Chapter 1: Part 3 – A Guide for Total Beginners: Tools and Materials for 3D Printing

3D Printing Essentials for Every Beginner

Starting with 3D printing can be exciting, but having the right tools and materials is key to making your experience smooth and successful. Whether you're working with a budget printer or a high-end model, having the right essentials on hand can save you time, frustration, and money. In this post, I’ll guide you through the must-have tools, materials, and accessories every beginner needs to get started.

1. Filament Types for FDM Printers

For beginners, PLA (Polylactic Acid) is the go-to filament. It’s easy to use, affordable, and works well with almost all 3D printers. PLA prints at lower temperatures, doesn’t require a heated enclosure, and is less prone to warping compared to other materials.

PLA: The Perfect Beginner Filament

• Why it’s great: PLA is beginner-friendly, widely available, and perfect for most basic projects and decorative prints. It’s also biodegradable, making it a great eco-friendly option.

• Best for: Prototyping, toys, decorative items, and general-purpose prints.

• Popular brands: Sunlu, Polymaker, PrintBed.

Basic Types of PLA:

• Standard PLA: The most common type, easy to use, and available in a wide range of colors. Perfect for general-purpose printing.

• Silk PLA: Offers a shiny, smooth finish, making it ideal for decorative prints that need a polished look.

• PLA Tough: A more durable version of PLA that can handle functional prints and higher levels of stress, making it a good step toward stronger materials like PETG.

• Matte PLA: Produces prints with a non-glossy, professional-looking finish that works well for display items or prototypes.

Other Filament Types to Explore Later

Once you’re comfortable with PLA, you may want to try other materials:

• PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol): Stronger and more flexible than PLA, PETG is a great choice for functional parts like brackets. It requires slightly higher temperatures and careful tuning but is still manageable for intermediate users.

• ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Durable and heat-resistant, ABS is ideal for automotive parts or tools. However, it requires a heated enclosure to avoid warping and emits fumes, so proper ventilation is a must.

• TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane): A flexible, rubber-like filament for unique projects like phone cases or gaskets. TPU can be tricky to print but opens up exciting possibilities.

2. Basic Tools and Consumables for Every 3D Printer User

When starting with 3D printing, you don’t need a huge toolkit—just a few essentials to ensure smooth operation and maintenance. These are the key tools and consumables every beginner should have:

Basic Tools

• Scraper or Spatula: For safely removing prints from the bed. Be careful when using these tools, as they can damage the print bed if too much force is applied. Use a gentle approach and focus on sliding the tool under the edges of the print to loosen it.

• Clippers and Tweezers: Great for safely and precisely removing supports from your prints without damaging the finished model. Tweezers are also helpful for cleaning small bits of filament from the nozzle or tight areas.

• Hex Wrenches: Most 3D printers come with a set of hex wrenches, but investing in a quality metric set can make maintenance and assembly much easier.

Consumables

• Cleaning Essentials:

  • Dish Soap: Excellent for thoroughly cleaning your build plate to remove oils and residue.

  • 97–99% IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol): Ideal for quick cleaning between thorough washings, ensuring your plate stays ready for your next print.

  • Paper Towels: Handy for drying and wiping surfaces during cleaning.

• Glue Stick: While not as necessary as it once was, glue can still be helpful for bed adhesion issues. It’s good to keep one on hand, just in case.

• Oil and Grease: Essential for keeping your printer in good working condition. Super Lube is a highly recommended brand for this.

Note:

While there are various other tools that can be used for 3D printing, these are the ones I use the most and have found to be the most essential for beginners.

Pro Tip for Bed Adhesion

One of the best ways to improve bed adhesion is to wash your build plate regularly. Use warm water and dish soap to remove any oils or residue that might prevent your prints from sticking. Make sure the plate is completely dry before starting your next print.

If you’re still having adhesion issues, apply a thin layer of glue stick to the bed in the problem areas. This can provide just enough extra grip to keep your prints secure.

3. Optional but Useful Accessories

While not essential, these tools can enhance your 3D printing experience:

• Build Surface Upgrades:
  While most printers come default with a PEI sheet, you can also keep other types of build plates on hand. Build plates such as the Bambu Cool Plate SuperTack allow for better adhesion with PETG and PLA while using a lower bed temperature. Additionally, Bambu Effect Plates enable you to add unique designs to the bottom of your prints, such as a starry or carbon fiber look.

• Enclosures:
  While not necessary for materials like PLA, TPU, and PETG, enclosures can be very useful for printing with ABS, ASA, PC, Nylon, and other high-temperature materials that require consistent temperatures to prevent warping. Enclosures can also provide ventilation for ABS and other materials that release fumes, which may cause irritation if inhaled. Adding an enclosure is a great upgrade if you decide to start printing with these materials.

• Storage Solutions/Filament Dryers:
  If you live in a humid area, having a proper filament storage solution is crucial to keep your materials dry and prevent print issues caused by moisture. While PLA is relatively easy to store, filaments like PETG and TPU can absorb moisture more easily, leading to stringing or weakened prints. Using a filament dryer alongside airtight containers or dry boxes can help maintain the quality of your filament, especially in challenging environments.

Up Next

In the next post, we’ll explore how to set up your printer and tackle your first 3D print—a step-by-step guide to ensure success from the start.

Conclusion

With the right tools and materials, you’ll be well-equipped to dive into 3D printing and handle any challenges that come your way. Start simple, build your toolkit, and experiment with different filaments to find what works best for you.

Have questions about the tools or materials mentioned here? Drop a comment below, and I’ll be happy to help!