How-To & Projects
Articles about how-to and projects
15 Things You Can Make with a 3D Printer | From Practical Items to Figures
Once you start researching what a 3D printer can actually make, the range from everyday tools to detailed figures can feel overwhelming when picking your first project. This article walks through 15 build examples for beginners, covering whether FDM or resin printing suits each one, which materials to choose, difficulty levels, common failure points, and the post-processing involved.
Post-Processing 3D Prints | Sanding, Priming & Painting Basics
If you want clean paint on a 3D print, what matters most isn't the color itself — it's the surface prep underneath. Focused on PLA but applicable to PETG, ABS, and resin, this guide walks through removing layer lines and support marks using sanding, primer, and paint in a manageable sequence that beginners can follow.
How to Make a 3D Model | CAD Basics for Beginners
The first thing I ever modeled was a tiny spacer for a desk leg. It was off by just 0.5 mm and wouldn't fit — but when I corrected the dimension in CAD and re-exported it immediately, I realized 3D modeling isn't about drawing pretty pictures. It's about designing solutions.
Getting Started with Fusion 360 for 3D Printing Design
When you start designing for 3D printing in Fusion 360 (now Autodesk Fusion), you can model shapes easily enough, but tight holes and ill-fitting lids tend to stop you in your tracks. As someone who regularly designs small enclosures and brackets, I can say that early prototypes really drive home how much FDM tolerance planning matters.
How to Use Tinkercad: A Beginner's Guide to Getting Started and Exporting STL Files
Tinkercad is a free, browser-based 3D modeling tool from Autodesk that pairs remarkably well with making your very first 3D print. This guide walks you through creating an Autodesk account, starting a new design, prioritizing core operations, and exporting STL files, all in an order designed to minimize confusion.
8 Best Free 3D Model Sites for 3D Printing
There are tons of free 3D model sites out there, but surprisingly few are actually practical for 3D printing. This guide narrows it down to 8 sites, comparing them for beginners looking for printable files and anyone who wants to find useful models efficiently.
How to 3D Print Figures from Start to Painted Finish
Trying to 3D print your first figure but unsure whether to go with FDM or resin printing? As a general rule, resin printing has the edge for small-scale figures where facial details and hair strands matter, while FDM works well for larger or chibi-style prints you want to produce without fuss.
3D Printing a Phone Case: Materials, Design, and Settings
If you want to 3D print a phone case, deciding upfront whether to use an existing model or design from scratch—and focusing on FDM/FFF printers—makes the whole process much clearer. This article covers material selection, print orientation, and dimensional tuning for first-timers and those ready to move from PLA prototyping to TPU production.