Utah Community Learning
Technology

3D Printing 101

Meets Thursdays 7:00–8:30 PM · 15 enrolled

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

  1. 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.

  2. Choosing Your First Printer

    What to actually buy, what it costs, and why I'll push you toward a kit.

  3. 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.

  4. Slicing Software

    The software turns a model into instructions your printer understands, and it's where beginners get overwhelmed for no reason.

  5. Your First Prints

    Level the bed, watch the first layer, and get something real off the machine.

  6. Troubleshooting and Simple Design

    Diagnose the common layer failures fast, then design a simple functional part you'll actually use.

Class discussion

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3D Printing 101 · Utah Community Learning