A Starting Guide to 3D-Printing (Absolute Beginners)
Have you heard of 3D Printing and want to get into it yourself? You've come to the right place! This post contains a comprehensive starting guide for getting started. 3D printing might be a little overwhelming at first, but if you follow this guide you should be fine.
Overview
Get a 3D printer (Ender-3 V2 Neo is a good choice).
Get printer filament (PLA filament is easiest for beginners).
Download a slicer software (Ultimaker Cura is the best).
Set up and tune your printer (using online guides specific to your printer).
Convert your 3D object's STL file to G-Code using the slicer software (using the correct settings for your filament type).
Put the G-Code on the SD card and insert it into the 3D Printer. Then start the print.
Do your own research for optimizing your prints and finding the correct settings for your specific 3D printer.
You're all set!
Getting the right 3D printer
Price:
Because you are a beginner it would probably be wisest to not get a really expensive printer until you at least gain some experience with lower-end 3D printers and see how much you like 3D printing. You can get a decent 3D printer for 200$-500$ which is a good price for entry-level 3D printing.
Type:
There are generally two types of printers within this price range: Direct Drive and Bowden Extruder. A Bowden Extruder printer feeds the printing filament through a tube into the head & nozzle which then heats it up and prints it. In contrast, the Direct Drive printer directly feeds the filament into the head and prints it. The Direct Drive printer is generally a little bit more expensive than its counterpart because it operates a bit better. It can also print flexible and "rubbery" material better than its counterpart and can produce fewer artifacts. That said, the Bowden Extruder printer can produce really good results if its settings are correct... so most people will find it adequate.
Recommended Printer:
Some of the most popular printers within this price range while offering good results are:
Ender 3 V2-Neo (Bowden Extruder)
Ender 3 S1 (Direct Drive)
Ender-3 V3 SE (Direct Drive)
Getting the filament (the plastic stuff)
After you get your printer you need to get the filament for printing your imagination to life! There are several types of filaments for 3D printers. Each one is for a different purpose. Here is a list of the most popular ones.
PLA or PLA+ (Cheap, Easy to Use, Strong, Biodegradable)
ABS (Durable, Stress Resistant)
TPU (Soft Flexible "rubbery", Durable, Impact Resistance)
Nylon (Hard Flexible, Durable, Impact Resistance)
The filament can be quite expensive (around 15$-20$ per roll). You may find better deals if you buy it in bulk. You can also buy these filaments in different colors. Here is a good site for buying a variety of different types of filament.
Each filament type has its own ideal printer settings. Here is a good article explaining the best settings and temperatures for each filament type.
The software you'll need
First of all, for any object you want to print, you will need to have a 3D file for that object. It usually is an STL file. You can learn 3D Design CAD software to design your own objects or you can find abundant resources and objects that others have already designed (you can of course easily change the size right before you print).
After you have your object's STL file you need to put it through a process called slicing. This process converts it from its design format into something called Gcode. Gcode is all the instructions that tell the printer's head how and where to move to print your object. There are several slicing software tools available.
Ultimaker Cura (tons of features, large community, free & open-source)
Prusa Slicer (even more features, large community, free & open-source)
Ultimaker Cura is the easiest slicer out of them all. Your 3D Printer may also come with its own slicer software but Ultimaker Cura is generally more powerful and user-friendly.
After you slice your object's STL file, you will put the Gcode on an SD card and insert it into your 3D printer. Then you will select the Gcode file from your printer's menu and your printer will start printing.
Setting Up Your Printer
When you first get your printer it may come partially assembled, meaning you will need to complete the assembly. This is usually quite easy and if you run into any difficulties there are many guides and YouTube videos for your specific printer.
After you have assembled it, you will need to "tune" it and level the printer bed. There are also many resources for this. Simply google how to level your printer (make sure to specify the exact name of your printer).
There are many optimizations and settings to adjust. The best way to get better at 3D printing is through practice and personal research. If you want to ask questions or show off cool creations, then you can join an online 3D printing community such as this one on Reddit.
Printing Images (lithophanes) (cool project)
After you have completed your first few prints, you may want to try printing something really cool! Lithophanes are really cool because when you shine light behind them you'll see a really nice image!
To print a lithophane you will need to use a tool that converts your image into a 3D STL file. A good program for that is this web-based lithophane maker tool. Just click on the type of design you want, upload your image, set the dimensions, and download the new STL file. Then slice the STL file into GCode and you're all set!
Here are some optimal settings for printing lithophanes:
Cura's Main Setting: Highest Quality
Filament: PLA
Bed Temp: 50 ºC
Nozzle Temp: 210 ºC
Layer Height: 0.12 mm with a 0.4 mm nozzle or 0.08 mm for a 0.2 mm nozzle
Infill: 99%
Wall Line Count: 7
Speed:
Print Speed: 30-45mm/s
Infill Speed: 40-45mm/s
Outer Wall Speed: 30mm/s
Inner Wall Speed: 30mm/s
Top/Bottom Speed: 25mm/s
Travel Speed: 80mm/s
Initial Layer Speed: 15mm/s
Initial Travel Speed: 45mm/s
Retraction: look up the best retraction settings for your printer
Line Width: 0.45 mm for our 0.4 mm nozzle
After you print it, you will need a light to put it on. Here is a good source from Amazon. Just remove the top part, slide your lithophane on, and you're good to go!