3D3DSay Hello →
Blog · Field Notes

Notes From the Shop & the Water.

Field notes from the shop and the water: materials that survive saltwater, parts that don't exist anymore, printer guides, and the stories behind 3D3D.

The Winch Cup Holder, and Other Parts That Make Crews HappySmall quality-of-life prints that earn their place aboard.Fabrication · March 25, 2026 · 4 minThe 10 Best 3D Printers to Buy in March 2026Current Canadian prices, honest assessments, and printer setup that gets you working on day one.3D Printers · March 23, 2026 · 10 minStop Buying 3D Prints from Amazon, Etsy, and TemuWhy buying local manufacturing is an economic infrastructure decision.Manufacturing · March 22, 2026 · 8 minWhy Distributed Manufacturing WorksLocal production, shared designs, and parts made near where they're needed.Community · March 19, 2026 · 4 minHow 3D Printing Helps People Who Have NothingDisaster relief, remote communities, open-source designs, and humanitarian manufacturing.Community · March 18, 2026 · 5 minThe 3D Printing Breakthroughs of Early 2026New printers, new materials, industry shifts, and what actually changed.3D Printing · March 15, 2026 · 6 minMakers Across Atlantic CanadaFrom Moncton to Halifax, St. John's to Charlottetown: the regional making community and where we fit.Community · March 14, 2026 · 4 minMaterial Guide: PLA vs PETG vs TPUPLA for precision, PETG for durability, TPU for flex, and when to use each.Materials · March 10, 2026 · 7 min3D Printing for Classic Car RestorationBringing back parts that don't exist anymore: knobs, brackets, trim pieces, and functional components.Automotive · March 8, 2026 · 5 minCase Study: Custom Winch Components for Offshore SailingThe problem, material selection, design process, and result for a real marine fabrication job.Case Study · March 5, 2026 · 6 minWhy Ko-fi and How Support Gets UsedFull transparency on materials, boat prep, and operating costs.Community · February 25, 2026 · 4 minTwo Days Solo on the Saint John RiverSolo sailing on the Saint John River: what it proved and what it taught.Sailing · February 15, 2026 · 5 minChristopher Stanmore-Major: The Captain Behind It AllWho CSM is, the sailing partnership, and why he's the reason 3D3D ever touched a boat.People · February 5, 2026 · 5 minCarbon Fibre Filaments: What They Actually DoPETG-CF, PA-CF, PPA-CF: expectations vs. reality, and when CF compounds are worth it.Materials · January 20, 2026 · 6 minHow to Ship a 3D Printer Without Destroying ItPractical packaging, crating, and shipping notes for printer relocation or deployment.Guides · January 5, 2026 · 5 minPEEK and PPS: The Materials That Change EverythingAerospace-grade, chemical-resistant, 250 C capable materials and what actually matters.Materials · December 18, 2025 · 6 minThe Files Are Open. Here Is Why.Open-source philosophy, free downloads, shared knowledge, and why giving away files can still build trust.Community · December 1, 2025 · 5 minFly-In Printer Setup and TrainingOn-site printer setup, training, and configuration for people who need the machine working on day one.Services · November 10, 2025 · 4 minWhat We Learned at the Rolex Fastnet RaceThe centenary edition of one of the world's premier offshore races: what breaks, what holds, and how it shapes the work.Sailing · October 20, 2025 · 6 minASA: The Filament Nobody Talks AboutUV-stable, weather-resistant, outdoor-capable. ASA is the quiet workhorse.Materials · September 5, 2025 · 5 minFly Us to Your ProblemField capability: bringing fabrication to your location, your event, your boat.Services · August 1, 2025 · 4 minThe Part Doesn't Exist Anymore. We Make It Exist.Rebuilding discontinued components and bringing dead parts back to life.Fabrication · July 14, 2025 · 5 minFrom Drag Cars to 3D Printers: Why Mechanics Make Better FabricatorsYears of turning wrenches teach what breaks, what holds, and what matters in a functional part.Automotive · June 25, 2025 · 5 minWhat Actually Survives Saltwater: A Material Reality CheckNot all filaments are created equal. ASA, PETG-CF, TPU: what works offshore and what fails by August.Materials · June 8, 2025 · 6 minOur Founder's First Sail Was a Category-One StormLunenburg to Antigua, two-man crew, 75-knot sustained winds. What it taught us about fabrication.Sailing · May 20, 2025 · 7 minWe Started a Fabrication Company in an RVPrinters, a generator, $30 a day in gas, 35-degree heat. The origin story of 3D3D.Story · May 2, 2025 · 6 min

Got a part nobody sells anymore?

Get a Quoteinfo@3d3d.ca