3D printing, explained for the bench
The same original guides built into the Gyroid app — readable offline at the printer. No fluff, real numbers.
Basics
3D Printing Infill: Patterns, Percentages, and the Gyroid
How to choose 3D printing infill: what density actually does, which patterns matter, and why the gyroid wins on strength, speed, and flexible filament.
BasicsHow to Level a 3D Printer Bed
Level a 3D printer bed the manual paper way, then tune the Z-offset so first layers actually stick. Heat first, work corner to corner, log your numbers.
BasicsDialing In a Perfect First Layer
Get a first layer that sticks every time. Bed prep, Z-offset squish, speed, flow, and temps for PLA, PETG, ABS, and TPU, plus a repeatable tuning routine.
BasicsWhat Does a 3D Print Actually Cost?
Break a 3D print into filament, electricity, machine depreciation, labor, and failure cost, with the formulas and a worked example so you can price any part.
Troubleshooting
3D Print Not Sticking to the Bed? Work Through These Fixes
A first layer that lifts or curls is the most common FDM failure. Work this checklist top to bottom, from a clean bed and Z-offset to brims and bed temps.
TroubleshootingHow to Fix Stringing in 3D Prints
Fix 3D print stringing for good: dry your filament, lower nozzle temps, tune retraction, and use temperature and retraction test prints to dial in clean travel moves.
TroubleshootingWhy 3D Prints Warp and How to Stop It
Why 3D prints warp at the corners and how to stop it: bed temps, enclosures, fan settings, brims, and geometry fixes for ABS, PETG, PLA, and nylon.
Materials
The Filament Material Guide: PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU and More
Compare common filament types by temperature, strength, heat resistance, and difficulty so you load the right roll: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, nylon, PC.
MaterialsFilament Storage and Drying: Keep Your Spools Printing
Learn how to dry filament at the right temperature, store spools with desiccant, and spot wet filament before it ruins a print. Material-by-material guide.
MaterialsPLA vs PETG: Which Should You Print?
PLA vs PETG compared on print difficulty, strength, heat resistance, stringing, drying, and cost so you know which filament to load for the job.
Maintenance
The 3D Printer Maintenance Schedule
A print-hours maintenance schedule for FDM 3D printers: bed cleaning, lubrication, belt tension, nozzle swaps, and firmware, with the reasons behind each task.
MaintenanceWhen to Change Your 3D Printer Nozzle
How to tell when your 3D printer nozzle is worn, how fast abrasive filament eats brass, and how to swap a nozzle hot without snapping the heatbreak.