Recently my Snapmaker Power Supply died. Although it was under warranty and quickly replaced by Snapmaker, I chose to replace it with a third party upgrade. The Power Supply I picked has no fan (super quiet), more power, and even came overnight. Unfortunately there are some drawbacks. Specifically, Snapmaker will likely void your warranty and my new Power Supply does not support power loss recovery. In this guide I talk through how I upgraded my Snapmaker Power Supply. Interested in Snapmaker? Checkout their shop! Also, stay tuned for a Youtube video explanation! Pros and Cons One of the first ..read more

My most recent project is a Mancala Board! It’s a simple project, but perfect for a Fusion 360 CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) and CNC tutorial. In this project I use the Snapmaker 2.0, 3-in-1 for my CNC. It is the first time I have used a large bit and was able to do some limit testing. Follow along below or checkout the design files on MyMiniFactory. Fusion 360 CAD 3D Modeling The first step in this project is to 3D model the part. I used Fusion 360 for this task as it was an easy transition between modeling and generating the G-Code or Toolpath for the CNC. Unfortunately, my Snapmaker A ..read more

The Snapmaker CNC module has a few serious limitations. One of the most glaring problems is the inability to handle Bit or Tool Changes. Most serious CNC projects would benefit greatly from a proper automated tool change. That being said, it is possible to do a manual tool change for the same part. In this article, Snapmaker CNC Module Tool Change, I walk through this manual method. If you’re interested in the Mancala board project checkout my project write up. Or you can create it for yourself using my design files on MyMiniFactory. Using Fusion 360 for Tool Path Generation The first step ..read more

Old school board games have lots of character and are full of nostalgia. Since the pandemic has come around, I have had more time to sit and play games. Looking online, listings can range wildly from generic, affordable sets like this one to more luxurious sets like this one made with burnt pine! Nothing beats making your own custom game board. Because of this I have decided to start a series all about making them! The ‘Peg Game’ is a really common solitaire game made popular by the chain Cracker Barrel. It’s relatively simple to make a Peg Game and a whole lot of fun! There are three parts to ..read more

There are many different articles online regarding 3D Printing Hole Tolerance and general 3D Printing fit. I am not here to replace those with some magical new idea. But, I did want to share my thoughts. Specifically, I want to share my recent experience creating a clearance fit for an Antique Perpetual Calendar. This calendar has 4 wheels that freely spin over a dowel rod. Measured 3D Printing Hole Tolerance Instead of blindly following the articles, I decided to do a test. Basically I created a part with multiple holes at different sizes. This allowed me to directly feel the tolerance with ..read more

In the age of digital electronics, desk calendars have become a thing of the past. It is simply too easy to have appointments beamed straight to our phones. With this project my goal was to bring them back. With that in mind, I opted for an old school approach to mimic an antique, but classic design. This blog article is my guide on how to recreate an Antique Perpetual Calendar. 3D Design using Fusion 360 The first step in recreating the Antique Perpetual Calendar was to model each part in Fusion 360. Once modeled, I can export each part to be 3D Printed. For the base, I am able to directly ..read more

For some, the end of the year is full of stress and headaches. For others, it is a magical time to enjoy with friends, family, and loved ones. I personally love the Holidays… except for gift giving. Finding that perfect present is always a challenge. However, this year I am doing something a little different and customizing gifts for friends and family alike. Using my Snapmaker 2.0, I want to give you an easy tutorial on how to design a unique and amazing ornament that can be customized to fit anyone! My example will use my dog Renly. She is a huge part of my life which is why I wanted to crea ..read more

If you can’t tell, I love nerdy things. Fantasy and Sci-fi are my favorite genres of books, movies, and games. This, of course, is slowly spilling over into my making hobby. And combined with Christmas being right around the corner, it has given me the perfect excuse to expand my typical builds. This LOTR desk organizer is perfect for any fan. Plus it is very easy to modify and customize for someone. If you’re interested in downloading the design files, simply checkout my Thingiverse page! Making a LOTR Desk Organizer I got the inspiration for this design from a LOTR bag. Not going to lie ..read more

Fusion 360 recently made significant changes to their “Free for Personal Use” Version. Now that I have worked with the new version a bit, the biggest change I noticed was the local rendering. Basically it no longer utilizes the web to do complex calculations and instead relies on your computer. If you want to learn more about these changes checkout Make Or Break Shop who did an excellent breakdown. I have a fairly decent computer, but it by no means is top of the line. I am also guessing most people who use the “Free for Personal Use” version are in the same boat. Since the change, I hav ..read more

It really feels like I can make anything with my Snapmaker 2.0, 3-in-1 machine. Lately my projects have focused on the CNC module and frankly I am loving it. For this project I used Fusion 360 to model and generate the G-Code. Follow along with the video or below as I walk through how to make a Custom CNC Wood Map from in the world! Details Video: Project Video: Generate a Custom Map First, let’s jump to Snazzy Maps in your browser. Snazzy Maps uses Google Maps to generate custom maps from anywhere in the world. Click on the “Create a Style” in the top banner and start with the default. From ..read more