Learn to 3D Print
Solid State Depot
June 2025
Introductions
- name
- what you intend to print
Class Agenda
- quick demo of starting a small print
- student starts a print
- lecture on details while machines work
- if prints finish, another student can start next print
- as much workshop and as little lecture as possible
Get Printing ASAP
- Find a model online to print
- start small and simple
- download the .stl file
- slice for printing using Creality Print
- Print by sending .gcode to the printer
- Start with PLA Filament
How to get quick wins
- start with models that can print well with default settings
- smaller models print faster
- scale things smaller with the slicer
- plenty of surface area on the print bed
Good First Prints
3D Printer Components & Glossary
- print bed
- heated
- moves along 1 axis tyically either Y or Z
- print plate
- magnetic
- flexible
- smooth or textured
- print head
- moves along 2 axes typically
- motorized to move along the X axis
Creality K-1 Max
3D Printer Components
- nozzle melts filament
- extruder pushes filament through the nozzle
- tubing guides filament from spool to nozzle
- spool holder allows spoll to roll out filament
- enclosure limits dust & wind variables and retains heat
- many sensors help with auto-calibration
2 Common Broad Types
- Core XY
- print bed stationary except moving down 1 layer at a time
- The SSD Creality printers are Core XY design
- bed slinger
- bed moves forward and back (Y-Axis)
- hot end moves left and right (X-Axis)
- hot end moves up (Z-Axis) for each new layer
CoreXY vs Bed Slinger
More about Filament
- generally start with PLA
- polylactic acid
- Comes in 1kg spools of 1.75mm diameter wire
- Low Cost ($20 per 1kg spool)
- Does not need an enclosure
- Strong enough for a lot of applications
- Low melting point
- UV exposure will degrade it
Other Filament Materials
- PETG
- stronger
- TPU
- flexible
- ABS
- very durable but requires enclosure and harder to print
Intermediate Slicer Settings
- adjusting layer height for speed or detail
- supports to allow bridges and cantilevered areas
- brims to help with bed adhesion
- split model into small parts and test print key areas for fit
- more walls for strength
- denser infill helps strength less than you might think
Layer Height
- thicker layer prints faster, looks coarse
- thin layers look smoother, take longer to print
Print time: 0.12mm (14 hours) vs 0.6mm (2 hours) layer height
Exercise: Split Test Print
Safety
- nozzle is hot and will stay hot a bit
- filament is hot when just extruded
- don't reach into the printer while it's working
- Printers emit microplastics. Don't sit there next to it breathing them in for hours on end.
- Generally 3D prints are NOT food safe so don't plan on doing food projects.
- It is possible but needs proper materials and techniques.
Finding & Sharing Models Online
- printables.com
- associated with hardware vendor Prusa Research
- my personal favorite
- thangs
- thingiverse
- The "OG" site
- Was slow for many years
- Better now
- Cults 3D
- includes complex commercial models for sale
- Maker World
- associated with hardware vendor Bambu Lab
Common Print Failures
- adhesion failure
- first layer to bed
- between print layers
Bad Adhesion?
- clean the print bed
- add a brim in the slicer settings
- textured plate may help
- last resorts
- masking tape on bed
- elmer's glue on bed
- hairspray on bed
Outer Brim
Nozzle Clogs
- heat nozzle, clean & probe
- try setting higher temperature in slicer configuration
- switch to fresh filament
- dry filament in filament dryer
- replace with a new nozzle
Some Personal Tips
- Bambu Lab A1 Mini is an awesome and affordable first personal printer
- My favorite PLA is Polymaker Panchroma Matte
- Formerly known as PolyTerra
Resources
Solid State Depot
- 501 (c) (3) Non-profit, volunter run
- membership $85/month https://www.ssdmakerspace.org/
Contact Pete
