🧊 Module 01 · Beginner
Intro to 3D Printing
Learn how to turn digital bits into physical atoms. We'll explore how 3D printers work, what materials they use, and how to find and print your very first model.
Key Concepts
What is FDM?
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is the most common 3D printing method. It
works like a hot glue gun, melting plastic and laying it down layer by layer.
Filament (PLA)
The "ink" for an FDM printer. The best starter filament is PLA (Polylactic
Acid) because it's easy to print, cheap, and made from corn starch!
Slicing
Printers don't understand 3D models. A "Slicer" is software that cuts your
3D model into thousands of flat 2D layers that the printer can draw one by one.
STL Files
The standard file format for 3D printing. You download STL files from
sites like Thingiverse or Printables, then import them into your slicer.
Watch & Learn
📺 How does 3D printing work? — A clear, beginner-friendly introduction to
how 3D printers actually work and the vocabulary you'll need.
Exercise: Term Matcher
Test your knowledge! Click on a Term on the left, then click its matching Definition on the right.
Your Project: Explore Thingiverse
Mission: Find Something to Print!
Go to Thingiverse.com or Printables.com and find one 3D model you'd like to bring into the real world.
- Search for something simple like a "Flexi Rex" or a "Phone Stand"
- Download the
.stlfile - Save it to a folder called
My First Printsto prepare for Module 2
You Earned a Star! ⭐
Great job taking your first steps into the physical world of building. In Module 2 you'll take that STL file and prepare it for printing in a slicer.
Finish the Term Matcher exercise to unlock module completion!