3D Printing 101
This is a hands-on beginner course for anyone who's looked at a 3D printer and thought "I could probably make the exact thing I need instead of buying it wrong three times." We start at the machine and work up: how FDM printers actually work, picking a first printer, filament (spoiler, it's PLA), slicing, finding and prepping models, and getting a first print to stick. I'll bring my failed prints, because you'll learn more from those than from a clean demo. We'll troubleshoot real layer problems and end with simple functional design you can use around the house. You leave knowing your machine, having printed a few real things, and knowing why prints fail so it doesn't stop you.
Lessons
- How These Machines Actually Work
Before you buy anything, understand what an FDM printer is doing when it lays down melted plastic layer by layer.
- Choosing Your First Printer
What to actually buy, what it costs, and why I'll push you toward a kit.
- Filament and What Goes Wrong With It
PLA for everything until you have a real reason not to, and how to store it in our dry Utah air.
- Slicing Software
The software turns a model into instructions your printer understands, and it's where beginners get overwhelmed for no reason.
- Your First Prints
Level the bed, watch the first layer, and get something real off the machine.
- Troubleshooting and Simple Design
Diagnose the common layer failures fast, then design a simple functional part you'll actually use.
Class discussion
All threads →- 📌 Welcome to 3D Printing 101 - say hi before May 5Jacob Burt · Instructor · 24 replies
- 📌 Welcome, and a couple logistics things before ThursdayJacob Burt · Instructor · 14 replies
- filament brands from Home Depot vs online for slicing settingsAndrew G. · 4 replies
- Quick poll before we slice anythingJacob Burt · Instructor · 16 replies
- messed up my slicer profile last nightAndrew G. · 2 replies
- Confession: my first print looked like melted candle waxJacob Burt · Instructor · 13 replies
3D Printing 101: common questions
What will I learn in 3D Printing 101?
You'll learn how a desktop 3D printer builds a part layer by layer, how to level the bed and get a clean first layer, how to choose filament, how to slice a model into printer instructions, and how to troubleshoot common failures. It's a hands-on beginner class taught with real failures included.
Do I need my own 3D printer for the class?
No. The class provides printers to work on, and you're welcome to bring your own if you have one. Many students sign up specifically because they own a printer they've never gotten to work reliably.
How does a 3D printer actually work?
Most home 3D printers use fused filament fabrication (FDM): a motor feeds a plastic filament into a heated nozzle, which melts it and lays it down in thin layers — typically about 0.2 mm each — that fuse as they cool, building the object from the bottom up.
Learn more: Fused filament fabrication (Wikipedia)
What is the best filament for beginners?
PLA is the standard beginner filament. It prints at a nozzle temperature around 190–215°C with a bed around 60°C, warps far less than other plastics, and doesn't need an enclosure. Get PLA working reliably before moving on to PETG or ABS.
Why won't my first layer stick, or why do the corners curl up?
Corners lifting is usually warping, which almost always traces back to bed leveling or first-layer height. Level the bed slowly with a sheet of paper under the nozzle at all four corners plus the center, then adjust the first-layer height in small steps until the lines squish together without gaps.