Black Friday is coming…and if you’re one of those people brave enough to go out there and battle the mobs of maddened shoppers, all I can do is wish you good luck – I will be hiding inside until it’s over. If 3D printers or printing supplies are on your list, however, you can not only avoid the crowds, but get a jump on your holiday shopping a week before everyone else, all while taking advantage of some nice discounts. It’s time, once again, for Blue Friday – the one-day, site-wide sale offered by MatterHackers.
Today, everything on MatterHackers’ website (with the exception of Ultimaker and MakerBot 3D printers) will be 10% off. It’s the third year in a row the company has offered the sale, and it’s a great opportunity to not only shop for the 3D printing enthusiast in your life but to stock up on supplies for yourself, too. MatterHackers has one of the largest selections of filament in the industry, and with over 400 types to choose from, now might be the perfect time to try out some specialty materials you’ve had your eye on but haven’t wanted to risk paying full price for – or just to restock your favorites.
MatterHackers NylonX filament
In addition to the overall 10% off sale, there are several special deals being offered on 3D printers and supplies. These include:
- MatterHackers NylonX Carbon Fiber filament (0.5kg) for $58, normally $65
- MatterControl T10 Standalone 3D Printer Controller for $279, normally $329
- Refurbished MatterControl Touch for $159, normally $199
- E3D V6 Kits for $69, normally $78
- Crafty Pen 3D Printing Pen for $69, normally $89
And yes, you get to take an additional 10% off those items, as well.
Although the 10% discount may not apply to Ultimakers, there are still some pretty nice discounts on their printers at the moment. The Ultimaker 2 is currently only priced at $1,899 (normally $2,499) and the Ultimaker 2 Extended will cost you $2,299 rather than $3,039.
“Our mission at MatterHackers is to make 3D printing easy and available to everyone,” says Mara Hitner, Director of Business Development. “We produce guides and video tutorials for that all year, and our Blue Friday sale is when we ease the cost of entry for beginners to get their first 3D printer, while encouraging our loyal customers to try something new, or share their passion for 3D printing with gifts for the holidays.”
Crafty Pen 3D Printing Pen
There’s certainly a lot to choose from. You may need to be careful not to go too crazy with the aforementioned hundreds of filament choices – or why not? If you’re going to go crazy with filament purchases, now’s the time to do it. MatterHackers has varieties that I’ve never even heard of, so if you’re lucky enough to have a 3D printer that prints with multiple materials, you could really have some fun this holiday season. (It’s not too late to print your Christmas gifts, either.) You’ll want to check out their clearance section, too.
There are plenty of printers to choose from, too, in the form of fully assembled machines as well as kits. Remember that 3D scanners have been getting more affordable overall, and MatterHackers has some high quality ones, from the Fuel 3D SCANIFY handheld scanner to the open source Ciclop.
If you’ve followed our many stories about e-NABLE and have considered joining the community of volunteers designing and printing prosthetic hands and arms for people in need around the world, MatterHackers makes it easy to get started with their e-NABLE starter packs. The two organizations solidified a partnership earlier this year, with MatterHackers creating a full e-NABLE hub featuring educational materials, articles, video tutorials, and more. If you’re interested in helping those in need but have never touched a 3D printer, the hub provides everything you need to get started – and their supply bundles are 10% off today, too. What better way to kick off the holiday season than embarking on a new project to help people on a global level?
Blue Friday is today only, so head on over and check it out! To take advantage of today’s discounts, enter the code BLUE16 at checkout.
