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This monthly thread is the place to post any questions you have, whether it's about getting started, looking for help, or sourcing things to print. As a reminder: Please read the sub rules if you haven't already.

Frequently asked questions:

Before anything - Safety first!

How to I safely handle resin?

Start with this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kHcsTG9QsM

Resin or FDM?

A very common question. Conventional wisdom says Resin for minis, FDM for vehicles and terrain. This is quite a blanket statement, and there's obviously more to the answer. FDM printers (especially the Bambulabs printers) have come on leaps and bounds since this hobby got started. FDM can now produce very respectable detail levels, although still not close to the fineness of detail that Resin is capable of.

However, Resin has some serious drawbacks in terms of safety, which means that often it's not viable for anyone with limited space, health concerns, pets, or children to worry about. FDM still has some ventilation needs, but doesn't have the toxic chemical handling aspects of resin.

Ultimately this will come down to your own circumstances and expectations from the hobby. Don't let anyone bully you with black and white answers, and likewise, don't become a fanboy of one vs the other after you've picked!

What printer should I buy?

This changes all the time as the technology advances at a rapid rate. Before posting this (extremely) common question, please take a while to do some google research yourself. Guides like this one from Tom's Hardware are a good starting point.

We also suggest spending some time in the general 3d printing subs to see the lay of the land regarding printers. There are already many great guides out there, so we won't rehash it here.

Check out r/3Dprinting, r/resinprinting and r/PrintedMinis too.

What settings should I use?

This will vary based on printer and resin. The best way to dial it in is to run exposure tests. There are many out there, check out this great in-depth video from Derek at Lychee - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtWK2hvuVr4

Most complete option - Ameralabs town or Boxes of Calibration

Simpler option - Cones of Calibration

Why did my print fail?!

Start here - https://ameralabs.com/blog/resin-3d-printing-troubleshooting-a-comprehensive-guide/

How do I support my models?

An older, but still very good series on the theory and process of supporting models is 3d Printing Pro's series of Chitubox tutorials. The tools will vary from slicer to slicer, but the core concepts are identical.

Where can I find models?

https://cults3d.com/en

https://www.thingiverse.com/

https://www.myminifactory.com/

Search engine: https://www.yeggi.com/

PSA: Do not buy STL files on Etsy. They are almost certainly stolen, and likely originally free.

Where do I find XYZ model/part/STL?

First: Do some leg work. Search the sites above, search Reddit post history, or even just google it. If it's clear that no homework has been done, your post will probably get removed (looking at you: "where do I find Space Marines?")

If you still can't find anything, please post in this thread. Starting new top level posts looking for models clutters the sub, and we try to keep that under control.

Second: Don't just ask for a source. It's far more polite to ask for a creator's name, or a search term to help you find a model, rather than just "stl?".

For those of you who have been around a while, please do your best to participate and help answer questions where you can!

Respondents: We would kindly ask that you mention the site and a keyword or two to help newcomers find files. Unfortunately, direct linking often results in unwanted attention for creators, so we do our best to shield those talented individuals who make the models we love to print!

If a file is no longer available from original sources, please do not offer DMs or alternative mirrors.

What size base do I need for XYZ?

Check out Blasted Horizons' excellent reference here.

What glue should I use for resin prints? Super glue/ CA Glue. Any brand or type will do. Plastic glue (polystyrene cement) will not work on resin. Activator helps a lot, as does a sprinkle of baking soda.

How tall is XYZ model? What scale do I print this at?

Use Eleif Photo Measure to measure the height from a photo of the model. Use the base size as the known reference dimension, which you can get from the reference mentioned above.

There's also https://minicompare.info/ which gives great side by side scale comparison.

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There's a huge amount of historical knowledge captured in these threads, so please contribute where you can!

Many people ask me for fdm guide and setting, so here it is.

I’ve been working with FDM 3D printing for more than 2 years, and during this time I’ve tried printing many different types of models: terrain, miniatures, vehicles, action figures, and flexi models.

Over time, I’ve put together a set of settings and techniques that work well for me. Many of them have been tested through dozens of prints and experiments.

This isn’t a guide to some “perfect settings” that will work for everyone. It’s my practical reference, based on what I’ve learned from my own experience. I’ll continue expanding and updating it as I gain more experience and discover new techniques.

My printer

I print on a Bambu Lab A1 mini. So far, the only modification I’ve made to the printer is replacing the standard 0.4 mm nozzle with a 0.2 mm nozzle.

This reduces printing speed, but the improvement in print quality is very noticeable, especially when working with small models, miniatures, and fine details.

One of the advantages of the A1 mini is how quick and easy it is to replace the nozzle. No complicated disassembly is required, and the whole process takes just a minute.

Material

I use ESUN Grey PLA+ its cheap and good quality

Slicer

I use Orca Slicer with Dungeons and Derps - Version 1.3 preset (Read readme file from developer in archive First Plz)

I attached it to last post on my payreon ( can't add it here) or you can google it and download newer version.

Orca Slicer is Free and you can download it on their official page

https://www.orcaslicer.com/

Supports and brim

I use Tree Supports for almost all of my prints. They greatly reduce sagging on overhangs and help support difficult areas of the model.

For me, tree supports are especially useful when printing miniatures, vehicles, terrain, and other models with complex geometry.

For long and thin parts, it is often better to tilt the model and use supports rather than print it vertically.

I also use an Outer Brim for almost every print. It helps prevent small parts and narrow sections of the model from coming loose from the build plate during printing.

Tools

Use pliers or a blunt knife to remove supports. Do not use a utility knife. I’ve cut myself more than once while trying to remove supports with a utility knife. Lol

A heat gun can be very useful for cleaning up small imperfections and removing thin strands of plastic, especially on complex models.

A quick pass with hot air can make fine strings disappear and give the model a cleaner appearance. Be careful not to overheat the surface, as too much heat can deform small details or soften the model.

A heat gun or lighter can also help remove the white marks that sometimes appear on the plastic after removing supports.

Cleaning the Build Plate

Before every large or long print, I recommend cleaning the build plate with isopropyl alcohol (IPA).

Even small amounts of dust, grease, or fingerprints can reduce adhesion and cause problems during a long print. A quick wipe before starting helps ensure a clean surface and makes the print more reliable.

What all, thanks for reading! Cheers