Welcome to the wonderful world of 3D Printing!

3D printing is one of those technologies that never stops feeling a little bit magical. You start with an idea on your screen, hit “print,” and a few hours later you’re holding it in your hand. Whether it’s a custom phone stand, a tabletop miniature, or a replacement part for something around the house, there’s nothing quite like seeing your design take shape before your eyes!

 The best part is, you don’t need to be an engineer or an artist to get started. There are thousands of free designs online that you can download and print right away, and the software and hardware have become much more user-friendly over the years. Once you get a feel for it, it’s easy to start tweaking or designing your own projects. Before long, you’ll find yourself printing everything from custom cookie cutters to perfectly sized brackets for your home projects. Alpha@play is here to help get you off the ground and to set you up with the tools and materials to make anything your heart desires.

 The 3D printing community is one of the most powerful parts of the hobby! Makers around the world share their designs, offer advice, and constantly push the limits of what these machines can do. Whether you’re learning new techniques, remixing someone else’s idea, or joining a themed challenge, there’s always something new to try. In Manitoba we have some great local groups of friendly and helpful people to bounce ideas off of and to get help from when you’re stuck.

It’s a mix of technology, creativity, and hands-on problem solving that’s hard to beat. Once you’ve seen your first print come to life, you’ll understand why so many people get hooked.