# 3D printing basics > FDM and resin printers, filament choices, slicing, and how STL and 3MF files from MyLaserTools turn into printed parts. ## What is 3D printing? 3D printing builds physical objects layer by layer from a digital file. The printer reads a sliced file and deposits or cures material one thin layer at a time until the full shape is complete. What once required expensive industrial equipment is now available in desktop machines costing a few hundred dollars, making 3D printing one of the most accessible manufacturing technologies for makers, small businesses, and designers. 3D printing is useful for enclosures, prototypes, decorative pieces and shapes that are awkward to make from flat sheets. It adds material layer by layer. Supports, purge material and failed prints still create waste, so orientation and slicing choices matter. ## Types of 3D printing **FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)** is by far the most common type for hobbyists and small businesses. A heated nozzle melts plastic filament and deposits it in layers. Popular FDM machines include the Bambu Lab P1S, X1C, A1, Prusa MK4, Creality Ender 3, and Bambu Lab A1 Mini. FDM is affordable, fast, and produces strong parts. **Resin printing (MSLA / SLA)** cures liquid resin with light and can reproduce fine detail. Printed parts need washing and curing according to the resin instructions. Follow the safety data sheet for gloves, eye protection, ventilation and disposal; avoid skin contact with uncured resin. ## Common materials - **PLA**: PLA is a common starting material for decorative FDM prints. It is relatively easy to print but can soften in hot environments, such as a parked car. Check the filament maker's temperature guidance. - **PETG**: Stronger and more heat resistant than PLA. Slightly harder to tune but excellent for functional parts. Good layer adhesion and low warping. - **ABS**: ABS is used for tough, heat-resistant parts. It is prone to warping and generally needs an enclosed printer with suitable ventilation. Follow the printer and filament instructions. - **ASA**: UV and weather resistant alternative to ABS. Better for outdoor use. Requires similar print conditions to ABS. - **TPU**: Flexible filament for phone cases, gaskets, and grips. Prints slowly and requires a direct-drive extruder for best results. - **Resin**: Ultra-fine detail. Standard, ABS-like, and flexible variants available. Requires UV curing and safe handling, wear gloves. ## Key terms - **Layer height**: Thickness of each printed layer. Thinner layers (0.1mm) give more detail; thicker layers (0.3mm) print faster. 0.2mm is the standard default. - **Infill**: The internal structure of an FDM print. Density and pattern affect material use, print time and strength, together with wall count, layer bonding and orientation. Use a suitable profile and test parts that must carry a load. - **Supports**: Temporary structures printed to hold up overhanging sections. Removed after printing. Good slicer settings minimise the need for them. - **Bed adhesion**: How well the first layer sticks to the build plate. Use the cleaning method, plate temperature and any adhesive recommended for that plate and filament. Watch the first layer for gaps or lifting. - **Slicing**: Converting a 3D model (STL or 3MF) into printer instructions (G-code). Done in slicer software like Bambu Studio or PrusaSlicer. - **Manifold or watertight**: A closed mesh with no holes or loose edges, so the slicer can tell inside from outside. If the slicer warns about the mesh, use its repair option and check the sliced layers. - **STL and 3MF**: The two model files a slicer opens. An STL is one shape in one colour, with no units. A 3MF can hold several parts, each with its own colour, and keeps the size. - **Filament change**: A pause at a chosen layer so you can swap the filament for another colour. It lets a printer with one nozzle and no AMS print a name in a second colour on a backing. ## File formats **STL** is the traditional 3D printing format. It stores the mesh as a list of triangles with no colour or material data. Works with every slicer. **3MF** can store units, parts and colour information alongside the mesh. Where a MyLaserTools export provides separate parts, keep them together during import and assign filaments in the slicer. Select your own printer and material profile before slicing. ## Getting started - Level your bed carefully before every print session, or invest in a machine with automatic bed levelling like the Bambu Lab A1 or Prusa MK4. - Start with PLA. It is the most forgiving filament and works well on open-frame printers without an enclosure. - Store filament in a dry box or sealed bag with desiccant. Moisture causes bubbles, stringing, and weak layers. - Use the slicer profiles provided by your printer manufacturer as a starting point, then adjust from there. - Slow down for the first layer. A good first layer is the foundation of a good print. ## MyLaserTools for 3D printing Choose a tool below, enter the finished dimensions and export an STL or 3MF where available. In your slicer, check the size, orientation, thin features and layer preview before printing. Assign filaments to multipart models yourself. - **3D Print Keychain Generator**: Personalized keychain with raised text on a shaped plate. Enter a name, choose a shape, set thickness and text raise height, and export a merged single-body STL or two-colour 3MF. Ready to slice immediately. - **3D Vase Generator**: Custom decorative vase with adjustable height, diameter, wall thickness, and profile curve. Exports a single watertight STL. Print in a single colour or use spiral vase mode in your slicer. - **3D Box Generator**: Generate a storage box with a separate lid. Set dimensions and fit clearance, then print a small fit test before committing to a large box. - **3D Machine Screws + Nuts Generator**: Fully custom metric or imperial machine screw and nut pair. Set diameter, thread pitch, head style, and length. Useful for printed hardware, props, and educational models. Exports clean manifold STL and 3MF. - **3D Washer Generator**: Create standard or custom washers with adjustable outer diameter, inner diameter, and thickness. Useful for spacing, load distribution, and fit tuning in printed assemblies. - **3D Standoffs / Spacers Generator**: Generate cylindrical spacers and standoffs for panel spacing, enclosure assembly, and PCB mounting. Set outer diameter, inner diameter, and length. - **3D Dowel Pins Generator**: Create simple alignment pins with custom diameter and length for jigs, fixtures, and modular printed assemblies. - **3D Chicago Screw Generator**: Generate printable two-part Chicago screws (male and female) for straps, leather goods, and serviceable assemblies. - **3D Threaded Pin Generator**: Create printable metric threaded rods without heads, using the same ISO-style presets as the machine screw generator. - **3D Grid Box Generator**: Storage box with a customisable grid divider insert. Set the number of rows and columns alongside overall dimensions. Ideal for hardware organisation and craft storage. - **3D Backpack Tag Generator**: Make a tag with raised text on a plate and a strap slot. A multipart 3MF lets you assign different filaments to the body and text in a compatible slicer. --- Read online: https://www.mylasertools.com/learn/basics/print