From 3D model to printed part: the whole workflow

In the editor: thickness, tolerance, seating

Walls below 0.8 mm vanish, printed holes come out 0.2–0.4 mm smaller than modelled, and parts meant to fit together need a clearance you leave on purpose.

The tolerance rule that almost always works: 0.2 mm for a loose fit, 0.1 mm for a tight one. If you want an 8 mm shaft to go in, model the hole at 8.3.

• Check minimum thickness before export.
• Add fit clearance in the model; do not hope the slicer handles it.
• Seat the part with a flat face on the zero plane — not floating.

Orientation: the decision with the biggest effect

The same part printed two ways has different strength, different time, different support usage and a different finish.

Choose orientation by where the load comes from — layers should run perpendicular to the pull — then by which surface must look good: top faces come out cleaner than bottom ones.

Supports: as few as possible

Any surface leaning more than 45° from vertical needs support. Under 45° the printer manages on its own.

That is why a horizontal hole prints better shaped as a teardrop than a circle: the top becomes an angle the printer can bridge unsupported.

In the slicer: the first layer matters most

Most failed prints fail in the first three layers. If the first layer stuck properly, the rest mostly takes care of itself.

A good first layer means: a levelled bed, correct nozzle distance, the right bed temperature for the material, and low speed. Never rush the first layer.

• PLA: nozzle 200–215 °C, bed 55–60 °C.
• PETG: nozzle 230–245 °C, bed 70–80 °C, less retraction.
• ABS: nozzle 240–255 °C, bed 100 °C, enclosure required.
• First layer: 20 mm/s, whatever the material.

Infill and perimeters

The right order of priorities: perimeters first (3–4), infill second (15–20%). High infill with thin walls is the most common waste of filament.

The infill pattern matters less than people think: gyroid for flexibility and speed, grid for stiffness. Below 25% the difference is small.

When it comes out badly

• Part detaches from the bed: dirty or too-cold bed, or a first layer printed too fast.
• Fine strings between walls: too little retraction or too high a temperature.
• Layers not bonding: temperature too low or fan too strong.
• Lifted corners: a material that shrinks (ABS, PETG) without an enclosure.
• Holes too small: normal shrinkage — compensate in the model.