Welcome to 3D Printing 101 - say hi before May 5
Hey everyone, Jacob here. Glad you're signed up. Week 1 we're covering how the printer actually builds a part layer by layer, then leveling the bed together so your first print doesn't come out looking like melted candle wax (mine did, it's still on my shelf as a reminder). Before we meet, introduce yourself and tell us why you signed up. I always like knowing what people are hoping to make first.
Kelton, AF. first print goal: a diaper caddy 🙈 for sure
Kelton, that's a great first project, honestly better than most people's first idea. Diaper caddies are basically a box with dividers, which is exactly what we build in week 2 once you've got your bed leveled. Measure your actual diapers and wipes before you model anything, don't trust the package dimensions, they lie. Bring the measurements May 5 and we'll figure out wall thickness together. See you then.
Landon here, American Fork. Signed up hoping to print organizer trays for my workbench. Bed leveling is where I always mess up, so looking forward to that part.
Landon, bed leveling gets so much easier once you feel it click. You'll get it 👍 ~boyd
Landon, I FEEL THIS, my bed leveling attempt looked like candle wax too
Landon, good target project, workbench trays are basically drawer organizers with taller walls, same skills. Bed leveling clicks once you do it slow with a piece of paper under the nozzle at all four corners plus the center, don't rush the corners. We'll do it together May 5 before anyone prints. Bring your workbench measurements too, real ones, tape measure not guesswork. See you then.
Jacob, paper trick at all 5 points, got it. Literally writing that down before May 5.
Isaiah, same, "melted candle wax club" needs a shirt 💀 🙈
Kelton, I'd wear it. Honestly my shipwreck boat has earned its shelf spot more than half my "successful" prints. Get your paper and tape measure ready for May 5, we'll keep the club membership low this round.
Oh my heck, the melted candle wax club already has a shelf spot at my house too 😎 ~boyd
Boyd, the shelf spot is basically tradition at this point lol. mine's a hinge that looks like it melted twice. see you May 5 👍
Boyd, ha, sounds like your shelf and mine could compare notes. That first ugly print is basically a diagnostic tool once you know what to look for, warped corners, stringy bits, that half-melted look all point back to bed leveling or temp. Keep it displayed proudly. May 5 we'll get everybody's bed trued up so the next one actually looks like what you designed. See you then.
Jacob, that's actually why I signed up even though I've already got a printer running in the garage. self taught the hard way and never properly learned bed leveling theory, just kept fiddling till it worked. ready to actually understand the "why" this time 👍 👍
braxton, heck yes. "why" is the whole game, honestly 🙈 😩
Braxton same energy honestly. i "know" leveling works but couldn't explain why to save my life 🙈 just turn the knobs till it feels right lol. excited to actually get the theory this time. paper and tape measure ready, for sure for sure ✨
Braxton, that "turn the knobs till it feels right" method is basically how I ran mine for a month too. Once you get the why, you'll fix problems in seconds instead of guessing. See you May 5.
week 1 down and I STILL haven't turned mine on at home, it's literally judging me from the shelf.
Isaiah, mine did that too before class 👍 ~boyd 🤙
Isaiah, that's basically every printer's origin story, mine included between the shipwreck boat and actually figuring out bed leveling. Dust just means it's waiting, not broken. Before May 5, pull it out and check if the bed's still level, that's usually the whole reason things stall out. What made you buy it in the first place? Curious what you were hoping to make when it was new and exciting. See you Thursday.
Weston here. Making brackets, not candles.
Weston, ha, respect the goal. Brackets are a great first real project, way more satisfying than another test boat. I've got a garage bracket mount I printed that's held up fine so far. Bring measurements Thursday and we'll get your bed leveled before you print anything.
brian here. printer's been fine, my patience during slicing settings hasn't.
brian, felt that. spent an hour on SUPPORTS last week before realizing i had the model rotated wrong 🤙
Brian, slicing settings will test anyone's patience, that's fair. We're covering that exact frustration this week. Rotation and orientation fix half of it, we'll walk through it Thursday.