I built BaseTrace because I had a very specific annoying problem and I suspect I'm not the only one. I wanted felt liners for the bottom of 3D printed parts — the flat face that sits on the build plate, cut out of felt on a laser. This adds a bit more of a premium feed to prints and protects surfaces. But getting that outline out of an STL by hand is fiddly and dull. 💀 So I build BaseTrace — https://basetrace.bytcoops.ca Upload an STL or 3MF, it finds the flat/planar faces, and gives you an SVG you can take straight into a laser cutter or vinyl cutter. Free, and no account needed. I built BaseTrace for my use case, but I am certain there are more out there and I bet you can fit it! If you've got a laser or a cutting machine, run something through it and tell me what breaks or if it's a total success!! 🏆 It's new enough that it isn't linked from the main site yet, so consider this the soft launch — this community gets it first. 🥇

Engagement here has been quiet. 😴 Part of that is on me. I haven't given you enough reason to show up, and I'm fixing that side of it — more courses going live, more useful posts, more actually happening here. But a community is two-way, so I need YOU. 🫵🏼 So, between now and September 15th: - Level 2 or above — you're locked in and SAFE, nothing to do. ✅ - Level 1 with no activity — you'll be "Purged" from the community on September 15th. 🙋🏼‍♂️ The people who are showing up know who they are — and so do I; I'm grateful for them, and I want more of them. 💖 Getting to Level 2 is not hard. Points come from other members liking your posts and comments — so comment on something, ask a question, share what you're printing or building. Engage and you'll get there. ⭐ Don't engage with this post — engage with the real ones. 💬 Go into the Community feed, find a post you actually have something to say about, and say it. Open a course and work through a lesson. Ask the question you've been sitting on. And yes — I can see your activity and your course engagement. 😀 I'm not counting one throwaway comment. I'm looking for people actually using this place. ℹ️ If you're removed, it isn't personal and it isn't permanent. Request to join again any time and I'll review it. If you want to learn 3D printing, AI tools, and tech alongside people doing the same — this is the moment to say so. 👆🏼 I'd rather build with 20 people who want to be here than sit on a member list that looks good and does nothing. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 🫡

If you're new to 3d printing (or even advanced printers that don't have these yet), it's easy to sink your time and budget into filament and upgrades and forget the boring stuff that actually saves you headaches. I put together the 5 tools that live at every one of my printers: a magnetic-tip hex screwdriver, a solid scraper, isopropyl alcohol (for cleaning — not degreasing, more on that difference soon), flush cutters, and the right glue for stubborn plates. None of them are expensive. All of them will save you time in your first few weeks. 👉 Check it out here What's the one tool you didn't know you needed until your first month of printing? 🤔 Drop it below — might turn into the next Quick Win!

Same deal, 3D printing side. 🗳️ Seven courses in the pipeline — pick the one you want me to finish first. Every vote counts — 🆓 Free Members = 1×, ⭐ Premium Members = 2×, 👑 VIP Members = 3×. Comments count too. Full breakdown is pinned in the Roadmap course. 📌