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

The winner of the WTFFF 3D Print Business Mentorship contest is Kelechi Ojinnaka of Nigeria! We could not be more excited about the interesting challenges that face us as we help Kelechi build Afera3D into the largest 3D Printing service bureau in Africa. That is not a mistake - yes, his plan is for the whole continent! Kelechi is also a recipient of a Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) Grant and a recent participant in their Bootcamp so he is getting mentored from all over the globe. While our other finalists, Michael Williams and Eduardo Martini had great passion and plans as well, Kelechi's unique business and 3D Print challenges are not just business launch related because he also needs industry connections and has some technical problems to solve like how to overcome issues like 3D Printing with only an average 14 hours of power per day. Congratulations Kelechi! We look forward to working with you in the months to come and sharing your challenges and solutions with the WTFFF community. Read more about our contest and the finalists at http://hazzdesign.com/wtfffcontest/.

Who knew that picking one winner for our 3D Print Business Mentorship Contest could be so tough? Our three finalists all have a great business idea and passion for 3D Printing. The real debate might just be - Who can we help the most? READ THEIR PITCH: Eduardo Martini - Brazil The idea of the business is to produce and sell special gifts using a 3d printer and a laser cutter. The prices for toys and gifts are increasing and the ability to choose a thing that a person will like in the color she wants and have a laser cut card to go with it will be amazing. We will ship it nation wide. The product can be bought just printed or with an optional finishing like epoxy resign, acetone vapor, hand sanded, also available the option of airbrushing the product in different colors. On the website will be a rank of the most bought products and suggestions for special occasion. Kelechi Ojinnaka - Nigeria - Afera3D I am building Africa's best and leading 3D printing service bureau and 3D printing market place. We will provide online access to individuals and companies across Africa who desire to bring their creativity to life. We will be the continent's leader in providing the best solutions in 3D printing technology and services. We will be driven by innovation tailored towards exceeding our customers' expectation. With our strong knowledge of the local economy and our passion for 3D printing, we will build a service with global standards well suited for Africa. Our bureau will enable people from the most remote place have the ability to create and market their creativity. We are the future of Africa. We are Afera3D Technology. Michael Williams - USA - Melange.co My business will be a store front for all things crafted, with a makerspace in the background. I like to make things as well as teach others to make things. I plan to rent out shelf space to makers for selling or even just exhibiting. I want to have 3D printers available for people to see in operation, and for them to purchase. I want to have touch displays setup for customers to do simple customizations and order customized parts from them. I want the makerspace to be like the wizard behind the curtain. I feel the average consumer doesn't care how it's made, and too much detail may even scare them off. So we'd only show them down the rabbit hole, if they want to know how something is made. Stay tuned tomorrow for the winner. Who would you pick? LINKS IN THIS EPISODE Best Coast CreameryDo you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Imagine this: You're stuck in an elevator with the one person who could launch your business into the stratosphere. How do you convince them in two minutes about your lifetime of passion and hard work? What do you possibly say?! In this special "Ask Us Anything" segment, Tom and Tracy call upon their friend John Bokla of i3D Creatives/i3D Club to discuss special tips and tricks for pitching your business- and yourself. Whether its an investor or a mentor, these tips will help refine your ability to add value into any pitch and help grow your business. Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

So you have a great business idea! But how do you tell people about it? In fact, who do you tell about it? From social media planning to product release strategy, in this Ask Us Anything Segment, Tom and Tracy answer "How to Create Awareness About Your Business" as they discuss their successes and struggles in building brand awareness. Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

What are some traits that lead to your success? In this "Ask Us Anything" segment, Tom and Tracy discuss their unique habits that lead to their success in business. From an intricate eye for design to an insatiable appetite for reading, Tom and Tracy encourage you to think out of the box about what makes you successful in your field. Please share your "it factor" with us, everywhere on social media @hazzdesign. Let us know why you are you!  Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Does 3D Scanning open up a can of copyright concerns for you and your business? Probably, but you can be smart about it too. Tom & Tracy share some tips and pitfalls to avoid if you are offering 3D Scanning services or thinking about 3D scanning an item. Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Tom & Tracy go Hollywood - Hollywood 3D Printing that is - in order to understand full-body 3D Scanning from expert Miles Guidon. Explore the world of 3D scanning with Tom & Tracy as they each get scanned from head to toe. After listening to the podcast check out our show notes blog to see photos, screenshots, and a video of the process.  IN THIS EPISODE: How accurate are 3D scans? Options revealed 3D Scanning Tips for getting the best scan results Hardware and software overview Post processing pitfalls LINKS: Hollywood 3D Printing Stucture Sensor by Occipital Kinnect Artec 3D Geomagic Capture Faro Skanect Sketchfab Projet ZCorp Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Leave yourself a lot of time for the 3D Scan clean-up. We had our scans made in early May and just finished cleaning them up and improving them for the best 3D Print output possible. There are multiple areas that might need clean-up and repair like: 1) any blank or missing areas of data; 2) any misinterpretations of shadows or textures; and 3) any aesthetic improvements such as making Tracy taller or giving Tom more hair! LINKS: Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves with a 3D Scanner

How can you make your 3D scans turn out better so you can do less clean-up work? After all, the better the 3D Scan input, the better the 3D Print output. Miles Guidon of Hollywood 3D Printing gave us some tips as he scanned us for some fun mini-me's. We also share some tips of our own after going through the process and the lengthy 3D scan clean-up. LINKS: Hollywood 3D Printing Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Not really the kind of designers that use 3D Scanning, we had to go out and find the answers for you on this one. There are so many to choose from and so many price points right now. You can get an entry level 3D Scanner at about $149 on up. It really depends on what you plan to scan - after all it is always about the what! We discussed with Podcast #71 guest Miles Guidon of Hollywood 3D Printing on the simple equipment they used to make mini-me scans of us. LINKS: Occipital's Structure 3D Scanner Hollywood 3D Printing Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Hear exactly what did and didn't work for our Kickstarter campaign for more filament color as we reach the final 24 hours, including the ones we think are scams. LINKS: BackersHub ZaptoPress or Zep toPress NOTE: These links are not meant as an endorsement of any kind just as a reference for those discussed - you need to make your own judgements as to whether or not you want to take the risk with these soliciting companies. How many times have you asked your kids, wife or client to pick a 3D Print filament color only to have them be disappointed with the primary color selection? We ask ourselves every day - "Where the FFF is the filament color?!" Back our Kickstarter and get your own rolls of 6 custom colors. Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Guest Buzz Baldwin of 3D Print Life is well-versed in the day-to-day of 3D Print Sales. Selling business-to-business or business-to-school is well suited to a customer service friendly model of business like Buzz's and to the current adoption rate of 3D Print Technology. IN THIS EPISODE: The growing value of both great materials and content to assist in the sales process and customer satisfaction Premium (and good quality) materials are more important than low-cost Downloadable designs should be guaranteed printable Encrypt & remove technology and anti-piracy detection are growth areas - see Buzz's patents on the subjects LINKS: 3D Print Life Print Me a Stradivarius - The Economist Enviro ABS 3D Print Life EnviroABS Filament Colors RISD 3D Printing ID Future 20,000 Active 3D Printers article 3D Printing's Napster Moment - Left Shark Coho3D - Craig Walker Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Sustainable practices like zero waste are great business goals and 3D Printing fits right into that with no inventory, but is zero waste really a must-have? Toward that goal though, there are also many new materials that can be recycled, reused or that biodegrade make any green goals attainable. This includes this week's guest, Buzz Baldwin's new material Enviro biodegradable ABS. LINKS: Enviro ABS Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

Mixing 3D Printed parts with traditionally manufactured ones is not only possible but maybe the best solution for you business or your "what." Hear our ideas on why "hybrid" manufacturing is the biggest market opportunity in 3D Printing today. LINKS: Simplify3D Airwolf 3D Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.

How do we create our organic forms? The hard way...the award-winning 3D Printed Twist Tie was not a 3D Print math algorithm. The organic forms and our process for designing them is carefully sketched, modeled and planned. Hear about our process and why we believe organic forms resonate with consumers. LINKS: Rhino3D Bionomic Design Articles by Tracy: Fractals: What Nature Can Teach Design Bionomics: Green Building Benefits Do you have a question about 3D Printing? Record an Ask Us Anything at http://hazzdesign.com/ or Send Voicemail on our hazzdesign Facebook Page.