, we delve into the pivotal role that customer feedback, through reviews and testimonials, plays in transforming a small business from a passion project to a full-time enterprise. We will examine the impact of such endorsements on credibility, digital presence, and consumer trust. Our business got a 1 star review this week, from someone we have never spoken to, and I do not know why. Basically, this started the thought process, so lets talk about it! Topics to cover: Why reviews a...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Let's talk about maintenance on your 3D Printers and why, as a hobbyist, doing it is incredibly important, but on print farms, you may opt to take a different route. All sparked from a conversation in our Discord, the idea that maintenance takes up way too much time for a small business became obvious and had us all talking about what we do and why. Topics to cover: Why should you do maintenance on your 3D Printer? What maintenance is more important than others? What about custom parts, what and...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 39 min
This week we dive back into the $$$ of running a business, with the difference between Markup and Margin. Knowing these terms is essential for any small business wanting to keep an eye on their finances, but not knowing what separates them, and why that matters can make you grossly overestimate your profit. We will give some examples, go through why the numbers may SOUND good, but why in reality, you probably did not charge enough. Topics to cover: Which is better, Markup or Margin? How markup i...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr 32 min
This week we will be interviewing the guys behind Rocky Mountain Rep Rap fest ( @rockymountainrrf ): Justin, Zach, and Mike. Together they came up with the idea of a festival surrounding 3D Printing in the Rocky Mountains and it went AMAZING, at least from an outsiders perspective! Let's talk with the team and learn what it REALLY takes to run one of these events the first time, things they would do different, and some tips and tricks if YOU want to run one yourself! Topics to cover: What went r...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 29 min
With the conclusion of the East Coast Rep Rap Festival 2023 a name change was announced. ERRF will now be called @_3DPrintopia which has some of us feeling both good and bad. The name makes sense, it is easier to explain, but is this the writing on the wall for REP RAP, or is this simply just a branding move? Topics to discuss: Why branding matters How a bad brand can hurt the cause Why a rebrand is tough Why a rebrand is sometimes needed. Why I think ERRF rebranded to 3DPrintopia AND MORE!!! __...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr 13 min
Contracts. No one likes them, some, recently of course, decide that they do not matter for them, and violate the deal. This is bad. Let's delve into the vital role that contracts play in our personal and professional lives. Join us as we explore why contracts are essential for clarity, trust, and legal protection in various contexts, from business partnerships to everyday transactions. Specifically Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA) and Media Embargoes have been at the forefront in the 3D Printing ...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Marketing. The thing that most makers say they hate or they are terrible at. I feel this. Let's go through best practices, how you can be unique, and how you can stand out amongst the competition. Even if you go into a market with competition already, as a new comer to that market, you can not only see what others are doing wrong, but also, how to stand out. What will set you apart may vary across businesses, but it is imperative if you want to be successful. Topics to cover: Deepening Brand Ide...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Season 3Ep. 52
Right to Repair is a BIG deal and 3D Printing is an industry where the "Fine I will just do it myself" kind of people will thrive. Giving control to repair back to the consumer turns the normal game of cat and mouse for parts around on the manufacturers, with some taking note, and others pushing back. 3D Printing shows that with a few hours or less on CAD, some filament and/or resin, you can solve a lot of problems around your house and feel empowered by not relying on companies to sell you the ...
Sep 19, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Season 3Ep. 51
This week we will get into dealing with problems! From bad communication, on either side, to simply getting it wrong, no maker business is safe from mistakes. How you deal with them will separate you from your competition! We will tackle the unexpected bumps in client relationships. Dive into firsthand accounts of missteps, and more importantly, our strategies for addressing and resolving them. From minor misunderstandings to major mix-ups, learn how to effectively deal with issues and fortify p...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 38 min•Season 3Ep. 50
This week let's dive into working with clients, dealing with deliverables, and ultimately Making Awesome with 3D Modeling and 3D Printing. From the initial onboarding to the final product delivery, let's dig into the best practices to foster fruitful collaborations while cautioning against common pitfalls. Topics to cover: Onboarding Communication, and how it can make or break this relationship Obtaining payment (we covered pricing enough I believe) Revisions and the dreaded scope creep Deliveri...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Season 3Ep. 49
This week we are talking with Dennis, Co Founder and CTO of @Thangs3D ! Thangs is the latest 3D Model repository to come up and they are doing some AMAZING things for designers! Ask Dennis ANYTHING about Thangs, it's future, and the parent company Physna! Some about Dennis: Dennis is the Co-founder, CTO at Thangs and 3D super nerd. Prior to Thangs, he had various product and leadership roles at Google, Microsoft and Disney. As a hobby, he spends time on children's causes. He's co-founded non-pro...
Aug 28, 2023•3 hr 24 min•Season 3Ep. 48
This week let's dive down the rabbit hole of designing for a living. 3D Modeling in programs like @AutodeskFusion360 , @PixologicZBrush , @BlenderOfficial , and others! There are some tricky things to navigate beyond just getting good in the programs themselves. Things like licensing, how to paywall properly, @Patreon vs. platforms like @Thangs3D , @Printablescom , @Myminifactory , @cults3d956 and others. These can be stressful and complicated, I will help make it more clear! Topics to cover: Wh...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 3Ep. 47
This week we have a VERY special guest for EPISODE 150 of The Making Awesome Podcast, @Nero3D ! You all know him, love him, and envy the beard, but let's meet the man behind the maker! Former Tool and Mold maker, falling into content creation was certainly not on Nero's radar, but because of Voron and the human malware, we are all graced with this awesome streamer! We have some fun topics to discuss: Why I need a voron yesterday! What is the hardest thing about building a voron? What is it like ...
Aug 14, 2023•2 hr 58 min•Season 3Ep. 46
This week lets talk all about what makes a good printer for a business and potentially crown a winner in certain price categories! A business has significantly different needs than a hobbyist, so a bone stock Ender 3 is definitely not a good buy! But what is?? Topics to cover: Features you NEED in a 3d printer Features you WANT in a 3d printer Major Manufacturer discussion Expensive and few, or cheap and many? Service Level Agreements Why the big printers cost what they do! AND MORE!! __________...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Season 3Ep. 45
This week we are joined by Elliott from @polycam6558 the MOST POPULAR app in #3dscanning ! Utilizing a combination of photos and LIDaR (when available) PolyCam is able to really push limits of mobile 3d scanning FROM YOUR POCKET!! Join us as we talk all about how the idea happened, why phones, and more! Some about Elliott: Elliot Spellman is the Co-Founder at Polycam - the most popular 3D scanning app for iOS, web, and Android with over 10M downloads. Since the launch of Polycam’s 360 capture fe...
Jul 31, 2023•2 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 44
This week we will talk all about one of the hardest things to deal with in a business: Time management. With having to do so many things, it can be hard to prioritize things for the time you have each day. Let's discuss some good techniques, and some easy pitfalls. Topics to cover: Prioritize tasks Set specific goals Create a schedule Time Blocking Anti Multitasking delegation (if possible) SAY NO!! Be mindful of yourself AND MORE!! __________________________________ Do you have an idea you want...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Season 3Ep. 43
This week is an interesting one, this conversation is sparked because we are losing a Musketeer. One of our staff is choosing to continue their pursuit of a doctorate degree and because of that, they are leaving the company, and it got me thinking, we have never discussed all this on the show before, so, no better time than now! Everyone, please with the best of luck to future Dr. Simona Rivero as she continues her journey through education! Topics to cover: How to hire someone? How to fire some...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Season 3Ep. 42
This week we are talking all about the importance of designing! If you are looking to start your own business doing 3D Printing, having some basic skills to make parts for your clients can definitely add to your bottom line, but there is more too it than skill alone. Topics to cover: Why knowing 3D Modeling is important? Which program should you start with? What are some of the basic skills you should work on first? What about outsourcing? Why bother to have knowledge when you can pay others? po...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 34 min•Season 3Ep. 41
This week we are going down the path of customer service. Since having some really poor experiences dealing with companies lately I would love to talk all about what is right, what is wrong, and how you, as a company, small or large, and keep your customers happy, even when things go wrong! Topics to Cover: What is appropriate for customer service? How to know if you are meeting the needs of your customers? How to find people to help do customer support How to train people to help your customers...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 39 min•Season 3Ep. 40
