How to Fix Common 3D Printer Issues

How to Make Profit with 3D Prints: A Teen’s Guide to Turning Your Printer into a Money-Making Machine So, you’ve got a 3D printer. Congrats! You’re officially part of the future, a mad scientist of molten plastic, and the ruler of tiny dragons, fidget toys, and cookie-cutter empires. But here’s the real question: can that little machine in your room actually make you money? Spoiler alert: yes , if you play your cards right—and by “cards,” I mean filament and creativity. This is your ultimate teen-friendly guide to turning your 3D printer into a legit money-making machine —without selling a kidney or begging your parents for startup cash. Step 1: Understand Your Market Before you start printing every miniature, phone stand, or keychain you can find, you need to know who you’re selling to . Not all 3D prints are created equal, and not every random thing you print will make cash. Friends and family: Your first customers are usually the people around you. They want cool ...

First Fun Things to Print on Your 3D Printer (Without Regretting Your Life Choices) So, you finally got a 3D printer. Congratulations! You’re now the proud owner of a machine that can turn plastic into… well, slightly different plastic. But don’t just start throwing random models at it and hoping for the best—trust me, nothing crushes the soul like waiting six hours for a print, only for it to turn into a spaghetti monster. Before you dive in headfirst and regret every decision that led to owning a $200+ hot glue gun on steroids, here’s a comprehensive guide to fun, practical, and beginner-friendly prints that will make you look like a wizard without wasting filament or your sanity. 1. The Classic Benchy (a.k.a. “The Tiny Boat of Truth”) If you’ve ever looked up 3D printing, you’ve seen this tiny tugboat. It’s not just a cute little model—it’s the universal test for printer calibration . Why print it? Benchy checks for layer consistency, overhangs, bridging, and whe...

The Best Affordable Resin Printers for Miniatures (Without Selling a Kidney) If you’re like me, you love the idea of printing insanely detailed miniatures but don’t love the idea of going broke in the process. Resin 3D printers are the go-to for high-quality miniatures, whether you’re making D&D characters, wargaming armies, or tiny warriors that will ultimately sit on a shelf because you never got around to painting them. But here’s the problem: most resin printers that produce crisp, jaw-dropping detail can cost more than a used car. And while “selling a kidney” is technically an option, I wouldn’t recommend it. So, let’s cut to the chase: here are the best budget-friendly resin printers that won’t leave your wallet crying —plus some tips and tricks to make resin printing less terrifying for beginners. Why Resin Printing is Different Before we dive into printers, let’s talk why resin printing is a different beast from regular FDM/PLA printing. Detail: Resin ...

The Best Tools for 3D Printing – Because Your Prints Deserve More Than Just Hope So, you finally got yourself a 3D printer. Congratulations! Welcome to a world where melted plastic transforms into everything from tiny dragons to customized phone stands. But before you dive headfirst into the endless rabbit hole of 3D printing, let’s pause for a moment. Because here’s the harsh truth: your printer is not magic. No matter how advanced your machine is, without the right tools, your prints are going to look like…well, sad blobs of plastic more often than not. I know. I’ve been there. The excitement of unboxing a shiny new printer, the thrill of your first print starting, and the crushing disappointment when it warps mid-print—it’s a rollercoaster. But investing in the right tools doesn’t just make printing easier; it can save you hours of frustration, filament, and a few tears along the way. Let’s break down the essential tools every 3D printing enthusiast should have—whether y...

Beginner Mistakes I Wish I Knew Sooner About 3D Printing So, you’ve decided to jump into the world of 3D printing. Welcome! You’re about to experience the sheer joy of watching a pile of melted plastic transform into something (hopefully) useful, amazing, or at least vaguely recognizable. It’s a hobby that combines creativity, engineering, and a little bit of chaos, and I promise you—it’s worth it. But here’s the thing: 3D printing has a steep learning curve. I’ve made more mistakes than I care to admit, from tiny missteps to epic filament disasters. The good news? You don’t have to make the same ones. Consider this your guide to avoiding unnecessary headaches, wasted filament, and hours of staring at a printer that just won’t cooperate. Let’s dive in. 1. Not Leveling the Bed Properly Ah, the classic rookie mistake. You just unboxed your shiny new printer, your fingers are still sticky from the protective film, and you’re ready to print your first masterpiece. But ski...

Should You Get a Bed Slinger or a CoreXY 3D Printer? (With Minimal Regret) If you’re getting into 3D printing—or leveling up your game—you’ve probably stumbled upon the great debate: Bed Slinger vs. CoreXY. Sounds dramatic, right? Like a futuristic gladiator battle where printers duke it out for dominance while lasers shoot from the ceiling. In reality, it’s mostly about physics, motion systems, and how much frustration you’re willing to endure for print quality. Let’s break it down so you don’t make a decision that haunts you every time your prints fail at layer 37. What Even Are These? Before you can decide which printer is “right” for you, you need to understand how each system moves, prints, and generally wreaks havoc when things go wrong. Bed Slingers (a.k.a. Cartesian-Style Printers) Bed slingers are the most common type of 3D printer, especially if you’re looking at budget-friendly models. The name comes from their motion system: the print bed moves back and...

The Best 3D Printing Slicer Apps for 2025: Because Bad Prints Are a Crime Let’s be real—3D printing is both the best and most frustrating hobby ever. One minute, you’re feeling like a tech genius, slicing up an insane design for the perfect print. The next, your printer is extruding spaghetti instead of a model, and you’re staring at your failed masterpiece while questioning every single life choice that led you to this moment. If this sounds familiar, the culprit is usually not your printer. It’s often the slicer software—the unsung hero (or villain) of 3D printing. Why a Good Slicer Matters Think of a slicer like a translator between your digital model and your printer. Your 3D model is a static file, usually in STL or OBJ format. The slicer takes that model and converts it into G-code, the set of instructions your printer follows layer by layer. A poor slicer can ruin even a flawless model. The wrong support structures, inaccurate layer heights, or incompatible spe...

Glue Sticks vs. Liquid Adhesive Glue: The Ultimate Printer Showdown Alright, you’re ready to print that awesome 3D model you’ve been working on, and you’re setting up your printer. But wait! There’s one tiny little thing you might’ve overlooked—adhesive. Yep, that little layer of stickiness that holds your print to the bed and keeps your masterpiece from turning into a wobbly, sad mess. You’ve probably heard of two main types of adhesives: glue sticks and liquid adhesive glue. They both do the job, but they each have their own quirks. So, which one should you choose? Don’t worry, we’re going to break it down with honest advice, a sprinkle of humor, and a little guidance so your prints don’t end up as plastic spaghetti. The Glue Stick: The OG of 3D Printer Adhesives Let’s start with the classic—the glue stick. You’ve probably used one in school to make a diorama or maybe you’ve just slapped it on your 3D printer bed because you saw someone online doing it. Glue sticks ha...