1. Beginner— First steps
From scratch: how 3D printing works, choosing your first printer, and getting a clean part without hand-holding.
2. Confident user— Going deeper
Calibration, tolerances and fits, defect diagnosis, post-processing — moving from "it prints" to "it prints exactly what I need."
3. Professional— Business & production
Print farms, quality control, pricing, legal basics — for people making a living with 3D printing.
Appendices
Short reference material and links into our catalogs — keep them handy, no need to complete the lessons to use them.
Mini glossary
- FDM
- Fused Deposition Modeling — melting filament layer by layer, the most common technology.
- SLA/MSLA
- Photopolymer resin printing cured by a laser (SLA) or a screen (MSLA).
- Slicer
- Software that cuts a 3D model into layers and generates G-code for the printer.
- Infill
- The density and pattern filling a part's interior — affects strength and weight.
- Perimeters (walls)
- How many passes trace each layer's outline — affects strength and sealing.
- Retraction
- Pulling filament back before a travel move — prevents oozing and stringing.
- Skirt / brim
- Auxiliary outline(s) around the model to prime the nozzle or improve adhesion.
- Supports
- Temporary props under overhangs, removed after printing.
- Warping
- The part lifting/curling off the bed from uneven cooling.
- Shrinkage
- A part getting smaller as the material cools — accounted for in tolerances.
Pre-print checklist
- Bed is leveled and clean (isopropyl alcohol, no fingerprints)
- Material/temperature profile is current for this spool/batch
- Model checked for manifold errors (no holes/self-intersections)
- Orientation and supports checked in the slicer, not just eyeballed
- A first-layer test strip is planned
- You have enough filament/resin left for the part
- The printer isn't left unattended for the first 10–15 minutes
FDM defects map
| Defect | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Delamination between layers | Low nozzle temp / too much cooling | Raise temp 5–10°C, reduce fan speed |
| Warping / lifting off the bed | No brim, drafts, cold bed | Add a brim, enclose the printer, raise bed temp |
| Stringing between parts | Retraction settings off | Increase retraction length/speed, lower nozzle temp slightly |
| Skipped layers / ripples | Wet filament or clogged nozzle | Dry the filament, clean/replace the nozzle |
| Layer shift | Slipping belt/stepper, speed too high | Tighten belts, lower speed/acceleration |
Safety checklist
- Ventilate the room when printing ABS/ASA or working with resin
- UV protection with resin: gloves and goggles, never bare hands
- Don't touch the hotend or bed during or right after printing
- Don't leave the printer unattended for long stretches (fire risk)
- Dispose of resin and contaminated IPA properly, never down the drain