Materials

The materials for a 3D printer are simple and basic. To make your models, you mainly need filament, slicing software, and optional 3D modeling software.

Filament is the “ink” for a 3d printer. PLA, which stands for Polylactic Acid, is what most people use. It’s easy to print with, and most people prefer it because it is slightly flexible and has good quality. ABS, which stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is used for prints that should last longer. PETG, which stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol, is mainly used to manufacture a prototype.

A slicing software is used to make sure that your print is printable. The more popular slicers are: Orca Slice, Bambu Slicer, Prusa Slicer, and UltiMaker Cura. Most slicers offer a download option and a slicing option. They also usually offer small tools to help modify tiny parts of your model.

3D modeling websites like Tinkercad and Fusion360 are easy to use and popular modeling softwares. Tinkercad is free to use, while Fusion 360 has a paid plan. Both, however, are usable and trustworthy, but Fusion360 may have more features than Tinkercad.