Your First 3D Print
You bought the printer and put it together. Now what?
Have no fear. Together we will go thru the steps to make your first 3D print. This is the list I wish I had had when I first started. Hopefully, I can save you from many of the beginner mistakes and frustrations.
Ready? Let’s start 3D printing 101.
Make or Download Your 3D File
The first thing you will need is an object file for your printer to print.
How do you get this file? Great question. You have a couple of options.
- You can use a 3D art program to make your own file (Blender, Maya, etc)
- You can have someone else make a file for you (a friend or someone on Fiverr, etc)
- You can download a file from a file share site like thingiverse
If you make one yourself you will likely need to export it into the .stl format. This is a common file format used by slicing software to prepare the file for printing.
3D Print Slicing 101
Can you just put the object file in the printer and create something? Nope.
While the .stl file is common, each printer needs its own set of specific instructions on how to print. This is where slicing software comes in. The slicer takes the object file and turns it into layers of printing instructions for the printer to follow. For example, my slicing software makes a .gcode file for my Ender 3. Most printers will have a recommended software for use with them. There are many free alternatives that work with a variety of printers.
I personally use Ultimaker Cura (Free). You can easily search how to setup your printer with the software you choose.
Infill
Everything you print doesn’t have to be a solid block of plastic.
You can choose to have the insides be somewhat hollow. This will save on print time, material usage, and weight for the larger prints. Play around with the infill settings (pattern and density). For small prints, like minis the size of tabletop game piece you should probably stick with 100% fill. But for larger prints, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
We may do a future post just about infill density.
Orientation and Position
The slicer will allow you to change the orientation to better suit the printer.
When you open the file in the slicer, it will usually default to being oriented however it was in the 3D art software. This is not always what is best for the printer. Parts of the object that are hanging out in space will need support. More support means more print time and more material. Often you can orient objects to where much less support is needed. Also having small, thin parts going straight up and down tends to work out better.
You can also move the object around and pull multiple files in to print more than one object at the same time.
Support
Your slicer may not have supports turned on by default.
Mine did not. One of my first prints was a small TIE Fighter from the Star Wars universe. Short story is that the bit between the two wings was a squiggly pile of melted plastic instead of a nice round cockpit. Figure out how to turn on supports to prevent overhang parts from being ruined.
If you are using Ultimaker Cura, turn on their experimental tree supports. Much better than the normal tower ones.
Raft
The slicer probably does not have rafts turned on by default.
A raft is a small layer of material around the base of the print. Having one can make removing the print from the bed much easier. It also protects the bottom of the object when you are removing the print if it is a bit stubborn. Before I figured out rafts, many of my prints had marks along the bottom where I had chipped and pried them to get them unstuck from the print bed.
Its a little extra plastic for your print, but it is worth it.
Prep the 3D Printer 101
Ok, you have your sliced file in the right format for your printer.
Before you hit that print button, you have just a couple more steps. These should be done before every print, not just the first one.
Level the Print Bed
If you have an automatic print bed level system on your printer, you can skip this step.
If you don’t have automatic print bed level, seriously consider getting it or upgrading to it if you can. It is a huge quality of life improvement. Otherwise, take the time to properly ensure you print bed is level. One of the most common methods is taking a regular sheet of paper around the four points above the adjustment knobs and tightening / loosening them until the paper can just move without friction.
A level bed is important for a high quality print.
Check Your Material and Settings
Basic checklist for every print:
- Do you have enough material in the printer for what you are about to print?
- Is the temperature of the printer set correctly for the material you are using?
- Is everything flammable moved away from the heat elements of the printer?
- Is the print bed secured properly?
Begin Print (and wait)
Now you are ready to hit PRINT and wait for it to finish.
I recommend doing the waiting in a separate room from the printer as even the cleanest PLA material can put off eye and skin irritants. Make sure your printer is in a well ventilated space.
How long will you wait? Probably longer than you initially thought. Your slicing software will hopefully be able to give you an estimate of how long the print should take when you slice the file. Maybe add a few minutes for the print bed to heat up and for it to cool down when the print is done.
When the print is done, make sure to allow it to cool before trying to remove it.
Remove the Print from the Bed
Can be easy or hard depending on a few factors.
If your print bed wasn’t leveled correctly, the first layer might be very thin and close to the surface. I ran into this so many times. My first print bed began to look battered, smattered, and beaten within the first week. I broke no less than five different prints. This can make separating it from the bed difficult and frustrating, especially for smaller prints.
Two things helped me out a ton.
- Gentle tapping on the handle of the scraper works wanders (can be from a hammer, pliers, or even the handle of a butter knife)
- A friend put me onto some glass print beds that made the removal so much easier.
Congratulations
You have completed 3D printing 101 and are on your way to being a regular creator in the physical universe.
Share this guide with friends who are starting their own 3D printing journey.