3D Printing Articles & Guides

A 3MF file is a 3D model format that stores geometry, print settings, material information, and sometimes color data all in one package. It’s the newer alternative to STL and, for most modern FDM printing workflows, it’s the better format. This guide explains what 3MF contains, how it differs from STL, and when you’d choose…

Pressure advance (also called Linear Advance on Marlin or Input Shaper compensation on some firmware) is a firmware feature that compensates for the delay between the extruder pushing filament and that pressure actually reaching the nozzle tip. It’s one of the reasons Bambu Lab printers print accurately at 500mm/s when older machines produce bulging corners…

Manual bed leveling means setting the gap between the nozzle and bed surface at multiple points so the nozzle is the same distance from the bed everywhere on the print surface. Most modern printers handle this automatically, but understanding how it works makes troubleshooting first layer issues faster when automatic leveling isn’t producing the right…

One Machine. Print. Engrave. Cut. The Bambu Lab H2D with laser module is not just a 3D printer. It is the closest thing to a personal fabrication studio that fits on a desk. Print a model, swap the toolhead, engrave text into wood, cut vinyl for a sticker, plot a design on paper — all…

Choosing the right filament comes down to one question: what does this part need to do? If it’s a display piece that doesn’t move, PLA is the answer. If it needs to flex, you need PETG or TPU. If it lives outdoors in Florida sun, you need ASA. This guide maps every common use case…

The print bed is the flat surface your 3D printer builds on. Everything starts there. The first layer bonds to the bed surface, and every subsequent layer bonds to the one before it. If the first layer doesn’t stick to the bed correctly, the print fails. Understanding the print bed, what it’s made of, and…

FDM 3D printing with standard PLA is one of the safer home workshop activities available. There are real hazards to understand and manage, but they’re all straightforward. This guide covers what’s actually risky, what’s not worth worrying about, and the practical steps that make printing safe in a home environment. Emissions During Printing FDM printers…

The honest answer to what you can make with a 3D printer is: almost anything that fits on the build plate and doesn’t require flexibility or extreme heat resistance. For a $300-$400 machine, that’s a genuinely impressive range. Here’s what people actually make, organized by category. Functional Household Items Replacement parts for appliances and furniture…

3D printing is not free, but it’s cheaper than most people expect once you understand what actually drives cost. The short answer: a basic setup costs $300-$500 upfront, and each print costs $0.30 to $2.00 in filament depending on size. This guide breaks down every cost you’ll actually encounter. Upfront Costs: The Printer A solid…

FDM stands for Fused Deposition Modeling. It’s the most common type of consumer 3D printing and the technology behind nearly every desktop printer sold today. An FDM printer melts a plastic filament and deposits it in precise layers from the bottom up until a complete 3D object is built. That’s the whole process in one…

So you want to start 3D printing. Good call. But before you buy anything, it helps to know what you actually need versus what the internet is trying to upsell you on. This guide covers the real starter kit: the printer, filament, slicer software, and a few small extras that will save you a lot…

A multi-color deck box printed in two or three colors with Bambu Lab’s AMS system looks dramatically better than a single-color print and requires less painting skill than you’d expect. The AMS handles the filament swaps automatically. You paint the colors in Bambu Studio, slice, and print. The result: a clean two-tone or full-color deck…