How to Start with Your First 3D Printer

We have talked about how to choose and how to assemble your first 3d printer. Now we will continue “how to use it”. In fact, it is simple and easy to use FDM desktop 3d printer, you can follow these steps.

Create Your First Model

If you love 3d printing deeply, you shall learn how to create a model for yourself, and then convert it to STL format. Or you can download some excellent models directly from professional websites like Thingiverse.

Add Your Model

Generally, every printer comes with slicing software, it can convert digital 3d models into a code that the printer can read and execute the printing command. You may find it on the main menu and click to add your model to your 3d printer. In order to improve the success rate of printing, the slicing software should be well set. There is an option of Hierarchy Slicing, to help you refine and preview the whole processes in printing.

About Layered Preview

Slip the bar to see images of each layer from the parameter values, you can visually see how the model generated layer by layer via preview. As we know, the FDM printing principle, is to achieve the formation of the whole model through the accumulation of a layer of material.

Add Supporting Holder

You shall add a supporting holder for some models. After the print is finished, we can take it out. So the slicing software can add the support manually and automatically. If you choose manual adding, it will decide to add in some where according to the model.

Connecting

Connect your printer and computer, or via SD card.

Printing

Before printing, you need to click the main menu and check all the parameter again, and the model size is smaller than the printing size. Another thing you should do is to set the temperatures of the printing bed and extruder. Also, you can see the changes of temperature in the whole printing on the software.

Finishing

You can polish, assemble or color your model, then your first print is finished.