Guides

Short answers to the questions that come up most when you print the models from this site.

STL or 3MF: which file should I download?What the two file formats are, and when to pick which one.Printing in more than one colorHow multi-color models are built here, and how to print them with or without an AMS or MMU.What is Gridfinity?The modular storage system behind the Gridfinity tools, and how the sizes work.Choosing a filament: PLA, PETG, ABS/ASA or TPUWhich material to use for which part, without the jargon.Slicer settings for beginnersA small set of settings that work for nearly every model on this site.When parts don't fitWhat to do when a part is too tight or too loose, and how the clearance settings work.Text that prints wellHow to keep letters on keychains, signs and labels sharp and readable.Measuring a part so the print fitsHow to measure a tube, a shelf edge or a phone so the holder, clip or adapter you generate fits the first time.Overhangs, bridges and supportsWhich shapes print in mid-air without help, when you need supports, and how to get them off cleanly.Print orientation and strengthWhy the same part can snap or last for years depending on which side is on the bed, and how walls and infill add strength.A first layer that sticksWhat a good first layer looks like, how to fix prints that come loose or warp, and when to use a brim.Print-in-place parts: hinges, chains and moving jointsHow models with moving parts come off the bed already assembled, and what to do when the parts are stuck together.