DIY!! 3D Printed Ergonomic Keyboards for the Uncompromising Typist…

If you are a mechanical geek you surely might be having insights about the  Reddit Mechanical Keyboard community.

Yeah, a whole community just talking, making and sharing their split keyboards!! Now the question that arises is why do we need a mechanical keyboard? Most manufacturers make keyboards from one circuit board and use what many describe as mushy buttons. A mechanical keyboard uses individual switches on each key and many people claim it is not only much more satisfying to type but also more accurate and faster.

But mechanical keyboards are not much common but there is a community which loves making their own keyboard. Some people get kits and assemble them together or all the parts and fix them properly and some 3D Print the framework and attach the required electronics. When it comes to customizing the keyboards, DIY works the best and so here are the Keyboard you can print them out.

Dactyl Keyboard

The Dactyl keyboard contains two distinctly curved keyboard segments, it sounds a little weird and is a little weird but Dactyl Keyboards are future.Dactyl, the name itself refers to an object curved to fit the natural shape of the hand, so it’s almost like an optimized version of an ergonomic keyboard.

The Developer of the keyboard is Matt Adereth, he is a tool and infrastructure builder and a mad keyboard collector.Now the good thing is it’s also a mechanical keyboard.Over the decades you might have noticed the clicking sounds and physical satisfaction has been decreased, that’s because the IBM type classic keyboards have phased out, instead, we are all using less expensive, spill-proof keyboards packed with rubber membranes that do all the work for us.

The Dactyl keyboard is inspired from the  Kinesis Advantage. “The layout is very similar [to that of the Kinesis Advantage] and quite comfortable. I’ve got the thumb cluster a little closer and angled and I think it makes it nicer. The only problem right now is the lack of palm rest, which some ergonomics folks think is actually a good thing. I’m working on one next,” he tells his fans.If you’re interested, you can actually build one of these amazing keyboards yourself with the help of Matt’s GitHub files, but there isn’t really a detailed guide available. And the best printer and PCB for printing this keyboard is available at Geeetech.

Keyboardio

If you are an uncompromising typist and spend most of the hours on the computer then this is just the right keyboard for you.It is one of the heavier keyboards in the list which is made of wood and adds a character to your keyboard.It ages gracefully without looking dirty and a slob.

The company mills the Model 01’s enclosure from two blocks of solid maple and use mechanical keyswitches similar to those found in the original Apple II. The keycaps are all custom sculpted, the 64 keycaps make fingers guide to the right key.The base keyboard can be laid flat, split, tented, or setup tripod style.

Other features include fully programmable LEDs, true N-key rollover (NKRO) which is for folks that need to press more than 6 keys at once, and application-specific macros.The high-quality keyswitches make the soul of the keyboard lively. Get to know more about Keyboardio and print it out by yourself.

Mitosis Keyboard

A wireless split ergonomic keyboard which you can totally do it yourself.The designer has posted up the source and design files on this Reddit thread including PCB manufacturing files, Lasercutting files, Wireless firmware, QMK source, PDF Schematics, PCB design files and Parts list with suppliers. The creator says learning to make a DIY keyboard is a bit difficult but it was a bit simple.

Thumb clusters were the part of his plan but used to get pinky pain after long typing sessions. The benefit of a completely different system is that he could still touch type QWERTY, something in his brain just switches right back when touches a row staggered keyboard.

Shortcut Ergonomic Gaming Keyboard

A fully customized keyboard for all the gaming freaks out there.The main features of this keyboard are Thumb cluster,hand-shaped design, split keyboard, and a configurable layout. Know more about the keyboard on their blog.

These keyboards might have convinced you to start making one yourself, so what are you waiting for? Just get the right printer that will satisfy all your needs and the right PCB and other accessories required and start printing. We suggest you the Geeetech Prusa I3 will be the best for printing a user-friendly and elegant keyboard.

Credits: Reddit.com,allthingsergo.com,youtube.com, shortcut.gg.

We bet you didn’t know these 3D printed accessories even exist!

The sky is the limit when it comes to creativity, and 3D printing is no exception to this. You may have a unique idea in your mind and if you can find the right tools then you can 3D print your design and share it with the world too. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the fun and quirky accessories designed by people all over the world!

Wearable Planter Jewelry

Love plants? You can now take your precious plants with you wherever you go thanks to these unique jewelry planters made by Colleen Jordan. The pendant itself is a miniature vase with holes through it which you can attach a cord. So simple yet so creative!  You can make your very own Vase pendant thanks to files available on Thingiverse here.

And if you’re looking for a pair of earrings to match then Colleen has you covered with these tiny beads that can be used as mini planters. Just print it out, add your plant and take your lil’ buddy with you on your adventures! Find these wearable planter beads here.

Neckties

While 3D printed clothing hasn’t taken over our closets yet, we’ll admit we’re pretty fascinated with the concept. And one thing we can’t wait to try are these 3d printed neckties that are quirky, cool and definitely a topic of conversation.

What’s so special about them? For starters, you don’t have to struggle with tying that tricky knot. All you need to do is slip them on. The tie itself is made from pieces of PLA linked together in such a way that they’re flexible but also very durable. Creator Boris Rabinovich even put them to the test by tossing them in the washing machine but they returned unscathed!

Tapestry Eyeglasses

3D Printing your eye-glasses are cool but how about taking making it a fun art project too?

Chloe McCormick and Nicholas O’Donnell-Hoare collaborated to create these cute and quirky eye-glasses which can be customized to suit your need! All you need are your favorite colors of yarn.

There are holes included in the frame of these eye-glasses so you can weave your own pattern using different colored yarn. A pair of glasses and a fun DIY project all in one, we really want to try these out.

Geometric Jewelry

As stunning as it looks, whats really impressive about 3D printed jewelry is you can print out these designs not only in PLA and ABS but also in metals which is really revolutionizing the way we look at jewelry.

Traditional gold and silver designs are now making way for geometric patterns that are minimalistic yet stunning to look at. In fact, they almost like jewelry of the future!

Bowties

If your friends and family didn’t know just how much you love 3d printing, then they definitely will once you turn up to an event wearing this. These intricate bow ties are much easier to wear than their traditional counterparts but we’re not complaining.

Since 3d printing is all about unleashing your creative ideas the possibilities are limitless. Check out Thingiverse for some quirky designs or buy one online. You can even sit down and design your very own design and flaunt your love for 3d printing!

Cufflinks

One of the most magical moments as a 3D printing enthusiast is when you realize you can 3D print literally ANYTHING onto the most mundane objects and breathe life into them all over again. And these Batman cufflinks are the perfect example. Luckily you can print your very own thanks to the files available on Thingiverse. Find them here

Credits: thingiverse.com, inhabitat.com, my23skidoo.wordpress.com, meltewerk.com

You Can’t Miss These 10 Brilliant Home Decor Ideas!

When you start with 3D Printing, the first thing you do is start printing out small and easy items and then slowly move to a higher level to become a pro. The most basic things that you can start with are the home decor novelties where you can show enough of creativity and innovation. Initiate with certain simple tricks to handle household chores and make things at home exciting rather than mundane. Everyone loves to visit a home that feels lively and pleasing to the eyes.

Thus we have got some better ideas for you to start with 3D Printing:

Lampshades 

When we think about decorating the house, the first thing that comes to mind is having lampshades that will give a classy and subtle look to the environment. Moreover, we also want the shades to match with the color of our walls.

The challenging part here is the color combination that would go with the interior of the room. That depends upon whether you want an antique look or a modern one. These essentials are abundant and mostly inspired by natural shapes thus printing them out is a little critical task. You can buy these exquisite lampshades and vases at Shapeways.

Cute Vases

This would be intended for an actual bonsai tree, but the root-shaped planter is cool enough for just about any plant.Don’t you think it would be really cool with a tall growing shrub of some kind, and if it can be printed in a water-safe material would look great outdoors in a garden. If you have the printing volume on your 3D printer it would even be cool to scale the model up a few sizes to really look dramatic.Get this design on Myminifactory.

Egg Holder

Make your breakfast more fun with these delicate egg holder designs. Even if you are not a morning person you have something to start off your day with a smile. You can get this intricate egg holder on  Shapeways.

Wall outlet shelf

This shelf is available on Thingiverse and is a need for most of us. While charging our phones if the socket is at a certain height and the cable is of short length then placing your phone needs a support. This simple need generated the innovation of wall outlet shelf. Put the shelf on the socket so that you can prop the phone while charging.This model also has an angled slot that holds your smartphone and tablets in an upright viewing position.

Chandelier

You can have these cool stuff to light up your room rather than a normal bulb. These wall chandeliers glow up to give your home a pleasant feel.Why use those traditional boring bulbs if you can replace them with your own 3D Printed designs and mostly better ones. Artist Linlin and Pierre Yves crafted animal sculptures with advanced lighting effects to give a traditional and refreshing environment to the whole room.

Self Watering Plant

This is the exact environment that your plant needs and also gives you the relief from watering it regularly.It’s super easy to use: just plant your favorite herb or another water-intensive plant, add water, and you’re all set.The Self-Watering Planter was designed to be 3D printed, easy to setup, use, and clean; while at the same time allow for customization through mixing and matching different colors for the pot and reservoir. You can get the plant here at cults. Or you can get the cute octopus-shaped one.

The Intelligent Seating

Your traditional sofa takes up too much of space and is too heavy to place it around if you think about rearranging the room and place things differently.Thus the artist  Janne Kyttanen 3D printed out a Geometric Mesh Sofa which can be easily lifted and weighs just 5.6 pounds.So you can 3D print all your furniture too. Thus the whole environment you stay in will be mostly 3D printed which6 is the best thing ever.

Picture Frames

3D print the perfect picture frames that will give your wall a perfect cozy look so that you become happy when you see your pictures attached to the wall in these cute frames. You can choose the color you want and can experiment with the colors to make a new combination that matches perfectly with the color of your wall.Design the ultimate gallery wall on a computer and let all of your house guests observe the magic of 3D printing.

Soap Case

This elegant soap case which is present in two different pieces is totally washable and customizable. You can create your own design for the inner piece of the box and have an altogether new soap case whenever you are bored with the previous one. You can get this design on cults.

U Hooks

These hooks can carry mass weight. They were tested by hanging almost 47.4 kg of books to them and yet none broke. You can get the CAD files and design your own U Hooks with the color you want. They can be used for many purposes and won’t even break easily and also require less filament for making. You can buy these hooks at Thingiverse.

As you see that these home decor novelties are too easy to 3D Print and also makes you an innovative thinker.So why wait to get into 3D Printing.It starts right here at Geeetech, get a cool printer and print all that you wish for.

Credits: cults.com, thingiverse.com, 3ders.org, all3dp.com,protoparadigm.com.

3D Printing in 2018? Here’s what we can expect for the year to come!

The advancements in 3D printing in the year 2017 have truly amazed us so its safe to say we can expect a lot more in the year to come! Prepare to be blown away and take a look at some of the projects already in process. Here are some of the cool things we can expect in 2018!

Customizable Printing Materials

Almost everything that can be printed in 3D can also be personalized. With the help of 3d printing, doctors and medical experts are already creating bone replacements which are fully customized for each patient. Apart from this, experts are already experimenting with 3D printing using Graphene, a flexible and transparent substance, stronger than steel.

Markforged, a Boston-based company, has just released new Composite 3D printing technology which prints tools and manufacturing parts with incredible strength. Fully functioning metal parts can be printed in under 24 hours with their new Metal X 3D printing system. The tool promises to save money and time, especially for the manufacturing industry.

Nano-Printing

Nano-printing involves the printing of particles invisible to the naked eye. These particles, which are only a few atoms thick, could possibly transform electronics as we know them. These tiny printed particles are currently being tested to produce powerful batteries, and provide further processing power for devices.

Along with this, nano-printing is also in telescopes and microscopes to increase the optic power. According to Nanowerk.com, “these nanosensors can enhance the microscopes’ sensitivity and detection speed by miniaturizing their detection component up to 100 times”.

Smart Robotic Arms

In Belgium, students are in the process of creating a robotic arm which will be able to interpret and translate sign language. The birth of the idea came to be as a result of the small number of sign language translators available in the world.  Thus far, the machine can take text and translate it into fingerspelling. The project still has a long way to go, but could significantly impact the hearing-impaired community.

3D Printing in Nuclear Industry- First 3D printed nuclear reactor fuel part by 2018

Power company Westinghouse plans to be the first to install a 3D printed fuel part in a commercial nuclear reactor by Fall 2018. The current plans are to install a thimble plugging device, made of AM 316L stainless steel and non-AM 304, in a commercial reactor. With support from the U.S Department of Energy, this 3D printing milestone will soon be a reality and it is currently in the process of researching various different additive manufacturing processes.

3D printed steel bridge in Amsterdam

MX3D, a robotic additive manufacturing company based in Amsterdam, is set to complete printing its steel bridge by June, next year. The bridge is already 1/3 complete and has been designed by Joris Laarman and funded by Autodesk.

What distinguishes this technology from traditional 3D printing methods is the application of the ‘printing outside the box’ principle. The printing is done by 6-axis robot arms, which means you are no longer restricted to a square box in which everything takes place.

4D Printing

We were only beginning to wrap our heads around 3D printing and now we hear that 4D printing has arrived to take it further. What is 4D Printing, you ask? It is generally considered a part of 3D printing, however, 4D printed materials will be able to adapt to their environments and transform after they have been constructed. This programmable matter can react to outside factors like environment, head, humidity, etc.

All in all 2018 is sure to bring us a lot of surprises and we can’t wait. And if you still down own a 3D Printing and are afraid of missing out, don’t worry! Just take a look at some of our Best 3D Printers and get printing!

Credits- 3ders.org, 3dprintingstocks.com, oddstuffmagazine.com, hackaday.com, eteknix.com

Here’s How To Get The Best Print Quality From Your 3D Printer

We’re all looking to get the best out of our 3D printers and sometimes a few tricks can go a long way. Whether a professional or hobbyist, here are some tips to get better results and avoid commonly faced 3D printing quality issues.

1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions while setting up the 3D printer

This may seem obvious but it’s important to keep all the instructions in mind when setting up your printer. Setting up a 3D printer isn’t as easy as it sounds. Always read and follow the manufacturer’s setup instructions step by step as there may be straps or brackets inside that you need to remove.

Also, use the manufacturer’s recommendations for software settings and print settings.

2. Update the printer firmware and software frequently

Printer manufacturers constantly try to improve the firmware and the printer software/slicer in order to fix errors and improve the functionality. So, check for updates regularly and install them. Turn on your printer’s auto-update feature to make sure that your software is always up to date.

3. Keep your 3D printer well maintained and calibrated

Before you start a print, check that all screws are firmly fixed, that no belts or pulleys are loose.

Also, do the maintenance procedures the printer manufacturer recommends. The parts of a 3D printer are constantly moving, heating up and subsequently cooling down. Neglecting maintenance of these parts will lead them to break and will have to replace them.

4. Clean the print bed well

Its quite common to find fingerprints left behind on a print bed, especially when prying off designs from the print bed. Unfortunately, these stains do not let the filament stick properly on the print bed for the next print. You can clean them off easily with a lint-free cloth and rubbing alcohol.

Remnants of printed pieces on the bed also impair new prints: Remove them before starting a new print.

5. Make sure the print bed is level

If the print bed is not leveled, the printhead cannot adjust itself. A bad bed level may cause warping of the first few layers and compromise bed adhesion. Another result is that the bottom surface does not come out smoothly.

Levelling the print bed does not mean making it level to the surface on which the printer is placed. The purpose of leveling is to make sure the printhead always stays parallel to the printed.

If the distance between the nozzle and the printed varies while one layer is printed, the filament may fail to stick (if the distance is too big) or the filament may clog the nozzle causing the printer to jam (if the distance is too short).

Leveling your print bed depends on your printer and printer software.

6. Adjust the gap between the nozzle and the bed

As already mentioned the distance between the nozzle and the bed needs to be set correctly, or else the printed pieces will have flaws. Again, consult the printer documentation for information on how to set the distance and which distance to choose.

7. Smaller is better

A handy tip for those who are new to 3D printing- Start small. Working on bigger prints that take 6 hours only to have it fail can be very frustrating. Also, do not print several pieces at a time.

When you construct models on your own, it is a good idea to print out the tricky parts separately to test whether they come out as you want them. So you won’t have to throw away the entire model when the tricky part goes wrong.

8: Improve print bed adhesion

Warping of your print design can take place when the first few layers do not stick properly to the print bed. To improve the adhesion of the filament, we recommend you coat the bed with Kapton tape or masking tape (masking tape is fine for PLA filaments, Kapton is better when printing ABS filament as Kapton withstands higher temperatures). You may also apply glue or hairspray to the bed (either directly on the glass plate or on the tape).

9: Check the bottom layers

3D printing is a long process which can take hours and hours to finish. But it’s the very first layers of your print that determine whether the print will be successful. If the first layers do not come out right, we recommend you abort the print process – this saves time and print material.

10: Finally, be patient

Hang in there and don’t let the first print failures demotivate you. High-quality output takes time and practice. Enjoy the journey of 3D printing!

Take a look at some of our coolest 3D printers to make your work much easier!

Credits- ultimaker.com, youtube.com, commons.wikimedia.org, tinkerine.freshdesk.com

10 Awesome 3D Print Designs That Are Perfect For Your Office!

3D printing has been gathering a lot of momentum in all fields of work. But what makes 3D printing, even more, fun is when you create stuff that’s actually functional and you can use on a daily basis. This post is all about printing cool stuff that you can use at your workplace. Thank us later!

Cable holder clip

Tangled cables are everyone’s worst nightmare and definitely don’t belong on the office desk. These simple and cute cable holders will keep the chaos of unruly wires far away and let you carry on with your work!

Simply attach these to your desk and you’re all set!

The design is available on Thingiverse and you can download it here.

T-Rex Pen holder

Yep, we all need pen holders but no one said we had to stick to the boring ones right? This adorable and creative T-Rex pen holder will not only keep your pen in place but will also add a touch of fun to your otherwise boring workspace(sorry!)

Find this cool design here

Headphones Hanger

A perfect design id your headphone wires always end up in a tangle. You can take your love of music right to your office desk with this handy little hanger. For those who love working with music, the headphone holder is a nice item to have for it provides you with a place to store your headphones when they are not in use. With a hanger, they’ll be instantly accessible and untangled!

Check out the design here

Business Card Holder

Gone are the days when displaying your business cards had to look boring. This card holder is  designed to provide you with a rather creative holder to keep your cards in tact. And apart from getting the work done it also serves as a desk ornament!

Take a look at the design here

Robot desk organizer

If you’re looking for a desk organizer then why not give this multifunctional robot a try? It may look cute but this robot means business! It functions as a smartphone dock, card holder, pen holder and even has a few drawers to hold your wayward pins. We’re impressed!

Get it from Thingiverse- here

Geometric pencil holder

Create a home for all the stray pencils lying around your desk with this geometric pencil holder known as the “buckyball pencil holder”. With its intricate design, it’s sure to make your desk look really artsy and cool AF!

Another one from Thingiverse, click here to download this print.

iPhone Dock

 

Let’s be honest, your desk could definitely use a smartphone dock just to make things easier and it definitely adds a “professional” touch. So we found the perfect one for you. Named as “Sonoro” this iPhone dock is another useful design available on Thingiverse. Oh! and it also works as an amplifier too! Ain’t that cool?

Download it here

Cable spool

You’re lying if you say that tangled up wires all around don’t scare you. As the name suggests, this spool is for winding your cables so they won’t get entangled. You can print out a few and keep all your cables and wires neat and organized. Maybe even use them as an earphone holder! Has your desk ever looked so clean and orderly?

Find the design for this cute spool here

SD Card Organiser

You may have seen similar holders with either, slots for your SD card or pen drives but this one goes one step further! You can even stick your microSD cards in here!

Thanks to this efficient card holder, you won’t have to scurry around looking for your pen drives and SD cards any more! Finally, a place where you can keep them all in one place! It holds up to 8 USB sticks and SD cards each as well as 15 MicroSD cards.

Click here to get it from Thingiverse

Desk light

Lights are often at the centre of the room – so make your lighting a true centerpiece. The minimalistic design of this lamp is perfect for your desk.

Available on Thingiverse, you can find it here

Now all you need to get going is a 3D printer to make all these and many more cool designs for your workplace. Check out a wide array of 3D printers at our Store

Credits- Thingiverse, all3dp.com