3D Printing from Scratch

What is 3D printing?

A 3D printer converts a digital design into a physical object.

It allows us to create custom objects and prototypes—ideal for inventors and creatives!

Types of 3D printers

There are several types of printers, but the most common are:

• FDM, fused filament (the most common)
• (SLA/DLP), resin (very good quality, but more cumbersome)

Printing materials

The most common materials are PLA and PETG for FDM, and photosensitive resins for SLA/DLP.

Each material has its characteristics and uses.

How does a 3D printer work?

3D printers build objects layer by layer following the instructions of a digital design.

These instructions are called G-Code.

3D Modeling

First, we need the 3D drawing of what you want to print. You can:

• Draw it with design software
• Download free models from the internet

Design software

To design, there are CAD programs like Tinkercad and Fusion 360 suitable for mechanical parts.

There are also mesh programs like Blender, which are more suitable for organic modeling—like a dragon!

Preparing the model

Before printing, we need to prepare the file with a slicing software.

These programs open an STL file, which we export from the drawing program.

Printer settings

In the slicer, you will adjust parameters like temperature, speed, and quality.

These parameters will depend on the material, the quality you want, and the model you are going to print.

Printing process

In the end, the slicer will give you a G-Code file, which you should take to the printer. Usually with an SD card.

In the printer, select the file and the printer will follow the design layer by layer.

Common issues

But not everything will always go perfectly!

Sometimes you will encounter problems. Some common ones include clogs, poor adhesion, and warping.

Don’t worry. With practice, you’ll learn to fix them.

Practicing!

Start with simple projects to familiarize yourself with 3D printing and then move on to more complex designs as you gain experience.