3D Printing
3D printing is the process of building a physical object layer by layer from a digital model — fully accessible at home today without special training. This category is for beginners: the difference between FDM (thermoplastics) and photopolymer (LCD/MSLA) printing, file formats (STL, 3MF, STEP), picking a first printer under $300 or under $600, understanding which jobs actually fit home hardware (miniatures, prototypes, functional parts, custom brackets, replacements for lost parts) and which need industrial equipment (metal printing, parts over 500 mm).
Typical questions at this stage: what to buy beyond the printer (adhesion sheet, knife, tweezers, scraper, isopropyl alcohol), whether a dedicated computer is needed for the slicer, how to prepare a model in Orca or Bambu Studio without ending up with spaghetti on the bed. If you are still shopping, start with the FDM vs photopolymer comparison. If you just bought your first printer, jump straight to the first-layer guide. After six months of prints, look at cost-per-model calculations and routine maintenance.
Related reads: materials for 3D printing, defect troubleshooting and the catalogue on the Printers page.
Resin 3D Printing for Beginners: Printers, Resin, Washing and Curing
How to start printing with resin: how MSLA works, resin vs FDM, choosing a printer and resin, slicing and supports, exposure calibration, washing and curing, safety and maintenance.
3D Print Stringing: How to Fix It Once and For All
Fix 3D print stringing and oozing for good. Retraction settings for direct drive and bowden, temperature tuning, filament drying — step by step for any printer.